In 1989 NASA published a study called “Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement” and was intended to combat sick building syndrome. The study was run using a selection of popular houseplants, including Bamboo palms, English ivy and several others, all in closed units in order to closely monitor the plants and various pollutants. The pollutants studied included benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. The plants performed well in “mopping up” all these pollutants. Other studies, such as one carried out by the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK in 2016, showed that CO2 and nitrogen dioxide can also be cleaned up by plants like Dracaenas and peace lilies.
It can be hard to replicate the results in the studies in real life offices and homes as they aren’t closed systems - people come in and out, doors and windows are opened and light levels vary significantly. All these elements can affect plants and their photosynthetic and filtering capabilities. However, that shouldn’t stop us adding some plants to our offices and homes!
Top plants for an office
Dracaenas (old name Sansevieria), otherwise known as Snake plants, Bowstring hemp or Mother-in-law's Tongue. They’” very easy plants, tolerating most light conditions, apart from complete shade and requiring very little water, just once a month in autumn and winter and twice a month in the warmer months. In the wild, they grow to a couple of metres, but those sold in garden centres are more compact and get to about a metre.
If you’ve got space for two, why not add a peace lily as well? Spathiphyllums have large green leaves and very attractive flowering stems with a “spathe” a flat white hood that lasts for months. There are some new varieties with striped leaves, like “Silver Streak”, which are very attractive. Water every couple of weeks and keep them out of direct sun.
Even if your plant doesn’t filter as much pollution out of the air in the office as you might like, their very presence can help you be healthier. A study by Wageningen University in the Netherlands showed that people in office with plants called in sick 20 percent less than those in offices without plants. The plants improved humidity by about 5% in the offices, people perceived the temperature as too cold or too hot more slowly and interestingly, people said they felt more positive and were less worried about work outside working hours.
Easy house plants for healthy people
Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) comes up trumps for homes! It doesn’t mind the odd draught of air, forgotten waterings and the attractive green and white leaves add a splash of colour to any room. Older plants also send up long flowering stems that turn into miniature plantlets that can be planted on as individuals. They’re probably the easiest plants to propagate and give to friends, and because the leaves hang over the sides, you can suspend the pots, freeing up space on tables or on the floor to grow something else!
Other ideas include ZZ plants or Zamioculcas zamiifolia with shiny, deep green leaves and are great in low light or dry environments, and will happily sit on a table or book case.
Kentia palms or Howea fosteriana which are tall, upright palms, that prefer a bright environment and don’t mind the occasional missed watering. They do well in large pots on the floor.
Dracaena marginata tricolor
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