Does Snake Plant Purify Air? 8 Benefits of Having Snake Plant In Your House?

We often keep different types of small plants in our house to enhance the overall appearance of our residents. However, do you know some plants can purify the air and have multiple health benefits?

Snake plants are one of the most widely popular plants among our residents. They don’t only add beauty to our home but also improve air quality inside the house.

So, does snake plant purify air?

“Yes.” Snake plant does purify the air. Snake plants have tiny pores called “stomata” that open and close while the photosynthesis process occurs. These pores are used for the gas interchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen. But these same stomata openings are also one of the critical ways that plants can actually uptake air pollutants.

However, you need to know how the process works and how much air can be purified by snake plants. For that, you need to read this post. Let’s dive in!

Does Snake Plant Purify Air?

Plants are really important for human beings, and we have been chucking them in pots and decorating our spaces with them.

Currently, it is a popular trend to use plants inside our home. It is mainly associated with the idea of clean living.

The thought that these house plants could detoxify the air that we’re breathing when we’re indoors.

How Can Snake Plants Purify Your Indoor Air?

As we initiated from “does snake plant purify air?” and we got the answer. So, how can snake plants purify your indoor home air?

The idea of using snake plants inside our residents falls under the definition of something known as “phytoremediation.” The process is mainly related to houseplants.

The microorganisms associated with plants clean up soil, air, and water by removing toxic contaminants or simply making the pollutants harmless.

The air in our homes and our indoor spaces is filled with a massive range of pollutants like carbon dioxide, ozone, and volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde. And, they are all coming from a range of different sources, including a bunch of household products.

Additionally, even with the paints that we put on our walls, exposure to these contaminants can lead to a whole range of different health problems like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

People in industrialized countries are potentially spending around 80% of their time indoors. You can probably tell why people want to ensure that the air that they’re breathing when they’re inside these spaces is as clean as possible.

What’s important to note is that for at least some of the flutings standards or household air filters, they can’t actually remove them from the air.

Can Snake Plants Actually be The Solution of Air Filtration?

We have already learned that snake plants can purify the air.

However, can snake plants actually be the solution?

Snake plants have tiny pores called “stomata” that open and close while the photosynthesis process occurs. These pores are used for the gas interchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen. But these same stomata openings are also one of the critical ways that plants can actually uptake air pollutants.

However, they can also do it with other methods, including through their roots oil systems, where microorganisms can play essential roles in the soil.

Many studies, including a famous study by NASA back in the 80s, have shown that plants can actually remove harmful contaminants from the air through these methods.

Several studies claimed that snake plants or other house plants could be an excellent natural solution to filtering your air toxic.

However, it is not 100% true. These studies are generally performed in controlled airtight laboratory conditions, such as some within were essentially tiny containers sealed off from the entire world.

That’s why it is not a practical result. These studies don’t really show us the effects of these plants in entire rooms and definitely not in a whole building.

One of the key points to remember the air in our room and indoor space is not stationary. It is dynamic and moving constantly.

In many cases, the air inside a house can completely turn over and exchange with outside air every hour. As a result, you can understand that you will need so many snake plants to purify the air inside your home.

How Many Plants Will You Need For Your House?

As we initiated from “does snake plant purify air?” and we got the answer. Now we are talking about the number of plants we need in our house to purify the air.

For example, in a space that’s around 10 by 10 meters, you will need approximately 1,000 houseplants. So you will one snake plant for every 1 square meter. It is probably not feasible for at least most of us.

Why Will You Need So Many Snake Plants?

The key reason that you will need so many of these plants comes down to the surface area. There are just so many things in your home that add to the surface area for potential sources and sinks of pollutants. They completely dwarf the surface area of your plant and essentially make them have pretty much zero effect.

Does It Mean That You Should Just Abandon Your Snake Houseplants?

Well, the simple answer is “no.” There are multiple health benefits you will receive from snake plants, which will discuss below. But what our suggestion is don’t rely on snake plants as the key source of air purifying. You should use air purifiers and other sources to cleanse the air quality inside your house deeply.

What Are The Benefits of Having a Snake Plant At Home?

So, why should you keep snake plants in your home? You will have multiple benefits if you have snake plants at home.

1. A Great Sources Of Oxygen

We all know plants are the natural source of oxygen. But household plants like snake plants provide more oxygen than many houseplants.  In fact, it is scientifically proven by Harvard University Extension through research.

