WASHINGTON: As the world continues to experience extreme high temperatures, it’s clear that the heat of summer is in full swing. There are many ways to keep your house cool during summer, but have you considered using houseplants as a natural solution? Experts highlight that certain indoor plants can effectively cool the air around them through transpiration. “Transpiration is the process where water is absorbed by a plant’s roots and evaporates from its leaves, stems, and flowers into the air,” explains Autumn Janus, a plant expert from Perfect Plants. She adds, “This process is primarily driven by the plant’s need to access carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and to cool itself by releasing water vapor, thereby reducing leaf temperatures.”
Just as there are many air-cleaning indoor plants, experts also note that certain air-cooling houseplants can reduce temperatures around them more effectively than others. Here are five of the best air-cooling houseplants, which you might consider bringing into your home this summer.
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Snake Plant
Snake plants are well-known for their air-purifying qualities and their ability to improve sleep. When it comes to cooling the air, snake plants are just as efficient. “The snake plant, known for its resilience and air purification abilities, releases oxygen at night and filters out toxins, making it a fantastic cooling bedroom plant,” says Autumn. “It is an easy indoor plant, requiring very little water, and grows well in medium light,” adds Julie Bawden-Davis, indoor plant expert at Healthy Houseplants. However, be careful not to overwater this plant, as it could turn your snake plant yellow.
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Aloe Vera
Like snake plants, aloe vera is a succulent that can help cool the surrounding air, although experts note that this group of plants transpires differently from others. “Because these are desert plants, they’ve adapted to be able to close their stomata during the daytime to prevent moisture loss during the hottest part of the day. Instead, they absorb water and transpire at night,” says Diane Kuthy, founder of
How To Grow Everything. As a result, aloe vera can be a great plant to have in your bedroom to help keep things cool during summer nights. “This succulent is very easy to grow indoors. As long as you water your houseplant correctly and give it bright light, aloe vera will thrive in your indoor garden,” notes Julie. Incorrect watering or a lack of light could turn your aloe plant brown.
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Boston Fern
Succulents aren’t the only type of air-cooling plant; indoor ferns are just as effective. In particular, the dense foliage of Boston ferns can produce more water on its surfaces that then evaporates into the air. “A good air-cooling plant when happy,” says Julie. “This plant will struggle in low humidity homes, which will cause leaflet drop,” she adds. It can be a good idea to increase humidity for these indoor plants. A lack of humidity could also cause your Boston fern to turn brown. Place it in a bright position and it will thrive happily.
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Peace Lily
If indoor flowering plants are your preference, then opting for a peace lily this summer can be a great way to keep your interiors cool. These beautiful plants have luscious foliage that can aid transpiration and evaporation. “Featuring elegant white flowers and glossy green leaves, peace lilies not only enhance the aesthetics of a room but also act as a natural humidifier, ultimately helping to cool the air and improve air quality,” says Autumn Janus. These plants will flower for months at a time, but make sure to prune your peace lily after flowering to encourage returning blooms. You can also fertilize a peace lily to encourage growth and a longer-lasting display.
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Chinese Evergreen
For lovers of variegated indoor plants, a Chinese evergreen might be the perfect solution to keeping temperatures down in your home this summer. Also known as the aglaonema, these unique jungle plants have a leafy structure with different colors that guarantees a statement in your home. “The aglaonema Chinese evergreen is not only admired for its beautiful foliage with a variety of colors and patterns, but it also thrives as an indoor low-light plant, making it an ideal cooling plant for your home,” says Autumn. They’re easy to care for, adapting to different environments. However, incorrect watering may lead to yellowing foliage.
