Looking for a smarter way to beat the summer heat without blasting your air conditioner all day? You might want to take a closer look at the houseplants sitting quietly on your windowsill. According to experts, certain indoor plants don’t just brighten up a room, they can literally lower the temperature in your home. And yes, science backs it up.
Thanks to a natural process called transpiration, some houseplants release moisture into the air, creating a cooling effect that can help your space feel more comfortable, especially during peak heat hours. Even better, the right greenery might help shrink your energy bill by reducing the need for constant AC use.
From ferns and palms to snake plants and peace lilies, here are the best indoor plants that pull double duty as natural air conditioners and why you should add them to your home now.
Transpiration is when water flows up out of the soil and through a plant to its leaves and stem. This is how water and nutrients are delivered, but the process also keeps plants cool as water evaporates from the leaves.
So how does that help us? “Transpiration also cools the area around the plant.” said Craig Morley, a gardening specialist at Budget Seeds.
NASA’s Earth Science Division executed a study that shows plants on a large scale help combat rising temperatures caused by global warming. On a smaller scale, adding plants to your home could help regulate temps indoors, though there’s less research on how transpiration affects temperature at a smaller scale.
But, hey, it can’t hurt.
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Tips for increasing plant transpiration
Morley shared tips for ramping up your indoor houseplant’s transpiration to increase cooling effects.
More plants might be the secret to a cooler home this summer.
- Keep houseplants well-watered: If a plant is not watered often, this can reduce the rate of transpiration as the plant tries to conserve water.
- Increase humidity: Placing your plant wet pebble tray can also promote transpiration. As the water evaporates from the tray, it creates a bubble of humidity surrounding the plant.
- Group plants together: Grouping plants together helps to create a humid microclimate.
- Upsize your pot: Plants in containers may transpire less, as their roots are often confined within a small space.
- Avoid pruning in the summer: Pruning can decrease transpiration in a plant, as it reduces water uptake.
It’s important to note that Reddit gardeners also warn against overwatering your plants, too. Pouring too much water into the soil can cause different cells to burst as the water runs out of places to funnel to, hurting or even killing parts of your precious plant. Looking out for signs of transpiration or guttation is a good way to know whether you’re doing the proper amount of watering for your plant.
Best houseplants for cooling the air
Is there anything that houseplants can’t do?
And here are seven of the best air conditioning plants to keep your home cool this summer. What do they have in common? Larger leaves.
“Plant species have different leaf structures which affect their rate of transpiration.” According to Morley, “A larger leaf size means more pores through which to release excess water and increased transpiration.”
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
This snake plant love bright, indirect light.
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)
Peace Lily’s purify air and can help keep the temps down, too.
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis ‘miller’)
Aloe is the ultimate summer plant with the ability to heal sunburns and cool the air.
Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Bamboo palms are instant vibe and can keep the mercury from popping off.
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
These air conditioning plants do well indoors or out.
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos plants are hardy and purify air faster than most houseplants.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Add a few spindly spider plants for a cooler summer
For more plant tips, here are the best places to put plants for growth and see the best plants to repel bugs.
FAQs
Will houseplants replace my need for an AC?
No, houseplants will not replace your need for an AC. The process of transpiration cools the planet on a large scale, but there’s not a large amount of data to prove how much heat houseplants will clear out of your home. You could potentially count on them cooling your house by a couple degrees, but don’t depend on houseplants to replace your air conditioner.
What are the best houseplants to cool my home?
The best houseplants for transpiration all have one thing in common: They have larger leaves than other plants. The extra surface area of the leaf means there are more pores through which water can be released, increasing the rate of transpiration. Some of the best houseplants to cool your home include snake plants, peace lilies and aloe vera.
