Are you a plant lover? If yes, that’s great to hear! If no, you should be! In Arizona, having indoor plants is an incredible way to enhance your overall health and well-being naturally. Plants are not just for decorations and displays. Plants can clean the air in your home, and act as detoxifying houseplants. These plants can reduce components of indoor air pollution, mitigate airborne microbes and are safe for children and pets.

Do you want to learn more? Read on!

Here are seven houseplants for cleaner air in your home:

1. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)

Perhaps the safest of all houseplants, this cactus has a scary name but poses no threat. Not only is it non-toxic, but it also has many more to offer:

• Like many other succulents, you can quickly grow one from a stem that you got from your neighbor.
• Fun fact: unlike other plants, they bloom November to January, bringing color for your winter.
• They can be moved outside to a semi-shady spot during summer, but remember that they are not as heat tolerant as other cacti.

2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniesis)

This plant is a type of sword fern that originated in humid forests and swamps. It is also a non-toxic for humans, dogs, and cats. They do best with lots of indirect sunlight which is suitable for an indoor plant! Boston ferns can be placed in hanging baskets on balconies and porches, but need to be brought indoors when it’s winter.

You should keep your fern’s soil moist, but not soggy during spring and summer. A self-watering pot is an excellent way to keep your soil moist, but you can also keep it in a plastic pot to help it stay hydrated. If your fern’s fronds dry out and die, you can revive it by cutting off all of the dead fronds at ground level, and keep the soil moist while it regenerates.

3. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)

This plant is a thick, meaty succulent with beautiful glossy leaves. It is evergreen, which makes it pleasant as a year-round houseplant.

They can quickly grow by placing a trimmed stem in water until its roots form. It makes it easy to extend your plant collection. They can also be used for bonsai.

When it comes to taking care of it, allow the soil to dry between waterings in the winter. Avoid splashing water on leaves while watering. If brown spots and shedding occur on the leaves, your plant needs more water. They may be fertilized three to four times a year.

4. African Violet (Saintpaulia)

This plant is an ideal indoor plant that requires only moderate room temperature. African violets like bright, indirect sunlight and you can place them on a windowsill.

They can be bred from a trimmed stem and put them in a small pot. But if it grows too big, it will create daughter plants. These daughter plants can be removed from the container and the two crowns very gently separated. Each new plant should be planted in another potting soil separately.

5. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum )

Spider plant is a commonly used houseplant. It grows from a central rosette and produces new shoots, branched stolons with small white flowers, as well as baby plantlets.

It is also safe for your children and all pets. However, dogs and cats love the taste of this plant, and will sometimes eat enough to make them sick. This reaction is not toxic, just getting a bit of an upset tummy from over-indulging. If it is a problem, you can always place them in high spots such as on top of your fridge or dresser.

Taking care of them is very easy, it thrives under nearly any conditions. The plant will even survive being neglected at times.

6. Miniature Rose

This plant is safe for children and pets, and they are thornless so, no ouchies! Keeping a rose indoors requires a lot of light and normal room temperature. It’s the trickiest plant to grow indoors, but tender love and care will do the trick!

Miniature roses should get five to six hours of direct sunlight. Due to their delicate, shallow roots, this plant needs abundant water in the well-draining soil. They cannot tolerate drought so water them anytime because the top two inches of soil get dry quickly. Try to water the rose during the morning or at least by early afternoon to prevent fungus and bacteria from invading the plant.

7. Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

This plant is regarded as the best air cleaning plant among other indoor plants.  It’s well known for being one of the better performers in cleaning the air. The Areca can maintain your office or home moist throughout dry periods as well as continually getting rid of dangerous toxins from your breath.

When winter comes, it’s so useful for putting moisture back in the air that you could switch off your electric humidifiers! Care tips on this one are that it is moderately drought tolerant, prefers partial sun and well-drained soil.

A lot of research has gone into the benefits of plants and human health. When it comes to a healthy environment, having a clean home with the help of a trusted house cleaning service will do the trick. These people know what’s best for you and can also help you take care of your plant babies. It’s a win-win situation!