The days following Diwali are often hazy, not with celebration, but with smog. Every year, the air quality in many Indian cities drops drastically after the festival, filled with particulate matter and toxins from fireworks, increased traffic, and colder weather trapping pollutants close to the ground. While we can’t control what’s outside, we can take small, meaningful steps to cleanse the air we breathe inside our homes. One of the most natural and effective ways to do this? Adding air-purifying plants to your living spaces.
The Post-Diwali Air Problem
According to air quality data collected over the years, levels of PM2.5 and PM10, tiny pollutants that affect respiratory health, tend to spike after Diwali. Prolonged exposure to these can cause headaches, eye irritation, fatigue, and breathing difficulties. Since most of us spend over 80% of our time indoors, improving indoor air quality becomes crucial.
Plants are nature’s Most Effortless Air Filters
According to NASA's 1989 Clean Air Study, certain plants can naturally absorb harmful toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide, pollutants that often linger in enclosed rooms. Plus, they release oxygen and add moisture to dry post-winter air.
Indoor plants like Snake Plant, Money Plant, Spider Plant, Aloe Vera, and Peace Lily are perfect. They fit comfortably on tables, shelves, or even your work desk and thrive in moderate light.
Pair these indoor plants beautifully with an eco-friendly planter that complements your interiors while keeping it sustainable. Choose one from Taragram or any other sustainable store you like, a metal planter or maybe something in coir, for instance. These options add both function and eco-conscious style to your compact greens.
Localized air improvement
While plants do help clean indoor air overall, the effect is strongest near their leaves, where pollutants are absorbed and oxygen is released. So keeping them close means you’re breathing in that freshly filtered air directly. Plants slightly increase humidity and reduce airborne dust in their immediate surroundings, useful if you spend long hours at a desk or under air-conditioning. Just keep a few small plants nearby, rather than many in one corner. Overcrowding them can limit air circulation and slow their purifying effect. So start with a couple of desk plants in eco-friendly planters, perhaps like this Taragram Planter and you can slowly expand to corners and windowsills.
If you want to add a touch of artistry to your desk or side table, a handcrafted eco friendly planter can hold a small jade or fern beautifully. The combination of plant and artisan-made design makes for an aesthetic that feels mindful and refreshing.
Don’t Forget Outdoor Corners
While your balcony or entryway is directly exposed to outdoor pollutants, placing hardy plants like Areca Palm, Boston Fern, or Rubber Plant there can make a big difference. They help filter dust and absorb some of the airborne toxins before they seep inside. Display them in statement eco friendly planters with a stand to elevate them off the ground and give your outdoor space a clean, structured look.
A Conscious Step Toward Cleaner Air
After Diwali, the focus often shifts to cleaning homes, but cleansing the air should be part of that ritual too. By adding a few thoughtfully chosen plants in sustainable planters, you not only refresh your surroundings but also contribute to a larger shift toward conscious, mindful living.
Because a home that breathes better, lives better.
Sustainably yours, since 1985.
