The Air-Purifying Plant You'll Want To Keep In Your Home

Keeping plants in your home comes with a myriad of benefits, including lowered levels of stress, better focus, more feelings of well-being, high productivity levels, and better indoor air quality (via Healthline). If air quality is one of the benefits that you're most interested in, it's important to know that there are certain plants that help purify the air in your home better than others. One popular choice when it comes to plants that pack an air-purifying punch is calathea.

Unlike many other air-purifying houseplants — like snake plants or English ivy — calathea is a rather flashy plant. Its leaves offer a striking striped pattern, a wavy shape, and a hidden pop of color on their undersides. The plant is fairly easy to care for, thrives in an indoor environment, removes harmful compounds from the air, and poses no risk to cats or dogs. If you've been searching for your first air-purifying houseplant, calathea may be the one for you. 

Calathea is a tropical plant that is native to South America. This means that it prefers an environment that is warm and humid. Calathea's love for humidity is so great that you'll need to supplement your plant with additional humidity by misting it regularly or placing it near a humidifier to achieve its ideal range of over 60%. At this point, your calathea can reach its healthiest, most air-purifying state. 

Calathea and other air-purifying plants can remove chemical compounds such as those found in cigarette smoke and cleaning solvents, according to NASA. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, filling your home with plants that clean its indoor air supply may help to prevent some of your symptoms before they start. Even if you don't notice an immediate improvement, you'll have added a beautiful piece of décor to your home that can boost your mood and improve your focus. 

Calathea's tropical nature means that it loves bright, indirect sunlight, warmth, and high humidity. This can make for a plant that is a bit on the fussy side but very manageable to care for. In addition to adding humidity through misting or a humidifier, you'll need potting soil that retains some moisture but also drains well. Look for soil mixes that include additives like compost or perlite, or purchase a specialty soil designed for calathea such as Gardenera Premium Calathea Plant Potting Mix — available on Amazon for $11.99.

Be sure to keep your calathea in an area that is exposed to bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn the plant's wavy leaves. Keep its soil consistently moist but not wet, muddy, or soggy. Calathea can be sensitive to the minerals present in tap water, so it's best to water with collected rainwater or purchased distilled water. Protect your plant from drafts by keeping it in a warm, cozy spot where temperatures never drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.