Air Cleansing Plants

       Right from our school days we are taught, what are the basic needs of our life. They are i) Air  ii) Water and iii) Food. Though all these items should be pure, it was not specifically mentioned because they were then pure. Now with technological development the life has become lavish and that has created lot of waste. Due to the ignorance and smaller scale of activity, the steps of pollution control were not taken at the right time.

Now as the pollution has become so rampant that we cannot restore the original environment and hence we are solving the problems in localized manner. One such measure of purification or rather cleansing of air is the subject of this post.

We all know that most plants intake carbon dioxide and give out oxygen and thus ecological cycle is balanced. Apart from carbon dioxide there are many gases emitted by  chemical substances used in day to day life which are harmful to the human being and many plants.

Fortunately there are some plants which not only withstand the toxic gases (within a certain limit) but also absorb them and thus cleans the atmosphere.  

NASA laboratory of USA has conducted research and identified about 50 plants which can cleanse the air in confined space like spacecraft. Those plants can be used for cleansing the air in the home and office etc.The  plants  that were exposed to volatile organic chemicals could remove them from the air, including formaldehyde which is found in, or used to produce, a multitude of everyday products, from fabrics and furniture to tobacco smoke and gas stoves.

I have arranged list of those plants alphabetically and also included the pictures for your ready reference. I have divided the topic in two posts so as not to overwhelm you with long list.

I have grown a few from this list myself but for the rest visited some local nurseries to find out the availability, propagation etc and found that most of these plants are easy and cheap if bought small in grow bags.

Though there are 50 plants but many of them can be grouped in types like, Ferns, Palms, Dracaenas, Cactus, Lilies and Philodendron. As such most plants are available in India, a few may be rare or difficult to grow. Also there are several plants which are not included in the list but have properties of the above groups like ferns, palm etc. and thus can purify the air.

Barring a few exceptions like Cyclamen and orchid, most plants are easy to grow.

Most plants can grow in indirect sun light and hence naturally lend to purification of air in closed premises like homes and offices where there will sun light for a short duration or there will be reflected light.

One caution: Some of the plants can be poisonous for human and pets. Though grown up persons can take care, children or pets can innocently or accidentally eat the  plant and cause bad consequence. Hence, such plant should be kept away from the reach or altogether avoid them.

