- ‹ previous
- 12 of 1535
- next ›
Econundrum: 5 Houseplants That Clean Your Air
Anyone who's tried to decorate an apartment on a budget knows that houseplants are great: They're cheap. You can buy 'em at the supermarket. And many are remarkably independent. Plop a philodendron down basically anywhere, and voila: instant hominess.
Another houseplant plus: They can clean your air. A team of horticulturists at the University of Georgia recently tested 28 common houseplants to see how well they removed volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—noxious chemicals found in paints, glues, cleaners, and other things around the home—from indoor air. They found that most of the plants tested filtered at least some of the chemicals. The plants themselves do some of the work through photosynthesis, but their soil helps, too, says Bodie Pennisi, a University of Georgia horticulture professor who was involved with the study. "During the day the plant does it; during the night‚ tiny soil organisms remove gases when the plant is not as active."
The five species listed below were the all-around top scorers; they excelled at removing all the chemicals tested.
| 1. |  |
English Ivy (Hedera helix) Great for: a-Pinene (found in wood cleaners) |
| 2. |  |
Purple Heart Plant (Tradescantia pallida) Great for: toluene (found in kerosene, heating oil, paints, and lacquers) |
| 3. |  |
Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus) Great for: a-Pinene (found in wood cleaners) |
| 4. |  |
Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa) Great for: octane (found in paint, adhesives, and building materials) |
| 5. |  |
Purple Waffle (Hemigraphis alternata) Great for: benzene (found in glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents, and cigarette smoke); trichloroethylene (also known as TCE; found in adhesives, paint removers, and spot removers) |
Houseplants
Those plants might be good for absorbing certain airborne chemicals, but none of them are especially easy to maintain. They all need a fair amount of light, and none of them can be just "plopped down" and ignored. The purple waffle in particular is difficult to keep in good condition for very long and many sources don't recommend them as houseplants. Maybe if you listed some plants that would be genuinely easy for most people such as parlor palms, some philodendrons, pothos, etc.?
Plants
Spider plants are very easy to maintain
http://www.zone10.com/nasa-study-house-plants-clean-air.html
phytotechnologies
There are other plants that have been demonstrated to have this activity as well and are more of your generic houseplant type. Dracena, Mother-in-laws-tongue, for example. Previous groups have pointed towards the microbial communities in the soil (rhizosphere) as the actors, rather than the plant themselves. Which would suggest that there the plant species is not as important as the growth characteristics.
Houseplants
how many of these plants are safe around cats? In my research I have found that many, MANY houseplants are poisonous to cats.
Funny that
Funny that at least two of the plants listed are used in the outdoor garden south of the Mason-Dixon line -- the purple heart most notably. In interestingly, in TN I cannot find the purple heart potted and sold as a house plant, but every spring they are sold as annuals to fill in your outdoor flower beds.
Furthermore, hoya's are not an easy plant to grow, in fact they are quite temperamental. I had a lovely collection of hoyas, until I moved and not a single one survived the temperature change (warmer) or the change in light.
I have to agree with Darlene on this one, where are the pothos, philodendrons, etc.
Ever See A House Plant MOVE When You Tickle It?
Here is a product packaged in the usa that made my kids Birthday Party a huge success. Its called the TickleMe Plant Party favor. In it you can grow a real Plant that moves when you Tickle It! The leaves instantly fold and even the branches droop when Tickled! You have to see the video and grow your own to believe this is real. I found it at http://www.ticklemeplant.com It may clean your air as well, but the best part is that it will make you smile.
Mimosa pudica
This plant is difficult to grow as a house plant. It is really an outdoor annual. But the leaf vein "tickle" response if fun!
5 Houseplants That Clean Your Air
This English Ivy is one of the most invasive plants. It is beautiful but out of control. I've sadly seen whole Chestnut woods pulled down by this stuff. Out side my back door here in Oregon it runs up the fir trees at ten foot a year, I annualy machete a half acre, but it's like trying to turn back the tide.
The Green Monster
We call this plant "the Green Monster" it is a horrific invader. Stay away! However, sometimes the most bullet proof weeds can have some of the best benefit on contaminated environments. Its rooting habit does not lend itself to soil phyotremediation, but as an air "bio-scrubber" it does show some promise. But avoid letting it loose outside!
Good information. I just
Good information. I just wrote about this in a hub about creating a comfortable, welcoming home. Maybe I should link to this hub -- Is that okay with you? I have plants all over my home, inside and out. I like having green things around, and I think it does help the quality of the air! Good topic for a hub! Keep writing.