Did you know that there are EMF plants that can protect you against electromagnetic fields (EMFs) coming from devices inside or outside your home? Many people are already enjoying having plants in their home, so let’s learn how they remove these toxins from your environment, and how to to best use them to reduce your EMF exposure. Keep reading to discover the top 10 plants that have anti-radiation properties and how to maximize their EMF-blocking benefits.
EMF Protection Using Indoor Plants
Before we go into detail on the different species of indoor plants that can combat radiation, let’s talk about phytoremediation first. If you haven’t heard this term yet, it’s the process where plants can remove toxins and pollution from an environment. In history, sunflowers were used to lower radiation levels from the Chernobyl catastrophe. They were proven effective so sunflowers were used again to contain the Fukushima meltdown.
Since it’s effective to use plants to fight radiation, it makes us wonder if they could also combat EMF. If you’re also curious to know, there’s a lack of study to completely prove its efficiency in lowering EMFs. However, some research shows that it can effectively remove toxins from water, soil, and air as well as reduce indoor pollution.
If you’re looking to add indoor plants to reduce EMF levels in your home, there are also some steps to take in order to combat EMFs more effectively. For instance, you should use dirty electricity filters, install smart meter covers, and switch to incandescent lights. Now, let’s get to know the best houseplants that are known to filter out EMF radiation and other environmental toxins in your home:
1. Sunflowers
As mentioned earlier, sunflowers help lower radiation levels after a nuclear disaster. Likewise, they can reduce EMFs in homes because sunflowers are hyperaccumulators, which means they can remove toxic materials and contaminants from the soil and even water. While these are usually planted outdoors, you can still have indoor sunflowers in the right conditions.
First, make sure to use a larger pot for the sunflower to grow and a well-lit area where the plant can get at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. If there’s not enough sunlight, you can use a LED grow light which can replicate the sun. However, this can create EMF radiation so it’s better to put your sunflower outside for several hours per day if needed. Depending on your local climate, water the sunflowers when necessary to keep the soil moist.
2. Monstera Deliciosa
This plant is also known as the Swiss cheese plant due to the leaves’ distinctive holes. Although there’s not enough study to prove its effectiveness in fighting EMF, this houseplant still made it on the list because it can purify indoor air during the night. This ability makes this plant ideal in bedrooms as it can reduce your EMF exposure while sleeping.
Monstera Deliciosa plants need weekly watering, especially during their growing season. However, you don’t have to water them often during cold months as long as the soil is still moist. To check if they need watering, put your finger in the soil and if it feels dry then it’s time for some watering. This indoor plant thrives in indirect sunlight while growing well at 70 to 75 degrees temperatures.
3. Betel Leaf
This edible plant belongs to the pepper family. Betel leaf has radioprotective properties according to a study in India. It can protect you from EMF radiation, although it was only proven in a rat study. To grow this plant indoors, you need fertilizer such as nitrogen-enriched organic material. Make sure to place it in a humid, well-lit area because betel leaf plants grow in a tropical environment.
When in a dry environment, you should mist your betel leaf and make sure to check the soil more often to know when to water the plant. Never let it dry out, stick to a watering schedule.
4. Golden Pothos
This vine plant can crawl around your electronic devices to combat EMFs more effectively. Golden pothos hasn’t been studied to prove its effectiveness in blocking EMF radiation, but it can potentially absorb atmospheric EMF in your room. The best thing about this houseplant is that it’s so easy to grow and vines well indoors.
Golden pothos only needs to be watered once a week during their growing season. They easily vine around any surface including your electronics to reduce EMFs. During winter, you only need to water this plant once every two weeks. It doesn’t need any fertilizer, but you need to make sure there’s enough drainage in the pot.
5. Gerber Daisy
Based on NASA’s Plants for Indoor Pollution Abatement Study, Gerber Daisy is highly effective in getting rid of toxins. Direct sunlight is essential when growing this plant indoors just like sunflowers. Watering your Gerber Daisy regularly is important, but limit it when the soil is still moist during cold months. Place the plant near your south-facing window and make sure the pot can drain well.