2. They Make Your House Beautiful

We all love the greenish appearance in our house. Setting up some beautiful snake plants inside your house improves the air quality and gives a unique look to stand out. Its different shades like green, grey, or yellow make the indoor look more appealing.

3. They Reduce Air Pollutants

Many air pollutants live in our houses, such as toluene, benzene, xylene, and formaldehyde. All of them are notably bad for our health.

Thankfully, snake plants play a small role in reducing many harmful air pollutants. Do you know why snake plants can deal with toxic air pollutants? Because it has more leaf surface area to deal with them.

4. They Are Curative Plants

It is no doubt air-purifiers are the more sophisticated solution to purify indoor air, but snake plants are natural, cost-friendly, and curative.

• You will have a better feeling and achieve more productivity with the surrounding snake plants.
• They will increase your concentration and improve your memory.
• They will make you less stressed and tired.

5.  A Decent Capacity To Absorb CO2

Many people claim that snake plants produce oxygen the whole night. However, scientific studies showed the opposite results as houseplants merely release oxygen at night time.

But it is 100% true that they have a decent capacity to reduce CO2 even at night time. They can do the process of photosynthesis as they are naturally equipped with Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM).

6. They Can Help Allergen People

Do you have allergies? If yes, you should keep snake plants inside your home. Wondering why?

As you already knew, snake plants purify air quality, provide oxygen like other houseplants, and decrease CO2. If all these facts are true, they surely lower the probability of airborne allergy.

So, don’t forget to keep some snake plants in your rooms even if you have air-purifiers. After all, natural things have no competitors.

7. Snake Plants Bring Protective Energy

Will you believe if we say snake plants bring protective and cleansing energy? It is actually true!

Keeping these indoor plants will retain the energy you need throughout the day to do your work in-home or office.

But make sure to keep them in a perfect place, like in a corner where it is less trafficked.

8. They Require Minimal Maintenance

Are there any benefits left that we didn’t mention? Well, snake plants require minimal maintenance, making it more convenient to grow inside the environment.

Whether you keep them in full sunlight or full shade, they can adjust with any conditions. Additionally, they need less water, unlike other houseplants. Hence, you don’t need to take the hassle of watering them continuously.

What Are The Types of Snake Plants?

Different types of snake plants exist globally like other plants. They have a unique size and shape too. Here we are mentioning some most popular snake plants and how much they can grow.

Mother-in-law’s Tongue

This type of snake plant is one of the most commonly used houseplants in many houses. Its maximum growth is around 3 feet long, and its leaves are mainly dark green. The plant leaves grow in an upward direction. Its flowers are similar to lilies and look like a cream or white hue.

You can check the latest price of the “Costa Farms Sansevieria Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Snake Plant.”

Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Twist’

The name itself gives you an idea that the leaves of this plant twist upward. This type of snake plant typically grows a maximum of ‌2‌ ‌feet‌. You will notice yellow stripes run horizontally across the border of the leaves. It doesn’t grow quickly, so you can keep a greenish appearance in your rooms for long.

You can check the latest price of the “Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Twist’ Snake plant.”

Sansevieria Laurentii

This snake plant originated from southern and central Africa, which has a strap shape and yellow variegated edges. With proper care, you can grow the plants up to 24-30 inches. You can propagate the plants by dividing them.

You can check the latest price of the “Sansevieria Laurentii Snake plant.”

Sansevieria’ Desert’

It is also known as rhino grass, originated from Africa. Their growth mainly occurs in a vertical direction. The average height of this plant is 20 to 24 inches. It is distinguished from other types with its red-tinted succulent leaves.

You can check the latest price of the “Sansevieria’ Desert’ Snake plant.”

Cylindrica

Cylindrica is a perfect combination with lucky bamboo plants, making your house appears more attractive. They can achieve a maximum height of 20-24 inches. Even if you keep them in indirect sunlight, they will still grow to their fullest. Watering them from time to time will ensure better growth.

You can check the latest price of the “Cylindrica Snake plant.”

Bantel’s Sensation

Bantel’s Sensation is an impressive variety of snake plants. This houseplant can grow up to 30-32 inches. Hence, it is an appropriate‌ ‌indoor‌ ‌plant. The plant leaves have distinguished white vertical stripes, showing an outrageous appearance. Make sure you water them regularly because dryness may make the leaves brown.

