Recently, I moved into my new apartment, in one of the most polluted cities on Earth, Paris. Therefore I decided I needed houseplants to clean the air. What an idea! Is it bullshit? Does it actually work? Who cares?! As long as it makes my apartment look cool!
Consequently, I started googling about evergreen houseplants that clean the air. I ended up buying the following plants:
- Spathiphyllum: the best at improving indoor air quality!
- Aglaonema Silver Bay: the plant from the movie Leon: The Professional.
- Dracaena Marginata
- Dieffenbachia
- Chlorophytum (comosum? no sure about its species)
Aglaonema
Temperature
Between 15°C and 25°C. Cannot tolerate below 13.
Light
300 lux, half shadow, must get sun light a few hours per day (no direct sunlignt though).
Watering
Soil should be kept moist at all times. Don't allow it to dry otherwise it can cause leaves to drop. In summer, water twice a week. In winter, once. Don't leave standing water in the saucer.
Repotting
Repotting is from March to May, every 2 to 3 years. For an old Aglaonema, just replace the upper layer of the soil, do not repot.
Complementary information
Leaves and fruits are toxic for humans and pets.
Dracaena Marginata
Temperature
Between 15°C and 22°C. Avoid below 15 (won't grow otherwise). Below 10 could damage it. Best between 20 and 22.
Light
500 lux, quite a log of light. Avoid too much direct sun light. It does not like absence of light.
Watering
Soil must remain hardly moist. Once a week in Summer, twice a month in Winter. Mist the leaves twice a week also, if possible.
Repotting
Repotting is from March to May, every 2 to 3 years. Every other year, replace the upper layer of the soil, do not repot.
Spathiphyllum
Temperature
Between 15°C and 25°C. Below 10 could damage it seriously. Best between 20 and 22.
Light
A significant amount (300 lux at least) but no direct sun though. Dim light is OK.
Watering
Once a week, a lot. Don't leave standing water! Reduce the amount of water in winter.
Repotting
In March, every two to three years. When not repotting, replace the upper layer of the soil.
Complementary information
Avoid dry air as well as fresh air flows. Keep it away from heaters.
To foster blossoming, deprive the plant of water for a few days.
Chlorophytum
Temperature
10 to 20°C. Don't go below 5.
Light
A lot! 600 lux at least. No direct sun light.
Watering
Once a week, twice if the environment is quite hot or luminous. Don't leave standing water. The plant likes moisture. Reduce watering in winter.
Repotting
Every year in March or April, in a slightly bigger pot.
Complementary information
If possible, use good quality soil.
Also, cut off dead parts of leaves (not the whole leaf).
Dieffenbachia
Temperature
18°C to 24°C in Summer and 15 to 18 in Winter. Keep away from heaters, the plant likes moisture. Keep away from air flows.
Light
A significant amount but no direct light.
Watering
Once a week. Don't leave standing water. Reduce watering in Winter.
Repotting
Every other year in March or April, in a bigger pot.
Complementary information
Leaves are poisonous.
Hope this helps, folks!
Resources
- Good source of information, in French: http://www.jardiner-malin.fr/
- Great article in French, very helpful to me: 24 plantes dépolluantes qui améliorent votre maison