(A thorough look upon the importance of Oxygen generating indoor plants)

One can argue that a problem is nothing but merely a box of numerous solutions. Amidst this pandemic when our country is witnessing the roaring cases of the Covid-19 virus, the lack of medical use of oxygen has surely played a challenging role. This episode in the human history should definitely teach a valuable lesson of not damaging the nature to the extent that the repercussions faced are extremely devastating. Moreover, small solutions should be extracted out of this problem to make the situation better in the long run as sustainability is achieved only in the long run and never in the short run.

Since the world leaders have signed up the Paris agreement 2016, people at large might think that it is now the duty of the government of those nations to tackle the carbon emissions by 2030. But, has anyone ever considered that what role a good civic sense of the society might play when it comes to contributing into decreasing carbon emissions and increasing the oxygen levels? A person can start it from ones’ own home. There are various plants, that are approved by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) after conducting a research study with ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America), that are known for air purifying and cleaning & oxygen generating qualities. By planting these plants, indoors at home, a person in a longer run can actually generate a sustainable amount of oxygen that can purify the entire area. Usually, one plant cover 100 square feet of area, so a person living in the space on 1200 square feet of area can plant around 10-12 of these small plants and live in a purified environment. A fun fact about these plants is that they are used by NASA to clean the air in the space stations and generate natural oxygen that will create a sustainable loop to of growing more plants and generating further more oxygen.

Following is the list of various plants, that are approved by NASA for purifying and cleaning the air & generating the oxygen:

1.      Bamboo Palm

Commonly given as a present on many different occasions around the world, Bamboo has a tendency to grow without soil. It is a member of glass family and purifies the air around itself. A small plant on the study or work table will boost your efficiency significantly.

2.      Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera plants tends to remove harmful pollutants, such as VOCs, from the air. Its pulp has many medicinal qualities too. It is known to release oxygen in abundance and taking CO2 from the surroundings.

3.      Pothos (Money Plant)

Pothos or the Money plant, which has leaves shaped like heart, can be grown in low-light and needs water in 8-10 days. It is a very low maintenance plant which has tendency to remove toxins from the air.

4.      Sansevieria (Snake Plant)

Sansevieria or Snake plant has the tendency to absorb the most amount of CO2 than any other indoor plant. It eliminates various toxins such as xylene, benzene from the air and purifies it.

5.      Peace Lily

Peace Lily has a quality to absorb Acetone vapours from the air and clean it. It is also known to attract and stick dust particles to itself, to once it dies and when you throw it, you are actually throwing away billions of dust particles.

6.      Ferns (Boston Ferns)

Boston Ferns, an ideal candidate for people living in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru etc, where the humidity levels are very high. This plant has tendency of purifying air along with absorbing moisture from the air and decreasing the humidity levels.

7.      Weeping fig

Weeping fig actually removes harmful toxins and chemicals like trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde from the air and purify it. It usually requires a high maintenance environment as it can grow up to 60 feet, but is ideal to be kept as an indoor plant till it is 5-6 feet. Later it can be shifted outside.

These plants also have a super ability of eliminating the chemicals from the air and purifying it. A technology driven world may drive people to buy an air purifier and install it inside the home. This will definitely fulfil the purpose of cleaning \ purifying the air but it won’t produce natural oxygen and the toll it takes on energy (electricity) consumption is huge. Imagining a society with more and more plants, planted inside a house seems to be a tough vision but this too can be achieved.