Can Succulents Really Purify the Air? Here's the Answer

Can Succulents Purify the Air?

The answer is no. Succulents became popular because they are small, cute-looking and varied in color, but some merchants, in order to attract attention, often label them as being able to purify the air, which actually has no scientific basis. When it comes to purifying the air, we generally have two expectations: one is absorbing dust, and the other is absorbing harmful gases.

1. Absorbing dust: Succulents are all very small, and at most they can absorb only a tiny amount of dust, and they do not absorb it actively either - the dust simply falls onto them by gravity, so growers still need to clean off the dust. This attempt at air purification fails.

2. Absorbing harmful gases: We all know about plant photosynthesis - simply put, it is the biochemical process in which, under visible light, carbon dioxide and water are converted into energy-storing organic matter and oxygen is released.

The harmful gases we commonly encounter are mostly things like formaldehyde. In fact, no plant actively absorbs a certain harmful gas and converts it into energy-storing organic matter or oxygen.

At this point some growers may say, then why is it said that plants like pothos (Epipremnum aureum) can absorb harmful gases? Actually, this is not active absorption by the plant, but passive absorption because the leaves are large and the surface area is large. Most succulent leaves, however, are relatively small and do not have this effect. They are already hard enough to keep alive - which grower would be willing to make them bear the heavy responsibility of risking death to absorb harmful gases?

Having said all this, growers should be able to understand that succulents actually cannot purify the air. This statement is a bit absolute, or it can be understood as meaning their effect is negligible. Opening the windows for ventilation is far more reliable than a single plant for purifying the air; ordinary small potted plants are mostly for ornamental purposes.

So friends who want to grow a pot of succulents to purify the air would be better off buying an air purifier, which is more reliable. However, although succulents cannot purify the air or absorb radiation, their adorable appearance is still loved by many people.