Think that the role of household plants [1] is to just brighten up living spaces and look nice on shelves? Think again. Many common household plants, such as ferns, palms, and ZZ plants, can lower airborne viruses' infectivity by raising humidity levels indoors. Yes, you heard that right. One of the secret weapons to fending off or dealing with the common cold [2] or flu may not just be in your medicine cabinet — but also on your windowsill.
According to research [3], when humidity hits above 40 percent, it can greatly reduce the virulence and infectivity of the flu virus. Higher humidity also means lower infectivity of airborne viruses. This is where plants come in: all plants, with the exception of succulents and cacti, have the ability to increase humidity levels through a process known as transpiration.
"Transpiration occurs when direct sunlight strikes the leaves and pulls water from them into the air," explains Christopher Satch, head of plant science and education at The Sill [4]. "The plant, in turn, pulls water from the soil to replace the water that has evaporated into the air. The bigger the plant, the more transpiration that occurs, and the more water that gets moved into the air. Humidity increases with increased transpiration and having more plants and bigger plants raises humidity the most."
So don't be afraid to splurge on plants this year — not only do they purify the air we breathe, but they can also keep us healthy. Read ahead for 17 humidity-generating plants, and where to buy them, that can help us to feel our best.
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes
Pothos Marble
Buy it here: Pothos Marble [6] ($54)
Pothos Marble
Buy it here: Pothos Marble [7] ($18)
Aloe Vera
Buy it here: Aloe Vera [8] ($12)
Aloe Vera
Buy it here: Aloe Vera [9] ($30)
Ficus Lyrata
Buy it here: Ficus Lyrata [10] ($44-$179)
Ficus Lyrata
Buy it here: Ficus Lyrata [11] ($249)
Snake Plant
Buy it here: Snake Plant [12] ($57)
Snake Plant
Buy it here: Snake Plant [13] ($149)
Bird of Paradise
Buy it here: Bird of Paradise [14] ($29-$104)
Bird of Paradise
Buy it here: Bird of Paradise [15] ($85)
Areca Palm
Buy it here: Areca Palm [16] ($49)
Areca Palm
Buy it here: Areca Palm [17] ($57)
English Ivy
Buy it here: English Ivy [18] ($24)
English Ivy
Buy it here: English Ivy [19] ($29)
Kimberly Queen Fern
Buy it here: Kimberly Queen Fern [20] ($79)
Kimberly Queen Fern
Buy it here: Kimberly Queen Fern [21] ($32)
Lady Palm
Buy it here: Lady Palm [22] ($155)
Lady Palm
Buy it here: Lady Palm [23] ($120)
Maidenhair Fern
Buy it here: Maidenhair Fern [24] ($31)
Maidenhair Fern
Buy it here: Maidenhair Fern [25] ($19)
Monstera
Buy it here: Monstera [26] ($169)
Monstera
Buy it here: Monstera [27] ($21)
Peace Lily
Buy it here: Peace Lily [28] ($29)
Peace Lily
Buy it here: Peace Lily [29] ($30)
Philodendron
Buy it here: Philodendron [30] ($103)
Philodendron
Buy it here: Philodendron [31] ($37)
Rattlesnake Calathea
Buy it here: Rattlesnake Calathea [32] ($41)
Rattlesnake Calathea
Buy it here: Rattlesnake Calathea [33] ($25)
Rubber Tree
Buy it here: Rubber Tree [34] ($169)
Rubber Tree
Buy it here: Rubber Tree [35] ($26)
Spider Plant
Buy it here: Spider Plant [36] ($35)
Spider Plant
Buy it here: Spider Plant [37] ($19)
ZZ Plant
Buy it here: ZZ Plant [38] ($48)
ZZ Plant
Buy it here: ZZ Plant [39] ($25)
