Which houseplants make you healthiest?

Houseplants are the key to a healthy home. They absorb toxic chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and produce clean oxygen for you to breath.

Many people wonder which houseplants they should buy to maximize health benefits. The good news is all plants offer some health benefits, so you can't make a bad choice, but some plants do offer more specific benefits than others.

Spider plants increase moisture in your home. If you live in a desert environment or constantly run a heater or air conditioner, both of which remove moisture from the air, adding spider plants to your home can replenish some of that moisture loss. This is a natural solution that aids mild conditions like itchy skin and helps prevent overly dry nasal tissue, which can increase susceptibility to infection.

Low-light houseplants, such as peace lilies or pothos, reduce mold and indoor allergens. These common plants act as natural filters to catch allergens and other airborne particles. Not only will this help with pesky allergy symptoms during the day, it will also improve your sleep quality at night.

Flowering plants are known mood boosters. Colorful blooms reduce anxiety, fight depression, and lessen worrying. Overall, flowering plants are a good pick me up, but they can require more care than succulents or non-blooming houseplants.

Some houseplants are very efficient at cleaning your home's air. Ferns, English ivy, gerbera daisies, and dragon tree have all been shown to absorb VOCs that emanate from your furniture and carpeting, leaving you with cleaner, fresher air.

Other houseplants, such as aloe, offer medicinal health benefits. Aloe can be used to soothe burned or irritated skin. Herbs also fall into this category because they too can be used for everything from stomach ease to headache relief.

Overall, you can't make a bad choice when it comes to houseplants as they all have benefits. As a group, they improve focus, lower stress, and reduce healing time. That's a lot of good that comes from a little potted plant.