Spider Plant: Reducing Indoor Air Pollution
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Spider Plant
The Spider Plant, Chlorophytum comosum, is a species of Chlorophytum native to South Africa.
Spider plants have long narrow leaves that are 20-40 cm (8-15 in) long and 5-20 mm (0.2-0.8 in) broad, which grow from a central rosette. It also produces branched stolons with small white flowers and baby plantlets.
It is a very popular houseplant. The most widely grown is the variegated cultivar 'Variegatum', with one or two broad yellowish-white bands running along the length of each leaf, but natural, entirely green plants are also grown.
The Spider Plant is very easy to propagate. They can be propagated by splitting its main rosette, or more easily by removing plantlets from the stolons and potting them separately or putting them in a glass of water.
It is an especially popular plant with beginners, as it is easy to grow and propagate and is very tolerant of neglect, being able to thrive in nearly any type of condition.
Spider plants have also been shown to reduce indoor air pollution.
Spider plants have long narrow leaves that are 20-40 cm (8-15 in) long and 5-20 mm (0.2-0.8 in) broad, which grow from a central rosette. It also produces branched stolons with small white flowers and baby plantlets.
It is a very popular houseplant. The most widely grown is the variegated cultivar 'Variegatum', with one or two broad yellowish-white bands running along the length of each leaf, but natural, entirely green plants are also grown.
The Spider Plant is very easy to propagate. They can be propagated by splitting its main rosette, or more easily by removing plantlets from the stolons and potting them separately or putting them in a glass of water.
It is an especially popular plant with beginners, as it is easy to grow and propagate and is very tolerant of neglect, being able to thrive in nearly any type of condition.
Spider plants have also been shown to reduce indoor air pollution.
Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor Air Quality deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be compromised by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy stressor that can induce health effects. Recent findings have demonstrated that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air (albeit with different pollutants) although this has not changed the common understanding of air pollution. In fact, indoor air is often a greater health hazard than the corresponding outdoor setting. Using ventilation to dilute contaminants, filtration, and source control are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings.
NASA Study on Indoor Air Pollution
Research from NASA has found that ornamental plants have the ability to effectively absorb agents causing indoor air pollution. So they planned to include some of them as part of the biological life support system aboard future orbiting space stations.
"We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places."
"We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places."
More on Indoor Pollution Control
What are the properties of Spider Plant?
Main Pollutant Removed: Carbon monoxide; the plant removed over 96 percent of this potentially deadly gas.
Other Pollutants Removed: Xylene, at a rate of 268 micrograms per hour. Formaldehyde, at a rate of 560 micrograms per hour.
Recommended Placement in Home: These are useful in kitchens with gas stoves or in rooms with fireplaces, where carbon monoxide may accumulate.
Cost: A ten-inch hanging spider plant costs between $10 and $15.
Care: They are easy to grow in bright to medium light.
Other Pollutants Removed: Xylene, at a rate of 268 micrograms per hour. Formaldehyde, at a rate of 560 micrograms per hour.
Recommended Placement in Home: These are useful in kitchens with gas stoves or in rooms with fireplaces, where carbon monoxide may accumulate.
Cost: A ten-inch hanging spider plant costs between $10 and $15.
Care: They are easy to grow in bright to medium light.
Interesting Links
- The Hydroponic Garden Secrets Guide
- The #1 best kept secret to Growing The Healthiest Plants and Herbs WITHOUT using any Soil !
- Bonsai Gardening Secrets
- There's finally a quick and easy, Step by Step, A to Z guide to creating your very own Bonsai Trees...even if you're new at it and you're not exactly a "green thumb".
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linhah
Apr 3, 2011 @ 2:02 pm | delete
- Interesting info!
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redpillpuppet
Oct 17, 2010 @ 10:40 am | delete
- I never knew certain plants can be used more effectively to clean up the air indoors. Great to know. Thanks!
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GeothermalVids
Sep 18, 2009 @ 2:58 pm | delete
- Thanks for sharing about the spider plant. I love learning new things!
Bill
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CherylK
May 30, 2009 @ 3:07 pm | delete
- I had spider plants years ago and I loved them. Multiple corporate moves later and I haven't even one left. I am going to go buy another one or two...probably today! Great lens. Lensrolling to my Greener Life lens.
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mulberry
Apr 20, 2009 @ 3:14 pm | delete
- I had several spider plants years ago, they grow like crazy. I always had tons of babies sprouting off of them. Never realized how beneficial the are. Nice lens!
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