3 best air purifying flowers to help clean indoor air — and they're NASA-approved
Be it seasonal allergies, dust, bacteria or even mold issues, there are a number of things that can affect the overall quality of indoor air.
And if you haven't yet invested in one of the best air purifiers to filter and clean your air, you might want to consider a more natural (and cheaper) alternative.
While we often assume fresh blooms are the culprits to our sniffles or sneezing fits during summer, you'll be surprised to learn that there are certain flowers that are known to improve air quality in your home without a purifier.
In fact, a 1989 NASA study found that certain flowers and plants can absorb toxins and pollutants such as formaldehyde and ammonia — commonly found in household products and cleaners.
Similar to houseplants that reduce indoor air pollution, varieties can also help to release oxygen and increase humidity levels, since flowers release moisture into the air.
What's more, you'll always have a fresh-smelling home, without spraying strong, artificial fragrances (and further pollute the air).
So before you head out to your nearest florist, find out which popular flowers are known to improve the air.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Plus, these are the 7 indoor plants to avoid if you have allergies.
One popular and well-known NASA-approved flower is the pretty peace lily.
Peace lilies can either fall into the category of both plant or flower, and with its large white flowers and lush foliage, makes a beautiful addition to any space.
'The elegant peace lily is a natural air purifier, capable of removing a wide range of airborne pollutants, including benzene and trichloroethylene,' says Daniel Ufland, co-founder of interior design platform Flitch.
'Its stunning white blooms not only add a touch of elegance to any room but also help to improve indoor air quality. By incorporating a peace lily into your living space, you can enjoy a more serene and rejuvenating atmosphere.'
In addition, peace lilies are pretty low maintenance plants, and can cope well in different light exposures – including very little light. All they'll really need is adequate indirect daylight, and watering every few days.
If you really want to make the most of your beautiful flower, you could place a few around the home, such as a bedroom or home office.
"One flower won't do it for purifying the air in your home,' adds Chastain. 'This is one situation where more is better. Just make sure to provide the lighting and care each flower needs and keep them dust free so they can do their jobs.'
If you want to know more about the benefits of peace lilies, check out these 9 reasons why every home needs a peace lily.
Chrysanthemums are known for their bold and colorful blooms. But these florals can do so much more than add a touch of vibrant color to any room.
In fact, these are one of the best air-purifying flowers, particularly for removing benzenes and ammonia — both of which are extremely harmful chemicals. These chemicals are usually found in glue, plastics, and detergents.
'Chrysanthemums are also a great choice with lots of color options,' adds Lindsey Chastain, founder and CEO of The Waddle and Cluck.
'They remove ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde. They are a little more challenging to get them to rebloom so they may need to be replaced each season.'
Generally, chrysanthemums need to be planted in well-drained soil, and watered once a week for impressive blooms. Bear in mind they require at least six to eight hours of full sunlight a day, so best placed on or near a sunny windowsill.
Orchids are a popular indoor flower that comes in different species and vibrant colors. And while these make a beautiful feature to our home décor, they can also do a good job removing certain air pollutants.
'Orchids are another great choice, but do require more advanced care,' adds Chastain.
'They aren't as potent as the other two, but can thrive indoors. They can remove xylene and toluene (chemicals). '
Luckily, with the proper care and attention, learning how to care for an orchid is not as tricky as it seems. Generally, orchids love bright, but indirect light, so place them near a south- or east-facing window to ensure they get at least six hours of indirect sunlight.
In addition, orchids don't need a lot of water so avoid overwatering, as this will lead to root rot. A top tip is to spray an orchid regularly with a fine mist spray bottle up to two times a day.
