These species a breath of fresh air
Q
I am looking for ways to keep the air in my home as clean and toxin free as possible for the sake of a family member with sensitivity issues. A neighbour has told me there are houseplants that work to clean the air, but he wasn’t sure which ones were best. If you have information, I’d also like to know how many are needed and what size they should be.
A:
A commonly recommended plant for cleaning the air is the spider plant (air plant, Chlorophytum comosun ‘Variegatum’). This is an easy, fast-growing, sub-tropical plant with long, narrow, curving leaves in bright green with cream striping. It produces long stems bearing rosettes of white flowers that become hanging miniatures of the mother plant. These “babies” can be severed and potted for new plants. Spider plants are often grown in hanging baskets.
Other warmth-loving plants for bright shade (or diffused sunlight) recommended for air cleaning are philodendron, peace lily, golden pothos, bamboo palm (Chamaedorea), Boston fern and weeping fig.
Research done by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) indicates that snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue, San- sevieria) is especially efficient at cleansing the air of toxic chemicals like formaldehyde.
Snake plants have tall, elegant leaves that are thick and stiff. It is one of the most minimal-care house plants possible. Though it tolerates shade, bright indirect light encourages better growth. The main caution with this plant is to avoid overwatering it, which leads to rot. Let the soil dry between watering and water minimally in winter.
Two or three plants of a typical size sold in shops are recommended for every 9.3 square metres (100 square feet) of living space. Keep air-cleaning plants in the best possible working order by wiping the leaves regularly with a clean, damp cloth to remove pore-clogging dust.