Indoor plants

Before I expanded my outdoor gardening efforts, I kept lots of indoor plants. I liked their good looks and having a year-around connection to nature. While I keep fewer indoor plants now, there is a good reason to maintain at least some. Plants can help clean indoor air of certain volatile organic compounds (air toxics).

NASA tested how well a number of plants absorbed 3 different chemicals. They all made an improvement (see the NASA report for details). The plant list is below. These are widely available and most tolerate low light conditions. Check out your local garden center or florist to add some greenery to your healthy indoor environment.

  • Hedera helix English ivy

  • Chlorophytum comosum spider plant

  • Epipiremnum aureum golden pothos

  • Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa’ peace lily

  • Aglaonema modestum Chinese evergreen

  • Chamaedorea sefritzii bamboo or reed palm

  • Sansevieria trifasciata snake plant

  • Philodendron scandens `oxycardium’ heartleaf philodendron

  • Philodendron selloum selloum philodendron

  • Philodendron domesticum elephant ear philodendron

  • Dracaena marginata red-edged dracaena

  • Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana’ cornstalk dracaena

  • Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig’ Janet Craig dracaena

  • Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii’ Warneck dracaena

  • Ficus benjamina weeping fig

Barbara Jean Conti