Plants which can improve Indoor Air Quality

What is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures.[1]

Why is IAQ so important?

It plays an important role in the user's work performance and their health.With the passage of time the indoor levels of pollutants increases, sometimes much higher than the outdoor levels which leads to indoor air pollution.[2] 

Common plants to improve IAQ 

Photo by: LeeAnn Cline on Unsplash

Indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution, absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings.[2]

The most common three air quality improving plants are: 

Areca palm [3]

Photo by: Behnam Norouzi on Unsplash

• Botanical Name            Dypsis lutescens 
• Common Names           Areca palm, bamboo palm, butterfly palm, golden cane palm, yellow palm
• Mature Size                  10–30 ft. tall, 8–15 ft. wide
• Sun Exposure                Full, partial
• Soil Type                       Moist, well-drained
• Bloom Time                  Summer
• Flower Color                 Pale yellow

Mother-in-Law’s Tongue or Snake plant [4]

Photo by: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

• Botanical Name         Sansevieria trifasciata
• Common Name         Snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue, viper's bowstring hemp, St. George's sword
• Mature Size                 6 in. to 12 ft. tall
• Sun Exposure                 Part shade, low light conditions
• Soil Type                         Fast-draining, sandier soil
• Bloom Time                 Spring (blooms are rare)
• Flower Color                 Greenish-white

Money Plant [5]

Photo by: Zinah Insignia on Unsplash

• Botanical Name                 Epipremnum aureum
• Common Name                 Pothos, golden pothos, devil's vine, devil's ivy
• Mature Size                         20–40 ft. long, 3–6 ft. wide
• Sun Exposure                         Full sun, partial shade
• Soil Type                                 Moist but well-drained

The indoor plants most effective in removing Formaldehyde, Benzene and Carbon Monoxide from the air are: 

Chinese Evergreen [6]

Photo by: Severin Candrian on Unsplash

• Botanical Name            Aglaonema commutatum
• Common Name            Chinese evergreen, Philippine evergreen
• Plant Type                    Herbaceous perennial
• Mature Size                  1–2 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide
• Sun Exposure                Partial shade, full shade
• Soil Type                      Peaty, well-drained
• Bloom Time                 Spring, summer
• Flower Color                White

English Ivy [7]

Photo by: LUM3N on Pixabay

• Botanical Name            Hedera helix
• Common Name            English ivy
• Mature Size                  20–80 ft. tall, 3–50 ft. wide
• Sun Exposure                Full sun, partial shade
• Soil Type                       Moist but well-drained
• Bloom Time                  Fall, early winter
• Flower Color                Yellow, cream

Gerbera Daisy [8]

Photo by: Jen Theodore on Unsplash

• Botanical Name Gerbera jamesonii
• Common Name Gerbera daisy, transvaal daisy, African daisy
• Mature Size         10–18 in. tall, 9–12 in. wide
• Sun Exposure         Full sun, partial shade
• Soil Type                 Moist but well-drained
• Bloom Time         Summer, fall
• Flower Color         Red, yellow, orange, pink, white

Janet Craig [9]

Photo by: Daniel James on Unsplash

• Botanical Name Dracaena deremensis “Janet Craig”
• Common Name Janet Craig
• Mature Size         10-14 in. wide and 24-32 in. high indoors; 15 ft high outdoors
• Sun Exposure         Low light, indirect light
• Soil Type                 Well-drained; peat+pine+10% sand mix

Marginata [10]

• Botanical Name Dracaena marginata
• Common Names Dragon tree, dragon plant, Madagascar dragon tree
• Mature Size         15–20 ft. tall, 3–10 ft. wide
• Sun Exposure         Full sun, partial shade
• Soil Type                 Loamy, well-drained
• Bloom Time         Spring (rarely flowers indoors)
• Flower Color         White

Mass cane/Corn Plant [11]

Photo by: Severin Candrian on Unsplash

• Botanical Name Dracaena fragrans "Massangeana"
• Common Names Corn plant, dracaena, false palm
• Mature Size         15–50 feet tall and 3–10 feet wide outdoors; container-grown plants can grow up to 6 feet tall
• Sun Exposure         Part shade, filtered sun (avoid any direct sun)
• Soil Type                 Rich, moist, well-draining
• Bloom Time         Mature indoor plants flower rarely, if at all
• Flower Color         White-yellow

Pot Mum [12]

Photo by: congerdesign on Pixabay

• Botanical Name  Chrysanthemum morifolium
• Common Name Pot Mum or Florist's Mum
• Mature Size         10-20 in. high, 12-24 in. wide
• Sun Exposure         Bright light or Winter Sun or Early morning/Late afternoon summer sun
• Soil Type                 fertile potting mix
• Bloom Time         Summer/Autumn
• Flower Color         Wide variety of colors and shapes

Peace Lily[13]

Photo by: Bellava G on Unsplash

• Botanical Name Spathiphyllum spp. and hybrids
• Common Name Peace lily, spath lily
• Mature Size         Up to 3 feet tall indoors; up to 6 feet tall outdoors
• Sun Exposure         Medium, indirect light
• Soil Type                 Peat-based potting mix
• Bloom Time         Spring
• Flower Color         White or yellow

Warneckii [14]

Photo by: Alex Quezada on Unsplash

• Botanical Name  Dracaena "Warneckii"
• Common Name Warneckii
• Mature Size         Up to 5 feet tall indoors
• Sun Exposure         Indirect bright light
• Soil Type                 Well drained

Source: 

1. Introduction to Indoor Air Quality | US EPA
2. Handbook of Landscape-CPWD
3. Areca Palm: Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
4. Snake Plant (Mother-in-Law's Tongue): Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
5. Pothos: Indoor Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
6. Chinese Evergreen: Indoor Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
7. English Ivy: Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
8. Gerbera Daisies: Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
9. Janet Craig Plant: Dracaena Deremensis Low Light Houseplant [GUIDE] (plantcaretoday.com)
10. Dragon Tree: Indoor Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
11. Corn Plant (Dracaena): Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
12. Chrysanthemum (Pot Mum / Florist's Mum) Guide | Our House Plants
13. Peace Lily: Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)
14. Dracaena Warneckii - The Outstanding Interior Plant (plantcaretoday.com)

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