Researcher Kamal Meattle gave a TED Talk on how the arrangement of three common houseplants used in specific spots in a home or office can result in measurably cleaner air. Meattle began his research 17 years ago, at home in New Dehli, India.
The three plants Meattle found to be most effective in cleaning the air are:
- The Areca Palm or Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (keep in the living room) cleanses the air during the day. About 4 shoulder height plants per person is recommended.
- The Mother-in-law’s Tongue or Sansevieria trifasciata (keep in the bedroom) converts CO2 to O2 at night. You want about 6 to 8 of these waist high plants per person.
- The Money Plant or Epipremnum aureum (Meattle refers to this plant as the specialist plant) filters out and removes formaldehyde and other VOC’s (volatile organic compounds).
These three plants alone can provide all the fresh air we need, indoors. To learn more about the amazing effects these plants can have in buildings, watch Meattle’s TED Talk.