You may have heard that NASA found certain houseplants can clean the air in your home. There’s just one problem: that claim leaves out the most important part of the story.

NASA really did study houseplants and their ability to remove certain airborne chemicals. But the experiments were conducted in small, sealed chambers, not ordinary living rooms. Later research found that the effect is far too small for a few potted plants to meaningfully clean the air in a typical home.

That doesn’t mean you should get rid of your plants.

It means you should choose them for the right reasons: their appearance, ease of care, connection to nature, and the enjoyment they bring to your home—not because you expect a handful of pots to replace ventilation or an air purifier.

Here are 9 plants associated with the famous NASA Clean Air Study, along with what each one actually needs to thrive indoors.

1. Snake Plant

If you’re looking for an attractive plant that doesn’t demand constant attention, the snake plant is one of the easiest places to start.

It’s tolerant of lower-light conditions and prefers to dry out between waterings. That makes it particularly forgiving for beginners who occasionally forget about their plants.

The snake plant was among the species examined in the NASA research, but it’s important not to turn that laboratory finding into a promise that one snake plant will purify your bedroom. The original experiments were performed under controlled, sealed conditions.

Best spot: A room with low to bright indirect light.

Watering: Let the soil dry between waterings.

Biggest mistake: Watering too frequently.

If you’re choosing this plant because you want something genuinely easy to care for, that’s a much stronger reason than the old “air purifier” claim.

2. Peace Lily

The peace lily is one of the most recognizable plants associated with the NASA study.

Its glossy green leaves and white flowers make it especially popular for living rooms, bedrooms, and offices.

Unlike a snake plant, however, a peace lily doesn’t appreciate being forgotten for weeks. It prefers more consistent moisture and will often let you know when it’s getting too dry by drooping.

Best spot: Bright, indirect light.

Watering: Keep the soil lightly moist, but don’t leave it saturated.

Biggest mistake: Allowing the soil to stay either bone-dry or constantly waterlogged.

One important note if you have pets: peace lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals and can cause irritation if chewed or swallowed. Keep them somewhere pets can’t get into them.

3. Golden Pothos

Golden pothos has a lot going for it beyond its connection to the NASA study.

It’s fast-growing, attractive, easy to propagate, and forgiving when conditions aren’t perfect.

Its trailing vines look particularly good hanging from a shelf or climbing around a support.

Best spot: Low to bright indirect light.

Watering: Water when the upper portion of the soil has dried.

Biggest mistake: Keeping the roots constantly wet.

Pothos can survive in lower light, but don’t interpret that as “no light.” Growth will generally be slower when light is limited.

And if one plant eventually becomes several, don’t be surprised. Pothos is remarkably easy to propagate from stem cuttings.

4. English Ivy

English ivy is another plant frequently mentioned in discussions of the NASA research.

Its trailing growth can create a beautiful indoor display, especially when grown in a hanging basket.

But compared with pothos, English ivy can be less forgiving indoors.

It generally prefers bright, indirect light, good air circulation, and consistent care. Spider mites can also become a problem when indoor conditions are hot and dry.

Best spot: Bright, indirect light.

Watering: Keep the soil moderately moist without leaving it soggy.

Biggest mistake: Putting it in a dark corner and expecting it to thrive.

If you love the look of ivy but don’t want to deal with its higher maintenance needs, pothos may be the easier alternative.

5. Spider Plant

Spider plants are another excellent beginner choice.

They’re adaptable, relatively easy to care for, and famous for producing little plantlets that hang from long stems.

Those “babies” can eventually be rooted and grown into new plants, making spider plants particularly satisfying if you enjoy propagating.

Best spot: Bright to moderate indirect light.

Watering: Water when the soil begins to dry, while avoiding constantly wet soil.

Biggest mistake: Leaving the roots sitting in water.

If your spider plant develops brown leaf tips, don’t immediately assume it’s dying. Water quality, dry air, fertilizer buildup, and inconsistent watering can all contribute to browning.

6. Dracaena

Several Dracaena species have been associated with the NASA research, and they’re still popular indoor plants today.

They’re especially useful when you want something with a more architectural shape than a trailing houseplant.

Most prefer bright, indirect light but can tolerate somewhat lower light. Let the soil dry somewhat between waterings rather than keeping it constantly wet.

Best spot: Bright, indirect light.

Watering: Allow the soil to dry partially between waterings.

Biggest mistake: Overwatering.

Dracaenas can also be sensitive to salts and chemicals in some tap water, so persistent brown tips may be a sign that your watering routine or water quality needs attention.

7. Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreen, or Aglaonema, is popular for one simple reason: it can handle conditions that would frustrate many other houseplants.

Many varieties tolerate lower indoor light, making them useful for rooms that aren’t flooded with sunshine.

Different cultivars also come with different leaf patterns, from deep green to silvery and variegated combinations.

Best spot: Low to moderate indirect light, depending on the variety.

Watering: Allow the surface of the soil to dry somewhat before watering.

Biggest mistake: Keeping the potting mix constantly saturated.

If you want a leafy plant for a less-than-sunny room, Chinese evergreen is worth considering.

8. Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera daisies bring something different to this list: colorful flowers.

Their bright blooms can instantly make a room feel more cheerful, but they’re not nearly as forgiving as snake plants or pothos.

They need plenty of light and careful watering, and keeping them blooming indoors can take more effort.

Best spot: Very bright light, ideally near a sunny window.

Watering: Keep the soil moderately moist but well drained.

Biggest mistake: Giving the plant too little light.

Choose a gerbera because you love its flowers—not because you expect it to act like a household air purifier.

9. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is one of the easiest plants on this list to understand.

Give it plenty of light, use a well-draining potting mix, and don’t drown it.

Its thick leaves store water, allowing it to tolerate periods of dryness much better than plants that need consistently moist soil.

Best spot: Bright light or a sunny window.

Watering: Allow the soil to dry thoroughly before watering again.

Biggest mistake: Treating aloe like a tropical plant and watering it frequently.

And while aloe has a long history of topical use, don’t assume that because a plant is useful it is automatically safe to ingest. Aloe products and raw plant material aren’t interchangeable.

So, Do These Plants Actually Purify Your Home?

Here’s where the famous NASA story needs some context.

The original NASA research was real. Scientists tested plants in sealed chambers and found that some plants could remove certain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, from the air under those experimental conditions.

The problem came later, when those laboratory results were presented as though they proved that a few houseplants could clean the air in an ordinary home.

They don’t.

A peer-reviewed analysis published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology reviewed 12 studies and found that the air-cleaning rates measured in sealed-chamber experiments did not translate into meaningful removal of VOCs in typical indoor environments.

In other words:

The NASA study wasn’t fake. The way its results were turned into a houseplant “air purifier” claim was the problem.

That’s an important distinction.

What Actually Helps Improve Indoor Air?

If your goal is genuinely cleaner indoor air, don’t rely on a collection of houseplants.

Start with the things that make a measurable difference:

Ventilate when appropriate

Fresh outdoor air can dilute indoor pollutants when outdoor conditions allow.

Control pollution at the source

Cooking, smoking, burning candles, cleaning products, paints, furnishings, and other household activities can all contribute to indoor pollutants.

Reducing the source is often more effective than trying to remove pollutants afterward.

Use filtration when appropriate

A properly selected air purifier can provide far more meaningful particle removal than a few decorative plants.

Houseplants and air purifiers don’t need to compete, either.

Keep the plants because you enjoy them. Use actual air-cleaning strategies when air quality is the goal.

Which Plant Should You Choose?

If you want the easiest option, start with:

• Snake plant
• Pothos
• Spider plant
• Chinese evergreen

If your home has lower light, consider:

• Snake plant
• Pothos
• Chinese evergreen

If you have a bright, sunny window, look at:

• Aloe vera
• Gerbera daisy

If you want flowers, consider:

• Peace lily
• Gerbera daisy

If you want a trailing plant, try:

• Pothos
• English ivy
• Spider plant

And if you’re choosing a plant specifically because you’ve heard it will “clean your air,” pause for a second.

Choose it because it will thrive in your home.

That’s going to give you a much better result than buying a plant based on an overstated air-purification promise.

The Better Reason to Fill Your Home With Plants

Houseplants may not function as miniature HEPA filters, but that doesn’t make them pointless.

They can make a space feel more inviting, add color and texture, give you something enjoyable to care for, and bring a stronger connection to nature indoors.

Those are real benefits—and you don’t need to exaggerate the science to appreciate them.

The NASA study gave us an interesting starting point for understanding how plants interact with certain pollutants under controlled conditions. What later research taught us is just as important: laboratory results don’t automatically translate into real-world homes.

So go ahead and bring home the snake plant, pothos, spider plant, or aloe.

Just don’t expect one little pot on your windowsill to do the job of ventilation or an air purifier.

The best houseplant is ultimately the one that fits your space, your light, and your lifestyle—and that you actually enjoy keeping alive.