Plants that clear the air

Want to learn how plants can improve the air quality indoors or which ones are safe for asthma sufferers? Read on
Tay Suan Chiang, Straits Times 12 Apr 08;

BRITISH landscape and garden designer Andy Sturgeon has bad and good news for city folks who spend most of their time indoors.

First, the bad news. 'Homes and offices have toxins,' says the 42-year-old, who owns Andy Sturgeon Landscape and Garden Design in Brighton, England. 'Since many of us spend 90 per cent of our lives indoors, the indoor air can be harmful.'

He is referring to what is commonly known as the Sick Building Syndrome, where building occupants find themselves falling sick, getting headaches and respiratory problems from being indoors.

He says good ventilation can improve air quality, but people are often unwilling to give up air-conditioning in tropical climes and leave the windows open.

Fortunately, there is good news: A few pots of plants will make a marked improvement to the quality of indoor air. They do not just add some greenery, but they also 'filter the air'.

'They take in toxins and break them down with the help of microbes in the compost,' says Mr Sturgeon, who studied tropical plants at the Welsh College of Horticulture.

His top picks for these green air-purifiers include the Boston fern, the dumbcane, money plant and the corn palm because 'they are easy to grow and do well in an indoor environment'.

The award-winning landscape designer, who does both residential and commercial gardens across Britain, was in town recently to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Garden Festival in July, which he will be participating in.

He points out that while the air-purifying plants can grow in an indoor environment, all plants still need some sunlight.

As a general rule, indoor plants require less water than those grown outdoors. He says a common mistake gardeners make is to water too much. 'It's better to water little but often,' he advises. The soil should feel damp, not soggy.

Life! looks at these green air-purifiers and how to care for them.