Gardener shares houseplant that can keep mould away - and it's pet friendly too

The gardener recommended one houseplant to banish mould (stock photo) (Image: Getty)

Filling your home with plants could help keep mould at bay.

Mould loves to grow in damp places, so you might see it crop up around your windows in the winter when the cold air from outside meets the warm air inside your home and creates condensation. It's also a common sight in bathrooms at any time of year, as condensation from your shower creates the perfect breeding ground.

There are many mould-removing products on the market if you discover the fungus growing in your home, and it's important you tackle it as soon as it appears to prevent it from growing further.

However, prevention is always better than a cure, so it's vital to prevent mould from growing in the first place. Keeping your windows and other damp areas as dry as possible can help, but there's something else you can try.

According to a gardening expert, strategically placing a few houseplants in damp areas can work wonders on keeping mould at bay. The plants will soak up the moisture in the air to keep it away from your walls and windows.

Bex Edwards from You Garden shared a video on TikTok in which she listed some of the best houseplant choices to tackle mould, which could be broken down into two types - jungle plants and desert plants.

She said jungle plants like ferns and palms have "evolved to live in tropical environments" so are great at reducing the humidity in damp areas of your home. Desert plants like succulents, meanwhile, are used to dry environments, so have evolved to take in moisture and "hold onto it".

Bex then listed some specific plants that she would recommend to anyone who wants to tackle mould in their home - including one very popular option that is also "pet friendly".

Spider plants are pet-friendly solutions to banishing mould (Image: Getty)

Areca Palm

Bex's first recommendation is the Areca Palm, a large ornamental plant with bamboo-like stems that are topped with feathery fronds. The plant's leaves can grow up to eight feet long, so it isn't a plant for small spaces but can brighten up a larger space. The Areca Palm is fast-growing and low-maintenance, and it's also suitable for both cats and dogs as it's non-toxic.

Spider plant

The Spider plant is a houseplant classic - and it can work wonders on keeping mould at bay. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), spider plants are "one of the easiest houseplants to grow", and they're small enough to place in bathrooms and on windowsills. Spider plants are also non-toxic, so they can be placed in homes with pets.

Snake plant

If you want a desert plant instead of a jungle one, Bex recommends the Sanserveria, or snake plant. This robust plant is also relatively small and grows straight up, so you don't need a lot of room to keep one. However, snake plants are toxic to cats and dogs, so they should not be kept in a house with pets.

Aloe Vera

Another popular choice, Aloe Vera can make a great mould-busting houseplant. According to Gardener's World, it is an "excellent, low-maintenance plant for beginners". This is because it stores water in its leaves and doesn't require much watering - especially if it's soaking up water from your shower. Aloe Vera is toxic to cats and dogs, however.

Commenters on Bex's video hailed her advice as "brilliant", with many saying they were heading out to stock up on houseplants as soon as possible.

One person said: "The succulents are definitely on my wish list!" Another added: "Brilliant news."