Removing air pollutants with houseplants

Feb 16, 2012

By Margaret Inwood, Lanark County Master Gardeners

We are inside the house a lot in the winter months and the indoor air is often full of pollutants such as formaldehyde from paints and adhesives, chemicals from personal care products and from building materials. Our bodies are constantly exposed to these toxins and most of us could benefit by having more of these natural air purifier plants around the house for beauty as well as to improve our health.

Almost any plant will absorb toxins from the air, metabolize them and return oxygen and moisture back into the room, but extensive testing has shown that certain plants are better at it than others. Bamboo palms, Dracaena, Peace Lily, Ivies, Ficus, and potted mums excel at removing benzenes and formaldehyde gases from the air. Ivies, Snake plants and Ficus are also excellent at removing octanes and terpene, as are Sprenger’s asparagus ferns, and Hoya vines. Spider and Snake plants are also superior for removing high volumes of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from the air and giving us back oxygen.

The bedroom is probably the single place that you and your kids spend the most time. What if you could improve your child’s asthma symptoms simply by running a vaporizer and adding a spider or snake plant to their room’s decor?

There are many times during the year when we could give an air purifying plant as a gift to improve someone’s stress and health such as, birthdays and anniversaries or when someone is in hospital. Besides helping to brighten a room, they are also very good for our health.

All your gardening questions can be submitted and answered on our website at www.lanarkmastergardeners.mgoi.ca