INDOOR PLANTS IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLBEING
‘PLANT LIFE BALANCE’ PROMOTES THE MANY BENEFITS OF INTERIOR GREEN LIFE
LAST week I received an email containing a media release from Australian horticulture’s peak industry body, Nursery and Garden Industry Australia, which detailed a campaign to promote the use of green life in our homes, explaining the benefits to our health and wellbeing that indoor plants provide.
Horticulture Innovation Australia teamed with scientists from RMIT and Melbourne University to analyse over 100 scientific articles and research studies on the benefits of indoor plants, looking at their ability to clean our interior spaces of dangerous chemicals and gases, as well as helping to improve our wellbeing simply by creating a space that improves our mood, concentration, productivity and social behaviour.
Back in March 2016, my article titled “Breathe Easy With Indoor Plants” listed the wonderful array of plants that help remove dangerous toxins from interior spaces within our homes and offices, so I thought it would be timely to repeat part of that article here today.
Details of the current NGIA promotion “Plant Life Balance” are listed in Garden Cuttings on this page.
IN the 1980s, NASA studied ways to reduce the number of airborne toxins released by modern manufactured materials within their spacecraft (such as Skylab), and future moon or planet-based human habitats.
During this study they proved that common and readily available houseplants had an incredible ability to remove Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene from indoor spaces of modern homes and offices.
Some furniture products, synthetic fibres, paints, inks, detergents, plywood, compressed wood products, varnishes and adhesives, all present in our homes and offices, have been identified as responsible for emitting these VOCs, and they have been linked health issues such as skin and eye irritation, breathing problems, allergies, headaches, and even cancers (the so-called “Sick Building Syndrome”).
The NASA study (and later studies by other organisations) showed that not only did plants take in carbon dioxide and produce clean oxygen as per their remarkable but normal process of photosynthesis, some plants were able to remove airborne VOCs through the stomatal openings in their leaves, whilst microbes around the plant roots in the potting medium were able to biodegrade large amounts of these chemicals and turn them into a source of nutrients for themselves and the plants.
The practical application of this remarkable discovery has been shown to increase productivity and reduce sicknesses in buildings where it has been utilised.
Now before you rush out and by a forest of plants for your indoor spaces, here’s a few points to consider ....
There’s no such thing as the “perfect” indoor plant (apart from those plastic or fabric imposters, but even they have to be dusted occasionally). Unless the plant is placed in an ideal position, similar to where it would thrive in a garden, you can expect that the plant will eventually decline (or even die) after some time.
Indoor plants are more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Pests such as mites, scale, fungus gnats and mealy bug can be more of a problem as an indoor environment lacks the natural controls such as beneficial predators which normally patrol a garden. And diseases can rapidly take hold indoors as still, warm and moist conditions are ideal for the rapid growth of nasty fungal strains.
Finally, indoor plants totally rely on their owners for their water and nutrition, which can be hit and miss at the best of times.
So what are the best performing air-purifying plants suitable for growing indoors?
Here are some of the top selections based on a range of studies and practical applications I’ve researched.
Interestingly, one of the better performers was a plant we usually only see around May, the potted “mum” or florist’s Chrysanthemum. These are usually in our homes for a fairly short time, and mums are usually happier, so they must work, right?
Longer-term plants are the best bet for cleaning interior air.
A practical study has shown that three plant species are the best at clearing VOCs, and producing oxygen at the right times as well.
First is the golden cane palm, Dypsis lutescens, a great producer of oxygen during daylight hours. However, in our climate, it’ll need a warm, very well-lit position inside if it’s to grow well. The next plant, Mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), converts carbon dioxide into oxygen at night, making it an ideal “bedroom” plant. It’s also great for removing formaldehyde from the air. It needs minimal maintenance, doesn’t like wet feet, and will tolerate lower light levels than most.
You’ll need around 6 plants per person for the best results however.
Third plant chosen for its air cleaning properties is the Devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum), sometimes known as the Golden pothos or money plant. It’s a particularly tough indoor plant, well-known for its ability to withstand owners with anything other than green thumbs. It will want something to climb up or over which to drape, and will benefit from ½ strength liquid feeds in the growing season, and regular tip pruning to keep it bushy.
Other plants recommended to clean indoor air are the Lady Palm, Parlour palm, many Dracaena species, Ficus, English ivy, the Boston fern, Philodendron species, and the Peace lily (Spathiphyllum).
As for any potted plants, use a quality peat or coir-based premium potting mix.