Can "air-purifying grass" really absorb formaldehyde? The latest interpretation is here

In recent years, more and more people have started growing green plants at home. One green plant called “air-purifying grass” has been heavily hyped by merchants. Legend has it that this green plant can effectively absorb formaldehyde in the home, and some say it can absorb radiation. So is this air-purifying grass really so magical? Qinong Web will introduce air-purifying grass in detail below.

1. Common types of air-purifying grass

Many green plants are called air-purifying grass, such as lemon balm, curly mint, and others. These green plants are not the same plant species. Therefore, if we want to understand whether air-purifying grass actually has the function of absorbing formaldehyde, we first need to clarify what the real air-purifying grass is. Below is a detailed introduction:

1. Lemon balm: commonly known as air-purifying grass, mint balm, bee balm, bee balm; it belongs to the genus Monarda. The main value of this plant lies in its leaves, which emit a lemon fragrance and are used to attract bee colonies to make honey. In addition, it can also be used medicinally and as food.

2. Curly spearmint: also known as air-purifying grass, it is also a plant of the genus Mentha. Its tender branches and leaves are often used as a spice and food. In many medical books such as the Dian Yao Lu, it is mentioned that the whole plant can treat scabies, wind-heat common cold, and other diseases, showing that its medicinal value is also rich.

3. Aishi spurflower: also known as Teresa, Mona Purple, Mona Lavender. It is a hybrid variety cultivated in the late 1990s by the African horticulturist Roger · Jakes.

4. Curly mint: this is the variety most often called air-purifying grass, and it is also the subject we will discuss next.

2. Can air-purifying grass really purify toxins?

Some reports claim that air-purifying grass has a 92.4% formaldehyde disinfection rate at 3 hours and a 98.5% elimination rate at 72 hours, so air-purifying grass has a very good absorption effect on formaldehyde. But is that really true? If so, does that mean that in our newly renovated houses, we only need to place a few pots of air-purifying grass and then people can live there?

The fact is certainly not like that. According to a test by a physical and chemical analysis testing center in Beijing, per square meter, pothos absorbs 1.7 micrograms of formaldehyde, spider plant absorbs 1.1 micrograms, and air-purifying grass absorbs 0.9 micrograms; for benzene adsorption, the best effect is spider plant, followed by pothos, and finally air-purifying grass. From this it can be estimated that in a room of about 10 sq m, calculated by one hour, if air-purifying grass is used to absorb formaldehyde, about 200 pots are needed; calculated by 24 hours a day, about 8-10 pots of air-purifying grass are needed.

Here two problems arise. First, how are these 200 pots of air-purifying grass supposed to be placed in a 10 sq m room? Even calculating by 24 hours, 8-10 pots are still needed, so in that room basically every step would step on a pot of air-purifying grass, and feasibility almost does not exist. Another key problem is that harmful pollutants such as formaldehyde produced by furniture are continuously released. It can be seen from this that trying to solve the problem of indoor formaldehyde exceeding standards through a few pots of green plants is impossible.

3. The growing environment of air-purifying grass

1. Sunlight: air-purifying grass likes places with good light. If the room has enough daylight, air-purifying grass can be placed on the windowsill, and keeping ventilation is enough.

2. Temperature: air-purifying grass is relatively able to adapt to low-temperature environments and can withstand the erosion of low temperatures in winter, but if the summer temperature is higher than 30°C, the growth of air-purifying grass will be restricted.

3. Watering: it can be watered once every 3-5 days. Air-purifying grass has a strong self-repair ability. If the branches and leaves wilt, as long as water can be replenished immediately, it can recover quickly. The water can be clean water or rice washing water; clean water is best if it has been exposed to the sun.

4. Pruning: air-purifying grass grows very fast, so it is recommended to prune it once a week. Black-edged or old dead leaves can all be cut off directly.

5. Pests: because air-purifying grass contains volatile oils, it can sterilize and adsorb harmful gases. Under normal circumstances, there are no very serious pest problems.

The above is the relevant answer to whether air-purifying grass can absorb indoor formaldehyde. Summarizing the above content, it can be seen that air-purifying grass does have a certain adsorption effect on indoor formaldehyde, and besides air-purifying grass, many green plants have the function of adsorbing formaldehyde. But if one wants to completely solve the indoor formaldehyde problem through a few pots of green plants, it is unlikely. The fundamental measure to solve the formaldehyde problem is still to maintain good indoor ventilation.