Check out these 5 top tips for growing orchids from expert florists, as long as you avoid these mistakes when growing orchids.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
12 hours ago
- The Hill
Thanks to imported drugs, America has lost control of its medicine cabinet
America is facing a growing crisis in its medical system — not from a lack of talent or innovation, but from a breakdown in the control, safety and supply of essential medicines. Our growing reliance on imports is now driving serious drug shortages, destabilizing supply chains and increasingly making medications unsafe. At the root of it is a hard truth: We no longer have control of the medicines we depend on every day. In 2002, America manufactured 83.7 percent of the pharmaceuticals it consumed. By 2024, that number had dropped to just 37.1 percent. Meanwhile, the U.S. pharmaceutical trade deficit has soared, reaching a record $118.3 billion in 2024. We didn't just outsource manufacturing — we outsourced the sovereignty and safety of our health care system. This means that nearly two-thirds of America's pharmaceutical supplies are now imported. Most critical medications, such as generic drugs, now come from China and India. China controls 80 to 90 percent of the global supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients — the chemical building blocks of modern medicine. Even drugs labeled 'Made in the USA' often chemically originate in China. And India, which produces about half of America's finished generic drugs, relies on China for up to 80 percent of its active pharmaceutical not a supply chain — it's a ticking time something goes wrong, American patients suffer. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration shut down a single Indian plant responsible for 50 percent of the U.S. supply of cisplatin, a critical chemotherapy drug, after uncovering a 'cascade of failure' in safety practices and shredded documents soaked in acid. With no domestic backup, patients nationwide had their treatments delayed. That wasn't a fluke. 40 percent of U.S. generic drugs have only one FDA-approved manufacturer. Because of that single chokepoint, when one factory fails, the whole system can crack. We are now seeing widespread drug shortages across the medical system. Hospital pharmacists report an average of 301 critical drug shortages at any given time. And 85 percent say these shortages are moderately or critically affecting care. Doctors often lack crucial medicines such as antibiotics, sedatives and cancer drugs. These aren't obscure drugs. They're foundational medicines. But America no longer makes them. Even when imported drugs do arrive, they're not always safe. A 2025 study found that Indian generics are 54 percent more likely to cause serious side effects than their U.S.-made counterparts. Indian factory violations have also been tied to at least eight U.S. patient deaths. China's record is equally disturbing. In 2008, dozens of Americans died after receiving contaminated heparin from Chinese suppliers. This isn't what the American people want. In a national survey, 85 percent of hospital pharmacists said they would pay more for safer generics. But under today's rules, price overshadows quality. Hospitals have little oversight of drug quality — and foreign producers face few consequences for cutting corners. Even the federal government is flying blind. A 2023 Department of Defense review found that 22 percent of essential military-use drugs had unknown ingredient sourcing. That's a national security April, the Trump administration took a necessary step by launching an investigation into generic pharmaceutical imports that correctly frames the issue as a national security threat. But that recognition alone isn't enough. To address this crisis, Washington should impose targeted tariffs on generic drugs from adversarial nations. It must also rebuild domestic pharmaceutical production through tax credits and long-term contracts. America urgently needs full transparency in drug labeling to disclose where drugs and their ingredients are made. The FDA must step up — with stronger enforcement abroad and a ban on imports from repeat safety violators. And to secure critical ingredients during market disruptions, Washington must pursue a long-term vision that includes a 'strategic pharmaceutical reserve.' This isn't just protectionism. It's a restoration of America's medical security. No nation can call itself sovereign if it can't produce its own medicines, and no patient is safe if their health care depends on quality control in a factory 8,000 miles decades, we were told that offshoring production would make things cheaper, smoother and more efficient. But America can no longer depend on unstable foreign suppliers. It's time to restore our pharmaceutical independence and take back control of our medicine cabinet. Andrew Rechenberg is an economist at the Coalition for a Prosperous America.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business Wire
DentalMonitoring Launches "Top Ortho Practice Award" to Recognize Data-Driven Excellence in Orthodontic Care
