These 7 Houseplants Can Help Cool Your Home During a Heat Wave

Plants are good for many things, but keeping the air cooler during oppressive heat isn’t one that most people think about. According to science, plants really can keep the temperature down, through a natural process called transpiration, and loading up your house with the right plants could save you from having to crank the AC as high.

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.

Tips for increasing plant transpiration

Morley shared tips for ramping up your indoor houseplant’s transpiration to increase cooling effects.

gettyimages-530329210 — More plants might be the secret to a cooler home this summer.

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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.

Best houseplants for cooling the air

plants on windowsill — Is there anything that houseplants can’t do?

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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.”