| Author(s): Scenic Spring
Date: 21 April 08
C12. Investigate and make a list of houseplants that are valuable in cleaning the air within the home. Write a short report about your findings. Include images if possible.
Cleansing Houseplants
01. Heartleaf philodendron 02. Elephant ear philodendron 03. Cornstalk dracaena 04. Hedera helix, English ivy 05. Spider plant 06. Janet Craig dracaena 07. Warneck dracaena 08. Weeping fig 09. Golden pothos 10. Peace Lily 11. Selloum philodendron 12. Chinese evergreen 13. Bamboo or reed palm 14. Snake plant 15. Red-edged dracaena 16. Areca palm 17. Dwarf date palm 18. Boston fern 19. English ivy 20. Australian sword fern 21. Rubber plant
In the 1980’s NASA concluded that house plans such as Bamboo and Spider plants not only decorate the house, but clean it as well. The study was supposed to help with purifying and identifying plants that would help in orbiting space stations. The data collected ended up helping people like us on earth as well. In this study in collaboration with others showed that plants produce needed chemicals, but they also remove toxins such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde.
It takes anywhere from 2-3 houseplants for an average living room to help keep it pure. This is due to the fact one plant can cover approximately 10 square feet, and it covers about 8-9 feet in height. It is recommended by NASA that for an average house of less than 2000 square feet to have at least 13 house plants of different varieties. These plants don’t need lots of light. Since they are house plants they probably were born in darker areas in the outside. Most house plants originate from the tropics and have to live in low light. These should be kept in a pot at least 6 in or larger.
Reasons such as having to fend for light that makes it easier for them to be photosynthetic, and search for light in low, dark areas. This is why it collects harmful toxins and such, because they have a great potential for absorbing gasses. They tested several plants at NASA; they found that not all plants were good at collecting all three toxins in the study. They however noticed they were good to have around for collecting other gases and toxins that help in purifying the air.
House plants are a natural source to living. The great thing about them is they have learned to fend for themselves. This makes it easier on the person in charge of the house. They take very little tending and help to purify the air. Thanks to our local NASA tests we now have this beautiful, natural, help for our air.
Work Cited
Bond, Annie B. <http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-ten-houseplants-for-cleaner-air.html>.
Unknown name. <http://www.cleanairgardening.com/houseplants.html>.
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