Air purifying plants for indoors?

[Mama3737]

Hello, I know this isn't technically gardening but I figured the posters over here will know their stuff plants wise!
I'm looking for a plant to keep in my son's bedroom, that will help with purifying the air? He suffers with asthma and I was reading that some plants beside the bed can help with this. Though there seems to be so many suggestions that come up, and I'm clueless. Thanks so much!

How much sunlight will it get? How much room is there for it? Is it liable to get watered a lot or a little?

You probably can't go wrong with a snake plant (Sanseveria). They're pretty much indestructible. One of mine even came back after being chewed right down to the ground by a puppy.

@CatherinedeBourgh good question about sunlight. It would be on a windowsill but it's a north facing room so doesn't get much sun to be honest and isn't the warmest. So something pretty indestructible would he needed! I did see a snake plant mentioned.. thank you

Honestly? Plants don’t purify air in the home - that’s used as a sales tactic. If you need air purified, get an air purifier.

I’d be concerned a plant near my asthmatic child’s bed could cause other issues - naturally occurring mould spores from the compost, for example.

Plants do, however offer many other benefits: aesthetics, a hobby etc. So, buy a plant you like and will suit the environment you can keep it in.

I read up about this a while ago, but the amount of plants needed in the room to actually improve air quality- was more than could fit in the room! Also, they wouldn't all get sunlight. Yes, a plant can be calming, nice to look at and will provide 'some' amount of air cleaning, but if its so small it fits on a windowsill, its of negligible benefit.

I assume you've looked up on asthma websites on other things to help? Reducing dust mites by removing carpets and rugs, more regular washing of duvets and bedding, not overcrowding wardrobes etc.

I'd buy an actual air purifier. I was living in central london on a very busy road. The black soot on the window sill was dreadful. I reviewed multiple air purifiers and bought an IQ air. It was expensive, but the difference was amazing. The air even smelt cleaner! You can buy smaller/cheaper models, but most would do 1 room at most.
GC Multigas Air Purifier (iqair.com)

Agree with others that plants don't really help with this.

However, we have allergies here and this running overnight in a closed bedroom has made a big difference:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071D58ZY5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

It's a sales tactic. Plants can't 'purify' air, certainly they can't purify it of asthma allergens.
The sole truth that these claims rest on is that plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. So if a home was somehow short of oxygen (located underwater perhaps? or in space? or too-blessed with hermetically sealed doors and windows?) plants might help a bit, if you had more than a couple of dozen or so.

Best reason for buying houseplants is their all-round loveliness. I have more than 40. If they really purified the air my vacuum filters would be pristine white and I would be high on oxygen

All this magic plants 'purifying the air' stuff is basically nonsense, and is a sales pitch. Any old ordinary plant in the home will be beneficial anyway. They do produce negative ions, which is a good thing in a home with a lot of electrical equipment producing positive ions all over the place, so in that way they counteract those. They are also pleasing to look at, which improves mood.