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DentalMonitoring, the global leader in AI-powered remote monitoring for orthodontics, is proud to announce the launch of the Top Ortho Practice Award, the first-of-its-kind recognition program that celebrates top-performing orthodontic practices worldwide through objective, data-based analysis. 'The Top Ortho Practice Award is the first global program to recognize orthodontic excellence based on objective clinical data, not popularity.' Unlike traditional awards based on subjective nominations or popularity, the Top Ortho Practice Award is rooted in objective metrics derived from millions of patient scans and clinical interactions. Practices are selected based on exceptional outcomes in hygiene, compliance, and treatment effectiveness, using standardized benchmarks that reflect regional and global performance levels. The program identifies and celebrates practices that lead their territories in performance metrics derived from actual patient data, including hygiene, clinical techniques, and post-treatment stability. These practices will also serve as mentors and knowledge hubs, openly sharing their techniques, workflows, and philosophies to support peer learning and collective growth. DentalMonitoring will host its first Top Ortho Practice Exchange Event live in Las Vegas on September 18th, 2025, before the OP Summit 2025. Sign up here to register 'This initiative is about more than recognition — it's about raising the bar for what's possible in orthodontic care,' said Philippe Salah, CEO of DentalMonitoring. 'By highlighting data-backed excellence, we're helping the industry move toward more measurable, scalable impact.' Through this initiative, DentalMonitoring reaffirms its commitment to transforming orthodontics, motivating practices to unlock their full potential, and ultimately supporting them in delivering better care to patients everywhere. About DentalMonitoring DentalMonitoring sets new standards in orthodontics with its AI-powered, FDA De Novo-approved, and MDR-certified remote monitoring software. Designed for use with multiple appliances or treatment phases, it enables doctors to monitor patients remotely, enhance clinical control, and improve efficiency. Patients benefit from features like in-app messaging, convenient guided scans, and real-time feedback. With its latest innovations, DentalMonitoring helps practices optimize workflows and deliver outstanding care. With over 13,000 clinical data results, DentalMonitoring is transforming the orthodontic experience for patients and practices worldwide by connecting innovation with orthodontic needs.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
DentalMonitoring Launches "Top Ortho Practice Award" to Recognize Data-Driven Excellence in Orthodontic Care
PARIS, June 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DentalMonitoring, the global leader in AI-powered remote monitoring for orthodontics, is proud to announce the launch of the Top Ortho Practice Award, the first-of-its-kind recognition program that celebrates top-performing orthodontic practices worldwide through objective, data-based analysis. Unlike traditional awards based on subjective nominations or popularity, the Top Ortho Practice Award is rooted in objective metrics derived from millions of patient scans and clinical interactions. Practices are selected based on exceptional outcomes in hygiene, compliance, and treatment effectiveness, using standardized benchmarks that reflect regional and global performance levels. The program identifies and celebrates practices that lead their territories in performance metrics derived from actual patient data, including hygiene, clinical techniques, and post-treatment stability. These practices will also serve as mentors and knowledge hubs, openly sharing their techniques, workflows, and philosophies to support peer learning and collective growth. DentalMonitoring will host its first Top Ortho Practice Exchange Event live in Las Vegas on September 18th, 2025, before the OP Summit 2025. Sign up here to register "This initiative is about more than recognition — it's about raising the bar for what's possible in orthodontic care," said Philippe Salah, CEO of DentalMonitoring. "By highlighting data-backed excellence, we're helping the industry move toward more measurable, scalable impact." Through this initiative, DentalMonitoring reaffirms its commitment to transforming orthodontics, motivating practices to unlock their full potential, and ultimately supporting them in delivering better care to patients everywhere. About DentalMonitoring DentalMonitoring sets new standards in orthodontics with its AI-powered, FDA De Novo-approved, and MDR-certified remote monitoring software. Designed for use with multiple appliances or treatment phases, it enables doctors to monitor patients remotely, enhance clinical control, and improve efficiency. Patients benefit from features like in-app messaging, convenient guided scans, and real-time feedback. With its latest innovations, DentalMonitoring helps practices optimize workflows and deliver outstanding care. With over 13,000 clinical data results, DentalMonitoring is transforming the orthodontic experience for patients and practices worldwide by connecting innovation with orthodontic needs. View source version on Contacts Media Contact Celine Cendras-WhiteHead of Marketing North