No.	Common Name	Botanical name	Picture	Brief Info.
1	Aloe Vera	Aloe barbadensis		Light : More light, the better growth. Avoid scorching due to direct sun. Watering :  No watering in cold season but in summer water when the soil is dry. Feeding; Feed once in a year with all purpose fertilizer. . Propagation :gently separate the offsets from the parent ensuring each one has at least a few roots
2	Anthurium	Anthurium andraeanum		·         Anthurium has been shown to help remove formaldehyde,  xylene, and ammonia from household air ·         propagated by seed or vegetatively by cuttings ·         can be grown as houseplants, or outdoors in mild climates in shady spots ·         To get the best blooms, use a fertilizer that has a higher phosphorus number ·         don’t like continually moist soil.
3	Areca Palm	Chrysalidocarpus lutescens		·          the areca palm filters xylene and toluene from the air.  ·         most widely used palms for bright interiors. need bright, indirect light from a south- or west-facing window. The leaves turn yellowish-green in direct sunlight ·         Water them often enough to keep the soil lightly moist in spring and summer, and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings in fall and winter ·         Fertilize areca palm plants with a time-release fertilizer
4	Bamboo Palm	Chamaedorea seifrizii		·         Propagation by seed, sprouts in about 9 months.  Plant  into small containers and keep  in the shade. ·          Indoors plant may be attacked by mealybugs and spider mite infestations. ·         Bamboo palm is sensitive to soluble salts, so remove the time release fertilizer from the top of the pot and leach the soil thoroughly with water. Allow the plant to completely drain. ·         Keep soil  uniformly moist, remember that’s moist but not wet. Water the pot upto brim when soil is dried to a third depth.
5	Boston Fern	Nephrolepis exaltata Bostoniensis		·         need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. ·         Fertilizer should only be given to the plant a few times a year. ·         susceptible to some pests, especially spider mites and mealybugs ·         Perennial with care
6	Chinese Evergreen	Aglaonema crispum "Silver Queen		·         can be maintained at the lower light levels often found in the home or office environment. ·         the lighter the color of a plant, the higher the light levels it needs to maintain its color and variegation ·         In a lower light situation, allow soil to dry almost completely between watering ·         To keep full and bushy, remove some of the new leaves by firmly grasping the stem the new leaf grows. ·         Mealy bugs are one of the most common insect problems that you may have
7	Christmas Cactus	Schlumbergera buckleyi		·         Christmas cacti have flattened leaves with rounded teeth on the margins ·         Plants should be kept in bright, indirect light. ·         they prefer a humid climate, not a dry one ·         feed every 2 weeks with a complete houseplant fertilizer ·         Late spring is the best time to propagate cuttings
8	Corn Plant	Dracaena fragrans		·         corn plant is not intended for human or animal consumption ·         Fertilize corn plant with any general-purpose fertilizer made for houseplants ·         Corn plant grows best in a bright spot, but tolerates low-light ·          Allow the top inch or so of the soil to dry between waterings
9	Croton	Codiaeum variegatum pictum		·         They like lots of light to produce all those colorful leaves ·         Water crotons when the soil starts to dry. will drop leaves if they stay too wet or too dry for extended periods ·         Like most houseplants, they also appreciate abundant humidity ·         Fertilize croton in spring and summer to keep it healthy and growing ·         Propagation by cutting
10	Cyclamen	Cyclamen persicum		·         with the right  care, you can keep your cyclamen plant for years, and get it to bloom over and over again ·         There are many beautiful cyclamen varieties, some have ruffled flowers, others are rounded and even adorable miniature  plant ·         Cyclamen plants can be toxic to cats, dogs and humans ·         . It’s best to keep indoor cyclamen plants growing in a room where the temperature is kept between 10-20C. ·         water a cyclamen plant from the bottom rather than from the top ·         Cyclamen plants like bright light, but they don’t like it hot so keep them out the sun ·         using an organic compost fertilizer, which you can get in liquid form
11	Deacaena, Janet Craig	Dracaena dermensis		·         Moderate to bright light indirect ·         Water thoroughly, allowing the top inch  of the soil to dry out between watering ·         40-60% relative humidity ·         Average room temperatures 16-24°C ·          Any good potting mix  ·         Feed monthly year-round with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half ·         Propagation by  4 in stem tip cuttings in spring and root them in moist soil.
12	Dendrobium Orchid	Dendrobium		·         get detailed care information for your certain type of Dendrobium because the care can greatly vary depending on the type you have
13	Dracaena "Warneckei" Striped Dracaena,	Dracaena dermensis Family: Asparagaceae		·         Tropicals and Tender Perennials ·          Water regularly; do not overwater ·         Partial to Full Shade ·         Grown for foliage ·         Suitable for growing in containers ·         Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested ·         Flowers are fragrant ·         Propagates from woody stem cuttings
14	Dragon Tree	Dracaena marginata)		·         Broadleaf evergreen ·         Family: Asparagaceae ·         Native Range: Madagascar, Mauritius ·         Height: 15.00 to 20.00 feet ·         Spread: 3.00 to 10.00 feet ·         Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer ·         Bloom Description: White ·         Sun: Part shade ·         Water: Medium ·         Maintenance: Low ·         Flower: Showy, Fragrant ·         Leaf: Colorful, Evergreen ·         Fruit: Showy ·         Tolerate: Drought
15	Dumb Cane	Dieffenbachia camilla		·         filtered sunlight through a window  ·         moderately moist soil, ·          regularly fertilized ·         respond well to hot temperatures and dry climates. ·         eating the plant can cause poisoning due to the presence of Oxalic acid and the protein Asparagine within the plant
16		Dieffenbachia "Exotica Compacta		An excellent plant for cleaning the air, Compacta dieffenbachia shows off medium-green leaves speckled heavily with creamy yellow in the centers.
17	Dwarf Azalea	Rhodedendron simsii "Compacta")		dappled shade. Soil should acidic (pH 4.5–6).   Amend planting areas with compost, peat moss. Azaleas  have shallow root systems and need moist soil and mulch to keep them from drying out. space plants 2 to 6 feet apart Mulch plants to protect shallow roots, retain soil moisture Fertilize azaleas and rhododendrons sparingly After flowering, deadhead
18	Dwarf Banana	(Musa cavendishii		Season: Spring Sun/Shade: Bright, indirect sunlight. Height: 6 - 10 feet Soil Preference: Well-drained, rich moist soil. Equal parts sand, loam soil, peat moss. Pruning: Do not prune or cut back. Pollinator: Self-pollinating. Size: 4 inches.
19	Dwarf Date Palm	Phoenix roebelenii		·         grows to around 3m tall. This palm is not self cleaning and the leaves will form a skirt around the trunk if not removed. ·         Flowers on the Dwarf Date Palm are cream, and are followed by edible fruit. ·         Dwarf Date Palm fruit is black and egg-shaped. ·         Propagation is from seed. ·          best grown in a sunny to part shaded position. ·          well draining, rich soil. Mulch heavily ·         This Palm can be grown in pots and as indoor plant also.
20	Elephant Ear Philodendron	Philodendron domesticum / tuxla		·         medium light intensity , ·         Keep the soil evenly moist, ·         Feed your Philodendron in the spring and again in mid summer with a liquid house plant fertilizer. ·         The ideal growing temperature is 20-25 C. ·         Wash the leaves regularly to prevent the dust.
21	English Ivy	Hedera helix		·         Type: Vine ·         Family: Araliaceae ·         Height: 20.00 to 80.00 feet ·         Spread: 3.00 to 50.00 feet ·         Bloom Description: Greenish white ·         Sun: Part shade to full shade ·         Water: Medium ·         Maintenance: Low ·         Suggested Use: Ground Cover, Invasive
22	Easter Cactus	Schlumbergera gaertneri		·         Family Hylocereae ·         Group Cacti ·         temperature  12-25C ·         Light bright ·         Soil succulents soil ·         Flower color red
23	Ficus "Alii"	Ficus macleilandii		Shape – upright Height: 3m (10 feet) Watering in active growth period – moderately Light – bright filtered Temperature in active growth period – min 16°C max 27°C Humidity – high
24	Gerbera Daisy	Gerbera jamesonii		Light: Sun Type:Annual, Perennial Height: From 6 inches to 3 feet Width:8 to 16 inches Flower Color: Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Yellow Foliage Color: Blue/Green Seasonal Features:Fall Bloom, Spring Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features:Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance