What are the benefits of spider plants? A full analysis of their effects and value
Spider plants not only resemble orchids in form and stay green all year round, but also have a powerful ability to absorb pollutants. "Grow a spider plant at home, and the pollution demons tremble with fear" - this is how people in southern Fujian, Taiwan, China and other places praise the spider plant. The spider plant is the best plant for purifying indoor air, and this has been affirmed by scientists. American environmental expert Bill Wolverton once conducted an experiment in which he placed a spider plant in a specially made plexiglass container, gave it good light, and then filled it with air from a polluted room. After some time, he measured the composition of the air that had been absorbed by the spider plant, and found that almost none of the harmful gases in the container remained, with its efficiency almost exceeding that of an air filter.
A spider plant can absorb and purify all the harmful gases in an experimental container within 24 hours. As long as a pot of spider plant is placed in a bedroom, within one day it can absorb harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen peroxide released by indoor appliances, stoves, plastic products, paints and so on and transport them to its roots, where they are then decomposed by microorganisms in the soil into harmless substances and absorbed as nutrients.
In its own metabolism, the spider plant can also convert carcinogenic formaldehyde in the air into substances such as sugars and amino acids. It can also break down benzene emitted by copiers and printers, and can even "devour" nicotine and so on. Therefore, in a room of about 10 sq m, as long as there is one pot of spider plant, it is equivalent to installing an air purifier, enough to offset the negative effects of harmful gases.
Scientists also placed several pots of spider plants in a closed environment similar to the sealed cabin of a space shuttle, and after 12 hours measured that harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and formaldehyde in the cabin had decreased by 85%. Researchers at the Xi'an Botanical Garden say that in recent years, more and more people have chosen spider plants as household potted plants, and their pollution-absorbing ability has been recognized by most people.
In addition, spider plants are also often used indoors, especially in newly renovated interiors, as "negative ion" purifiers, and are believed to have a clear effect on reducing the concentration of harmful substances such as formaldehyde and benzene.