Air Purifier Indoor Plants and how to grow them.

Air pollution has been widely known as “silent killer” to human. Not only does outdoor air pollution contribute huge emission tossed from thousands tailpipes; indoor air also generates potential pollution that cause a number of serious health problems- from headache to cancer.  A study even found that as most of us spend 90% of our time indoor, the indoor air pollution could hence threaten us with more dangerous effects than the outdoor pollution does.

Lots of efforts have been -made to reduce indoor air pollution. Inventing air purifier and reducing the use of potential source of air pollution has been conducted. The most surprising solution came from NASA. Cooperating with ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America) in a 2-year research, NASA announced some plants to be capable in absorbing the air pollution, especially indoor air pollution. Those air purifier indoor plants are not just ideal for indoor plants, but are also excellent for purifying the air.  Here are those air purifier indoor plants and tips how to grow them :

Another common name of Chamaedorea Seifrizii is Reed Palm. If placed indoor, this plant will thrive best in high humidity under medium light, with no drafts.  Plant it a big container as Bamboo Palm can grow large, and soil should have a good drainage as it will not tolerate over-watering; so always use a pot with a hole and use soil that retains water but drains well. Best composition of soil is: 1 part of coarse sand, 2 parts peat and 1 part humus.

Bamboo Palm is known as air purifier houseplant for:  formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene.

Marginata - Dracaena Marginata

Marginata is among the most practical indoor plant, it can tolerate infrequent watering and low light, with slow growth rate that need less re-potting. However if you like to make this plant grow best, then put the pot in a bright light position and keep the soil evenly moist.  The appropriate soil for Marginata 1 part garden soil, 1 part moist peat (humus) and 1 part coarse sand.

Marginata is known as air purifier houseplant of:   benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, xylene and trichloroethylene.

Gerbera

The Gerbera daisy is one of the few flowering indoor plants known as air purifier. With choices of more than half dozens bright colors of flowers, the plant is ready to light up your home or office while purifying the air! All you need to care is placing the pot under a fluorescent lamp as it requires bright light, having a good soil and a frequent watering.  Best soil composition for Gerbera: 1 part humus or peat mixed with 1 part garden soil. As the plant love water, you need to have a well drainage soil.

Gerbera Daisy is known as air purifier houseplant of: Formaldehyde.

Boston Fern - Nephrolepis Exaltata

Boston Fern

Fern always bring  natural expression to wherever it is placed in. So does Boston fern make in your home or office. But like mostly fern, Boston Fern requires plenty of bright indirect sunlight and high humidity. So put the pot near the window, keep the soil moist, but avoid it sits in water or exposed directly to sunlight. Best soil composition for this fern is 1 part garden soil mixed with 2 parts humus, 1 parts coarse sand and 1 part peat.

Air pollutant removed by Boston Fern:  formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene and trichloroethylene.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

spider-plant

Spider plant is a unique indoor plant; the leaves have stripping color of white and pale green, with plantlets “crawling down” the pot from the mother spider plant.  Low humidity, moist soil and bright indirect sunlight will encourage the best growth. Best composition of soil for Spider plant is: 1 part coarse sand mixed with 1 part peat or humus.

Pollutant removed by Spider plant: formaldehyde

Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckei’

The Dracaena family has been long well known as indoor plant.  One of the family member, Dracaena Deremensis ” Warneckei”   has attractive leaves’ color combination of green and yellow. The plant requires an evenly moist soil with bright indirect sunlight. Best soil combination of  Waneckei is 1 part garden soil mixed with 1 part peat / humus and 1 part coarse sand.  The genus of  Dracaena contain toxin that might harm pets.

Dracaena Deremensis ” Warneckei purifies :  formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene and trichloroethylene.

As indoor plant,  English Ivy is commonly decorates bookshelf or fire place. It needs bright indirect sunlight and moderate watering to keep the soil from being moist. This English Ivy is considered to be a sound indoor plant as it has a long life span,  does not  need frequent trimming and is fire tolerant. However this genus is reported to be toxic to pets, so placing the pot in above spots are recommended.

Pollutant removed by English Ivy : formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene and trichloroethylene.

Janet Craig - Dracaena Deremensis

dracaena-deremensis

Janet Craig is another durable indoor plant, it is low-light tolerant and adaptable to moderately dry soil. Not just considered to be low light tolerant, this kind of Dracaena is even recommended to be keep away from heat source or direct sunlight as it can raise its temperature that might turn to be unfavorable to the environment. Just like her sister, Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckei’, Janet Craig, the Dracaena Deremensis , is also toxic that might harm your pets.

Keeping the soil evenly moist will make best growth. Ideal soil mixture for Janet Craig is : 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand,  and 1 part moist peat or humus.

Pollutant removed :  formaldehyde and xylene.

Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum

Peace Lily

Peace Lily is another flowering indoor plant that purifies the air. You can place a pot of Spathiphyllum either in shades or bright light, but not under direct sun, as it requires high humidity and it is also a thirsty plant which - unlike other indoor plants- it requires water in high quantity. To  support the high humidity level it requires, you can place pebbles or gravel in the drainage dish to hold water, but make sure  the pot is sitting on the gravel and not soaked in the water.

The best composition of soil for Peace Lily is : 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand , combined with 1 part moist peat or humus.

This Peace Lily sounds like requiring extra care than any other indoor plants do, but the numbers of air pollutants it absorbs will make it worth. It removes formaldehyde, benzene, toluene. ethyl and methyl alcohol, acetone, xylene, ammonia, trichloroethylene and ethyl acetate

Weeping Fig ( Ficus Benjamina Variegate ).

Weeping Fig

When you bring Weeping Fig indoor, your home will have a tree, instead of just a plant, like when you bring other indoor plants. Weeping Fig is a tree with indoor environment tolerant. It is a tree that can survive under less sunlight and water with medium humidity. If you like your tree to thrive best, put position it under bright  indirect sunlight. 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand, and 1 part moist peat or humus will make a perfect soil combination for Weeping Fig to grow.  Water frequently but keep the soil barely moist.

Air Pollutant removed by Ficus Benjamina or Weeping Fig : formaldehyde, xylene  and ammonia.

Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron Scandens Oxycardium)

Heartleaf Philodendron is an easy to grow plant, but is toxic to pets. Proper soil to grow this Philodendron is 1 part coarse send and 1 part garden soil mixed with 2 parts peat. Water regularly but keep the soil from being moist.

Philodendron Scandens Oxycardium or Heartleaf philodendron removes chemical vapors.

Golden photos (Epipiremnum aureum)

Golden Photos

Golden photos is another  hardy plant; it can even survive in a vase with water only.  However best growth can be obtained with  a mix of soil containing 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand, and  1 part moist peat or humus plant, and bright indirect sunlight. Frequent watering is needed as the soil should be kept evenly moist. It is said that species of this genus can be harmful to pets.

Air pollutant removed by Golden Photos : formaldehyde.

Mother-in-Law’s Tongue ( Sansevieria )

Mother-in-Law's Tongue

Sansevieria, or the Mother-in-Law’s Tongue or Snake Plant, is the hardiest among the air purifier plants. It’s so easy to grow and cultivate Sansevieria, both outdoor and indoor and this Mother-in-law’s tongue is also an excellent air pollutant absorber. You can even grow this plant in just water.  Learn the propagation here.

Mother- in -Law- Tongue is an indoor plant with excellent capability of removing : formaldehyde, xylene and toluene.

General care for indoor plants : Above given composition of soil  should be taken when you want to have the best thrive of the plants, but generally a potting soil bought from garden shops will either do. The other  things to  you should  mind in growing indoor plants are  :

• Having soil with good drainage
• Choosing pot / container with a hole to avoid the plant sit in water.
• Frequently moist the houseplants
• Occasionally clean the houseplants with using soft wet clothe
• Regularly put the pot outdoor for a day of two for air circulation. Do not put the plants under direct sun exposure.

You might want to learn about the kinds of indoors pollution and how it get in your house before choosing what air purifier indoor plants you would like to grow in your home.

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