Think Green Live Green - Incorporating Live Plants into Interior Spaces

By incorporating live plants into interior spaces, people gain a cleaner and healthier environment. The benefits of live plants are many. Start to think green and live green!

Why Plants? 

People spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. Indoor air quality presents its own challenges since it is generally more polluted than outdoor air quality. The World Health Organization states that 2.4 million people die each year from causes directly attributed to air pollution. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants.

For those who seek a clean, healthy environment, green plants are an essential element for work and home.  

• By naturally reducing our ecological footprint, indoor plants are a key element to seeking the “green” ideals of good health and sustainability.

• Plants improve indoor air quality by helping to remove chemicals such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. Plants act as the lungs of an indoor environment.

• Plants thrive on carbon dioxide and convert in to oxygen. The increase in oxygen allows humans to be more focused, creative, attentive, happier and most important healthier.  

• In business settings and interior spaces, plants have been shown to increase productivity, occupancy and retention rates and lower absenteeism. In hotel settings, rooms with garden views are often the first to be reserved and command premium pricing.

Interior Plants Have Many Benefits 

Concerns over our ecological footprint and green building practices are moving more mainstream and indoor plants naturally help filter air impurities making them perfect for all interior spaces. There’s no better time than now to breathe in nature and think green.

Dr. Oz, known as America’s Doctor and co-author of You: The Owner’s Manual, appears regularly on Oprah. During an appearance in November 2007, he recommended the use of interior plants — specifically philodendrons, golden pothos and spider plants — as ideal plants known for their toxin-filtering abilities. 

Not only do green house plants add to the aesthetic appearance of a room or area, recent research shows that just 3 average floor-standing plants or 6 standard table-top plants significantly improve the air quality in an average-sized office. In work settings, industry experts often recommend a plant be placed within each person’s breathing zone.  

Dr. Wolverton, a retired NASA scientist and author of How to Grow Fresh Air, published a study nearly 25 years ago putting houseplants on the map as air purifiers. In November 2002, Dr. Wolverton confirmed the results of further researchers and added “there is now sufficient evidence to support the concept of using interior plants to provide good IAQ.”

Top Picks  

While plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with oxygen, certain plants are top picks for removing commonly found indoor contaminants.

BENZENE BASED TOXINS

Source of Toxins:

Detergents, Inks and Dyes, Plastics, Rubber Products, Petroleum Products, Synthetic Fibers, Tobacco Smoke                                    

Plants Associated with the Removal of Toxins:

Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), Dracaena spp., Gerbera (Gerber Daisy), Hedera spp. (Ivy), Chrysanthemum (mum), Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)

FORMALDEHYDE BASED TOXINS

Source of Toxins:

Carpeting, Cleaners, Foam Insulation, Furniture, Paper Products, Plywood and Particle Board  

Plants Associated with the Removal of Toxins:

Ficus spp. (Weeping Fig), Philodendron spp., Chlorophytum (Spider Plant), Sansevieria (Snake Plant), Chamaedorea (Bamboo Palm), Hedera spp.(Ivy),

Epipremnum (Golden Pothos)

TRICHLOROETHLENE TOXINS

Source of Toxins:

Adhesives, Dry cleaning, Inks and Dyes, Lacquers and Paints, Paper Products, Varnishes  

Plants Associated with the Removal of Toxins:

Dracaena spp., Gerbera (Gerber Daisy), Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), Chrysanthemum (mum)

Article published by FNGLA, Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association