How to Grow Oxygen

Plants are beneficial. They energize us by creating fresh and clean air, balance internal humidity, inspire creativity, and provide a soothing environment. It is easy to create an indoor green haven inside your office and home by keeping a few common plants around your space.

The Benefits of Keeping Plants at Home and Work

1. Plants Remove Pollution

Common house plants are effective in removing indoor air pollution. All plants clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. This process filters the air we breathe by absorbing harmful pollutants, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (benzene, trichloroethylene), radon, and pesticides. According to NASA research, certain plants were found to remove as much as 87 percent of indoor air pollutants within a single day.*

2. Plants Improve Health

The air you breathe at work or home may cause you to become sick. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a combination of ailments ranging from allergies, headaches, soreness, fatigue, and cancer caused by breathing poor quality air. Poor quality air is often caused by a buildup of moisture, mold growth, and toxins emitted from furniture, building materials, and cleaners.

Many of the symptoms of SBS can be minimized by regularly changing air filters and keeping plants around. Plants continuously purify the air by absorbing many of these harmful pollutants through their roots and leaves, then transforming it to plant food and oxygen.

3. Plants Connect Us to Nature

Plants make us feel more connected to the natural world when modern life requires us to be indoors. Recall that plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen (O2), while humans do the opposite — breathe oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This symbiotic relationship between flora and fauna demonstrates the significance and connectivity between all forms of life.

How to Grow Clean Air

Outdoor Herbivore recommends keeping these 5 EASY TO GROW plants for improved air quality:

Plant Name: Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Eliminates: Formaldehyde Description: It requires minimal maintenance. Once mature, the plant will grow hanging roots from the stems, which can be pulled off and rooted in a glass of water. Once a root system develops (about 2 weeks), transplant the saplings into potting soil. Locate in a sunny location.  Water once a week – or less. Plants can go up to 3 weeks without water in which the leaves will begin to wilt from distress. Just provide a good soaking, and the leaves will perk right back up. Plant Name: English Ivy (Hedera helix) Eliminates: Benzene, Formaldehyde, Xylene, and Toluene Description: This is a trailing plant that grows in abundance here in North Carolina and is considered a nuisance since it chokes out other plants if not pruned. Nonetheless, it is an excellent ornamental indoor plant since it is hardy, requires little watering, grows quickly, and can be pruned to display in a variety of ways. Locate in a shady location with little indirect sunlight. Plant Name: Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’) Eliminates: Formaldehyde Description: The stiff sword-like leaves grow upright up to 4 feet tall. This is a hardy plant making it an excellent choice for a novice. It requires little sunlight. Keep soil dry. Water every 3 – 4 weeks. Plant Name: Peace lily (Spathiphyllum’Mauna Loa’) Eliminates: Benzene, Formaldehyde, and Trichloroethylene Description: Elongated green leaves with white blooms. Locate in an area with little direct sunlight. Water often or grow directly in a jar of water. Like the spider plant, the leaves will droop when it requires water. Plant Name: Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) Eliminates: Formaldehyde Description: A fast-growing plant with oblong, glossy shaped leaves. Keep leaves shiny by wiping off dust with a moistened cloth. Locate in moderate to low light. Water weekly.

And…don’t forget to open the windows every so often to allow a fresh breeze to stir up the stale indoor air!

Sources and Additional Information:
Colorado State
Wikipedia
Eartheasy

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