Leafy Clean: NASA-sanctioned houseplants purify indoor air

By Darcy Maulsby and From Radish
Published on February 16, 2009
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image by Huan Tran

You don’t need exotic technology or expensive gadgets to remove pollutants from the air you breathe indoors. According to NASA studies, a selection of hardy, easy-care houseplants can help.

NASA has been researching methods of cleansing the air so that future space stations can be kept fit for human habitation for extended periods of time. Researchers have discovered that many common houseplants “scrub” significant amounts of harmful gases–such as formaldehyde and benzene–out of the air through photosynthesis, absorbing pollutants and rendering them harmless in the soil.

These findings are especially relevant for inhabitants of newly constructed buildings, which are sealed tightly to conserve energy but consequently trap pollutants indoors. NASA researchers recommend that you have a minimum of two plants per 100 square feet of floor space in your home or office. Best of all, you don’t need to be a green thumb to incorporate these popular, low-maintenance houseplants into your environment.

Chinese evergreen. Chinese evergreens are tolerant plants that do well in a variety of settings and flourish for years with minimum care. They do best in shadowless light, such as a north-facing window. Keep the soil barely moist.

Dracaena. Dracaenas grow slowly and retain their foliage for long periods of time. Plant them in regular potting mix and keep the soil moist, but don’t let the pot sit in water. They grow best in bright, indirect sunlight, warm temperatures, and low humidity.

Heartleaf philodendron. Philodendrons grow better than most other houseplants under adverse conditions. They do well as long as they’re kept warm, moderately moist, and out of direct sunlight.

Pothos. This plant looks like a philodendron, but it can be distinguished by its ridged stems. Pothos plants are vigorous climbers and look nice in a hanging basket. They’re happiest in bright, indirect sunlight, warm temperatures, and low humidity.

Snake plant. These plants, which develop clumps of strap-shaped leaves that are 18 to 30 inches tall, grow in almost any environment. Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings. Grow in any light intensity, from dim interior light to full sun.

Spider plant. Spider plants make excellent hanging plants, and while they prefer bright light, they’re very adaptable to medium light. Because potbound spider plants produce plantlets, they’re a great choice if you want to populate your living space or office with foliage.

Weeping fig. Also known by its Latin name, Ficus benjamina, this plant does well under normal household conditions. The leaves will drop if the plant is chilled. Weeping figs like their roots crowded in a small pot. Wipe leaves with a wet cloth frequently.

Excerpted from Radish(Autumn 2008), a magazine of “healthy living from the ground up,” from Moline, Illinois; www.radishmagazine.com.

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