A well-documented study by former NASA scientist Dr. Bill Wolverton, in collaboration with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, found that many common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution.
According to the study, “Two live plants per 100 square feet of floor space will help to clean and naturally refresh the air inside your home or office. In a typical office space, this might translate to one medium floor plant and one tabletop or shelf plant.”
The green design and building movement is recognizing the true environmental value of living plants and no longer considers them just “add-ons” to fill a space. Instead, living plants have become integral parts of “whole” architectural sites and interior design projects. Live plants provide immediate returns through improved health cost savings, pollution prevention and public relations. Today’s green, environmentally minded architects, designers, project managers and property development companies understand why incorporating living plants in new and existing environments adds real value.
As an interior landscape designer for the past 27 years, I advocate indoor plants because they add much needed natural beauty, warmth, color, sculptural shapes and textures to any space. Plants boost our morale while selflessly cleaning our indoor air, working around the clock without pay. Plants require very little from us other than the right location, a little water and some TLC. It still amazes me how living plants and flowers provide the real finishing touch to any indoor room or outdoor space, deck or patio.
Reducing indoor air pollution
Plants in your office or home aren’t only decorative: Scientists have found them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings. Some of the most common indoor pollutants are:
Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is found in virtually all indoor environments. It can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and can cause allergic contact dermatitis and headaches. Major sources include foam insulation, household cleaners, carpeting, paper goods, furniture, water repellents, plywood, particle board and even some clothing. Luckily, many common plants—including azalea, chrysanthemum, golden pothos, dracaena massangeana, bamboo palm, sanseveria, philodendrons, dieffenbachia and spider plant—can cleanse the air of formaldehyde contamination.
Benzene. Benzene is a solvent that’s also present in many common items, including tobacco smoke, gasoline, synthetic fibers, plastics, inks, oils and detergents. It can irritate the skin and eyes, and in more extreme cases cause dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea, blurred vision, respiratory diseases, irregular heartbeat, liver and kidney damage, paralysis and unconsciousness. Plants like English ivy, dracaena marginata, dracaena Janet Craig, chrysanthemum, Gerbera daisy, dracaena warneckii and spathiphyllum can be natural filters for this toxic substance.
TCE. Trichloroethylene (TCE), which the National Cancer Institute considers a potent liver carcinogen, is found in a wide variety of industrial products, including lacquers, dry cleaning solutions, inks, paints, varnishes and adhesives. TCE off-gassing can be countered by the presence of plants such as dracaena marginata, Gerbera daisy, chrysanthemum, spathiphyllum, dracaena warneckii and dracaena marginata.
Designing an office
Plant placement is best based on a particular site’s light, architecture, décor, furniture, foot traffic and privacy needs. Plant color, leaf texture and overall plant shape enhances the appearance of office interiors and contributes to the improved health of these spaces. For example, large or wide plants will fill empty corners well but aren’t suitable for high traffic walkways where they’ll constantly get bumped. High-traffic areas require plants with a more vertical shape. And rather than scattering a few random plants throughout a room or office, I recommend placing plant groupings (consisting of three plants in graduated sizes) against walls, under windows or in corner areas.
Reducing maintenance worries
Many businesses have phased live plants out of the office due to ongoing maintenance. One way to alleviate those concerns is with Art UnderPlants, which are decorative pots with an automatic watering system that reduces the maintenance burden to one system refill each month.
Art UnderPlants automatically monitor the soil’s moisture levels and waters the plants accordingly, reducing the risks of both overwatering and underwatering. They are the perfect solution for people who love indoor plants but gave up keeping them because of chemical sensitivities, soil molds and allergens.
Embellished with textured, decoupage artwork decorated with an original mix of photography, handmade and recycled paper, foreign coins and stylish fragments of exotic fabric, the pots add style, color and personality to a space. Plus, they water from the bottom up as needed, imitating nature and creating an inhospitable environment for soil-borne molds that can grow on the soil surface. Best of all, it’s like having a built-in plant sitter, on call 24-7.