Futura Robusta

If you are looking for a specific snake plant variety that requires minimal maintenance, the Futura Robusta is a perfect choice. It has broad but short leaves, making it an ideal option for tight places.

This type of snake plant was firstly found in China and then followed by other countries. Additionally, this popular snake plant can grow up to 24 inches in height, and its leaves are dark green while the whole plant has silver-green foliage.

You can check the latest price of the “Futura Robusta Snake plant.”

Moonshine

Moonshine is of the most beautiful snake plant types, which has silvery-green leaves. It can grow as long as 4 feet, and many people use this plant as an air-purifier inside the home. The unique feature of this plant is that it is maintenance-free.

Sansevieria Fischeri

If you like small plants, the Sansevieria Fischeri is an excellent option to consider. It will ideally in your limited space as it reaches only 16 inches in height. During summer, white flowers come from this variety. However, make sure you don’t keep them outside during the winter season as they can’t bear foggy weather.

Mason Congo

Mason Congo is a beautiful snake plant variety, which has dark green leaves. The plant leaves have a distinct shape, and the whole plant is compact in size. In addition, there are some light green spots on the leaves, making it more visually appealing. As for the tallness, it can reach as long as 45 inches.

Let’s see them through a chart!

Why Should You Choose Snake Plants For Indoors?

Snake plants pretty easy to grow at home, and they are super adaptable. They can live in a lot of different plants in your home. They can remove a significant percentage of formaldehyde from indoor.

One more reason why you should choose them indoors is that they are non-toxic to both humans and pets. So they are totally safe to keep your home. Many other reasons exist to keep them inside your home.

• They are sturdy plants.
• They are small enough to fit anywhere indoors.
• It is not necessary to water them‌ ‌often.
• They are an ideal houseplant starter.
• They can be first grown outside and then brought inside.

How To Take Care of a Snake Plant?

Taking care of snake plants is not as much hassle as other plants.

Avoid Overwatering

We all know that plants need water to survive. But when we do overwatering, it may harm the plants. Plus, you need to know that not all plants need the same amount of water. In fact, many plants can survive without water for many days.

Overwatering is a common issue among those who have brought snake plants for the first time as they don’t know how to take care of them. Here are some simple hacks you should remember for watering snake plants:

• It is unnecessary to water your snake plants from time to time as they don’t like wet soil.
• Water only when the soil becomes dry.
• Don’t think your snake plants need water if the surface appears dry.
• Use a chopstick and put it a few inches inside the soil to test its moisture level.
• If you notice the soil is wet, it is unnecessary to water it.
• Instead of watering the plant from the upper surface, water it from the base of the pot. It will make the root stronger and helps the plant to grow faster.
• Unlike summer and spring, water your snake plants less as they don’t need much water.

Appropriate Lighting

Although you can grow snake plants in different weather conditions, it is best to provide them with sufficient sunlight. Place them near a window or any place where direct sunlight comes.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing snake plants is essential to ensure appropriate growth. Even if you use fertilizer while planting them, make sure to fertilize them additionally during the growing season to boost their growth.

How To Maintain a Snake Plant?

1. Regularly clean the leaves of plants with a wet fabric as they collect dust.
2. If you want to grow snake plants quickly, you may need to divide them once or twice a year.
3. Make sure the plant pot doesn’t trap water as snake plants are fond of free-draining soil mix.
4. If you see any leaves become brown, cut them immediately to keep other leaves safe.

Read More – Why My Snake Plant is Growing Outwards?

Buy them at Walmart, eBay, or Etsy

Costa Farms Sansevieria Mother-In-Law’s Tongue Snake Plant - Etsy, eBay

Sansevieria Trifasciata ‘Twist’ Snake plant - Etsy, eBay

Sansevieria Laurentii Snake plant - Etsy, eBay

Sansevieria’ Desert’ Snake plant - Etsy, eBay

Futura Robusta Snake plant - Etsy, eBay

Conclusion

So, are you still wondering this golden question, “does snake plant purify air?” Snake plants do more than just giving oxygen and purifying in your room. They are one of the finest houseplants, which you can adorn in your beautiful house. Though they don’t remove a significant amount of air pollutants, there is no harm in keeping them in your house as they are natural.

Read More – How To Grow A Snake Plant And Snake Plant Care

Last update on 2023-01-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API