I always heard the rumor that the airplane or spider plant was good for indoor air,....here's a link that says so. Must be true if NASA says so:
http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/air_cleaners.htm

 

My experience with herbs is not exactly that kind...

 

lol. :rofl: That made me laugh :

 

I was old by a wellknown naturopath that spider plants are the best.

 

NASA studies generated a recommendation that you use fifteen to eighteen good-sized houseplants (in 6 to 8-inch diameter containers) to improve the air quality in an average 1,800 square foot house. Here is a bulk of the list of plants NASA tested and recommend:

• 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)

 

hey sorry i took so long to reply. these are very interesting answers..my friend gave me a spider plant the other week that she clipped from a plant. Thanks again guys!!

 

Thanks for the NASA list

 

This thread raises a damn fine point. Spider plants look great too

 

all good stuff. what about air cleaning in regards to pollution? spider plants good for that also?

 

The most effective plants to use in removing pollutants like formaldehyde are those with a larger leaf surface area. Examples of such are:

* Heart-leaf philodendron (philodendron scandens)
* Elephant ear philodendron (philodendron domesticum)
* Green spider plant (chlorphytum elatum)
* Lacy tree philodendron (philodendron selloum)
* Golden pothos (epipremnum aureum)
* Chinese evergreen (aglonema modestum)
* Mini-Schefflera (bassaia arboricola)
* Peperomia (peperomia obtusifolia)
* Peace lily (spathiphyllum clevelandii)
* Corn plant (dracaena fragrans 'massangeana')
* Snake plant (sansevieria traifasciata)

Careful selection of indoor plants is necessary if anyone suffers from exposure to molds pollens, odors or dust. Remember also, houseplants add moisture to the environment. All the water used on the plants goes into the air. This is a plus in dry parts of the country or during dry times of the year. In Florida each gallon of water added for watering plants will require about 3.5 Kwh of electricity to remove. If moisture and mildew problems are being experienced in a home or office, plants can have negative energy and comfort effects; and can also increase moisture and mildew problems. Before considering the use of plants to control indoor air pollution:

1. Identify contaminants that are above the Threshold Limit Value.
2. Control source of pollution.
3. Check structure for air leakage and correct.
4. Check for the proper design, use, and maintenance of HVAC systems.

HTH,
Peace,
Ky

 

i was actually thinking more along the lines of green house gasses Etc ,however, this is gold as far as info goes. thanks for that

 

Spider plant

 

All the products we buy contain toxic chemicals in them. Everything from the paneling and paint on the wall, to the foam stuffing we have in our sofas, chairs, and mattresses, to the flooring and cabinets we use everyday. So what happens to all the chemicals in them? Well they leach out over time and they build up inside our homes.
This is why airing out the house on nice days is a good idea. It gets some fresh air to circulate thru the house and lets out all the bad stale stuffy chemical filled air we've bottled up inside to vent out.
But for times when its just too hot during the summer or too cold during the winter to effectively air out the house what do you do?
Well you could buy expensive hepa filtered air conditioners that use electricity and filter the air and need costly replacement filters OR you could be more green by adding a little green to your home. Plants do what we need done naturally. They are our planets filters. They filter water, air, and soil. Heres a list of plants that can filter out certain harmful chemicals in the home. Not only do they filter out the bad stuff but they provide fresh oxygen and they brighten up a room.
Thanks Mike


Aloe vera – formaldehyde
elephant ear philodendron – formaldehyde
English ivy – benzene
ficus – formaldehyde
golden pothos – carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde
peace lily – benzene, trichloroethylene
spider plant – carbon monoxide