6. Mums
Traditionally, mums are outdoor plants but you can also grow them indoors. The flowers can last up to 6 weeks while it can live longer as foliage. NASA’s Plants for Indoor Pollution Abatement Study used mums to prove that they can filter out environmental toxins. Based on the results, mums can effectively get rid of substantial amounts of toxins from the atmosphere.
Mums were not studied for EMF radiation blocking, however, they have the power to remove harmful substances in the air. This flowering plant is low maintenance, it only needs sufficient watering and good drainage to thrive. You can water them once per week and make sure to avoid getting their leave wet to prevent plant fungus.
7. Maidenhair Fern
This plant is also called Adiantum, another indoor plant that can protect your home from EMF. Maidenhair fern can absorb radiation emitted by your electronic gadgets at home. It’s ideal to put this beautiful fern plant in the living room, home office, and other areas where there are electronics to lower RF-EMF exposure.
Compared to other indoor plants listed here, maidenhair ferns are more sensitive and require more intensive care. They thrive in humid environments, therefore misting these plants should be done if you’re in a place with a dry climate and when using the heater during winter. Remember that maidenhair ferns don’t need too much sunlight and they grow more with indirect light or in the shade.
8. Mother-in-Law Tongue
This is more popularly known as snake plant and is considered very effective in reducing EMF radiation. As one of the plants studied in NASA’s Plants for Indoor Pollution Abatement Study, mother-in-law’s tongue has been found to contain protective properties against harmful toxins in the atmosphere.
Since this plant belongs to the succulent family, you don’t need to water it every day. Mother-in-law’s tongue loves to grow in a dry environment, so make sure to limit your watering. In fact, it can survive under low or high light conditions and grow so well in indirect sunlight. The key to growing this EMF-blocking indoor plant is to use a pot that has enough drainage and put quick-draining soil.
9. Cactus
There was a study published online that was allegedly conducted by NASA that says cactus is the “most effective plant” that can absorb and filter out EMFs. However, the said study is now gone and can’t be found on the internet. Despite the lack of evidence, cactus is still an ideal indoor plant to grow in your home as it can produce more oxygen at night, hence potentially removing EMFs in your room while you sleep.
It’s so simple to grow a cactus at home because it doesn’t need much water. You can water it once every two weeks and it will be alright. However, it’s important to use a pot with good drainage to keep moist at bay. Most varieties need sunlight, but there are also some cactus plants that can thrive in low-light conditions.
10. Aloe.
There are so many reasons to grow an aloe vera plant in your home, but one of its main benefits is the ability to reduce toxins in your home. You will know if your home has poor air quality when you see some brown spots in the leaves of your aloe plant. One of the reasons could be the presence of EMF radiation in your home.
According to researchers, aloe juice has protective properties against EMF radiation. Exposure to EMF can affect male fertility as it decreases sperm quality. It was found that aloe juice can prevent DNA damage related to EMF exposure while preserving male fertility in mice. To grow an aloe plant, watering can be done once every three weeks, and make sure it gets enough indirect sunlight.
How to Use Indoor EMF Plants for at Home EMF Protection
Perhaps you are wondering how many of these indoor plants you should use at home. Well, NASA recommends one EMF-blocking indoor plant in every 100 square feet. If your house is as big as 1,500 square feet, then you will need 15 of these houseplants to combat EMF radiation effectively. It’s good to use different plants to maximize their benefits in improving indoor air quality.
For instance, you can place a maidenhair fern in your bathroom because it thrives in humid surroundings. The humidity in the bathroom rises every time you use the shower. Also, your bathroom is dimly lit most of the time which is beneficial to maidenhair ferns as they grow more in the shade.
Wrapping It Up
While there are not enough studies to support the claims that these indoor plants have radioprotective abilities, they have been shown to lower environmental toxins in the atmosphere. NASA’s study is enough to substantiate the ability of these plants to filter out pollution and toxins in the air and therefore fight against EMF exposure.
The plants included in the list are mostly easy to grow and maintain. They also have a lot of benefits including their radioprotective properties in addition to providing oxygen and boosting your mood. Most importantly, it’s fulfilling and pleasurable to care for these plants at home. So if you want to lower the EMF radiation in your home due to electronic devices, check out this guide for some helpful tips.
