Tony O’Neill, expert gardener and best-selling author of the famous “Simplify Vegetable Gardening,” “Composting Masterclass,” and “Your First Vegetable Garden,” combines lifelong passion and expert knowledge to simplify gardening. His mission? Helping you cultivate a thriving garden. More on Tony O’Neill
{“statusCode”:401,”message”:”License key missing”}
Jade plants purify the air in your home by absorbing certain airborne chemical compounds. Jade plants are one of the most effective compared to other plants that improve air quality in homes, like Dracaena and Pothos.
If you’re concerned with the air quality in your home or are simply curious about how jade plants can help purify your home environment, keep reading. We’ll cover all the basics right here!
How does jade clean indoor air?
Jade plants are one of the rare few houseplants that utilize what is known as the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. This means they continue to photosynthesize and “breathe in” C02 even at night when most other plants are sleeping.
Many plants can only photosynthesize when the sun is shining, but not the clever plants which evolved this Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. In their harsh native environments, jade plants could preserve their precious moisture overnight.
Some other plants that use the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism include snake plants, Chinese Evergreen, weeping figs, rubber plants, and many Dracaena varieties.
In addition to replacing C02 with oxygen 24 hours a day (as if that wasn’t enough), the jade plants’ metabolism allows them to absorb pollutants and heavy metals from the air by releasing them as harmless byproducts or trapping them within their plant matter. Thanks, Jade!
Does jade remove toxins from the air?
Yes! Jade plants purify the air in your home by removing toxins in the air and trapped in floating (i.e., breathable) dust particulates. Many elite scientific institutions, including NASA, have studied the effectiveness of jade plants’ air purification skills.
Toxins can enter your air, from general household cleaning supplies to something you stepped on while walking home. Jade plants absorb these toxins, process them, and then exhale them back into your home’s environment as harmless chemical compounds.
For example, toluene is a hazardous chemical compound often found in homes. Although its use is now banned, it was once common in several household products, from paint thinners to adhesives.
Using these products as directed could leave a measurable amount of dangerous toluene in the air. In studies, jade plants were proven to reduce airborne toluene more than any other houseplant.
Other plants that excel in toxin removal include the Boston Fern, spider plants, bromeliads, and Dracaenas.
Especially if you or a loved one suffers from a lung illness, like asthma or long COVID, consider adding a jade plant to your home! You’ll breathe easier.
Do jade plants give off oxygen?
Because of their firmer leaf appearance, many plants assume that jade plants and other succulents do not give off as much oxygen as other, more broad-leafed plants, which is incorrect.
Jade plants produce a relatively high amount of oxygen. While humans inhale oxygen and exhale C02, plants do the reverse. As previously stated, jade plants don’t rely solely on the sun for their respiration energy; they continue breathing even at night. It means jade plants produce more oxygen than your average sun-reliant, broad-leafed houseplant.
Living in an environment with high levels of oxygen has numerous benefits, including:
- Reduced stress
- Deeper sleep
- Increased alertness
- Improved mood
- Boosted immune system
- Accelerated tissue regeneration
Where should jade plants be placed in the home?
Jade plants thrive when they receive at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily. If you have a south-facing window in your space, consider positioning your jade plant near it.
Jade plants do not love high-humidity environments, so perhaps skip the bathroom as a potential spot for your jade.
The bedroom is an excellent place to consider placing your jade plant. Because they continue to produce oxygen at night, jade plants can allow you to achieve a more satisfying, restful sleep.
You’ll benefit from the jade plant’s air purifying abilities no matter where you put it, as it works 24/7 to take in the bad and put out the good. Don’t try to force your jade plant into a position that won’t allow it to thrive!
In Feng Shui, it is suggested that a jade plant near the main entryway to the home is believed to invite good fortune. Just ensure that the entrance isn’t drafty if you live somewhere cold in winter, as jade plants will not tolerate freezing temperatures.
What are air-purifying plants?
Not all houseplants are created equal. I’ve already mentioned several houseplants that will purify your air, but here’s a helpful chart to identify air-cleansing houseplants and their ideal growing environments.
For those of you who want your plants to be more than just something pretty to look at, consider adding a few of these types to your collection:
Plant Name | Light | Humidity |
Jade Plant | Bright, Indirect | Low |
Boston Fern | Moderate, Indirect | High |
Spider Plant | Bright, Indirect | High |
Bromeliads | Full Sun to Partial Shade | High |
Gerbera Daisy | Bright, Direct | High |
Aloe Vera | Bright, Direct, or Indirect | Low |
Rubber Plant | Indirect to Low Light | Low |
Lady Palm | Indirect Sun to Partial Shade | High |
Majesty Palm | Bright, Direct | High |
It’s excellent to grow a plant for enjoyment and beauty. Plenty of enjoyable, beautiful plants can also serve an essential cleansing purpose in your home, just like the jade plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the jade plant lucky inside the house?
According to Feng Shui, Jade plants attract wealth and prosperity to a home. It is one of the most popular “good luck” plants to give in Asia. A flowering jade plant brings extraordinary friendship and luck to its caregiver for the year.
Is the jade plant toxic?
Jade plants are toxic to humans and pets when ingested. Depending on consumption, it can cause dizziness, nausea, depression, and diarrhea. Keep jade plants out of reach of animals and small children.
Can I put my jade plant in the bathroom?
The bathroom is not the best place for a jade plant. Bathrooms tend to be too humid for jade plants to thrive, as jade prefers drier conditions. Many bathrooms are also closed off and low-light. Jade plants grow best in rooms with bright, indirect light. Consider a large room with a south-facing window instead.
What does a healthy jade plant look like?
Depending on the variety, a thriving jade plant will have whole, firm leaves of a dark green to red color. Its stems will be unwrinkled and will not be drooping. Its soil will be dry to the touch and free of pests, such as fungus gnats.
What kills jade plants?
The most common killer of jade plants is overwatering. Jade plants are hardy but will not tolerate overly moist soil or high-humidity environments; they will quickly droop and drop leaves. Jade plants must be in well-draining pots and be allowed to dry out between waterings to thrive fully.
Conclusion on Do Jade Plants Purify The Air In Your Home?
Every little thing we can do to purify our living spaces is essential in our pollutant-riddled world. Adding a jade plant to your home brings beauty, peace, and fresh air; what’s not to love? Give yourself (and your lungs) a little T.L.C and start tending to a jade plant today!
Suppose you’re not sure where, to begin with, jade plant care, don’t get discouraged. I have plenty of specified care guides for jade plants, so even the least green of thumbs can keep their jade plant alive!