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REMOVE TOXIC CHEMICALS FROM YOUR HOME WITH PLANTS
Dr. Nari PiduttiNASA research, headed by Dr. Wolverton, has shown that living, green and flowering plants can remove several toxic chemicals from the air in building interiors.
Indoor air pollutants include formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide. Sources of these pollutants can come from a range of products, including office or household furniture made of particle board or pressed wood, consumer paper products, permanent press clothes, water repellant, fire retardants, synthetic fibers, solvents, oils, paints, plastics, laquers, adhesives, printing inks, and paint.
According to Dr. Wolverton’s research, which he published in Eco Friendly House Plants, the following 20 plants were given the highest rating.
|
Plant name |
Ability (out of 10) to remove chemicals |
Lighting conditions Full sun = 5 hours sun Semi-sun = 2 hours sun in winter Semi-shade = only indirect light |
Notes |
|
Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) |
8 |
Semi-sun |
Easy to grow; requires high humidity |
|
Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) |
7 |
Semi-sun |
Easy to grow |
|
Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) |
9 |
Semi-sun |
Easy to grow |
|
Rubber Plant (ficus robusta) |
9 |
Semi-shade |
Easy to grow |
|
Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’) |
8 |
|
Easy to grow |
|
English Ivy (Hedera Helix) |
9 |
Semi-sun Semi-shade |
Requires high humidity; prone to spider mite |
|
Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii) |
9 |
Semi-shade |
|
|
Ficus Alii (Ficus macleilandii ‘Alii’) |
7 |
Full sun |
|
|
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’) |
9 |
Semi-sun Semi-shade |
Requires humidity and good light |
|
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum sp.) |
8 |
Semi-sun Semi-shade |
Easy to grow |
|
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’) |
8 |
Semi-shade |
Very easy to grow |
|
Kimberley Queen (Nephrolepis obliterata) |
9 |
Semi-sun Semi-shade |
Tolerant fern |
|
Florist’s Mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) |
9 |
Full sun |
Easy to grow |
|
Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii) |
9 |
Full sun Semi-sun |
|
|
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia ‘Exotica Compacta’) |
7 |
Full sun Semi-sun |
Very easy to grow Toxic |
|
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina) |
8 |
Full sun |
Requires draught-free environment |
|
Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla) |
8 |
Semi-shade |
|
|
Dendrobium Orchid (Dendrobium sp.) |
7 |
Semi-sun |
|
|
Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) |
7 |
Full sun |
Bulb poisonous when eaten |
|
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’) |
6 |
Semi-sun Semi-shade |
Easy to grow |
The recommended number of plants for an average 1800 square foot home are 15-18 good size house plants in 6 to 8 inch containers.
Reference:
http://www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca/mastergardener/OldPages/
cleanair.shtml#ExperimentsWithPlants
