Don't Take Plant Care Casually: The Complete Guide to the Most Basic Plant Care Knowledge

1. Clivia (Clivia miniata): releases oxygen and acts as a freshener that absorbs smoke.

A single mature clivia can absorb 1 liter of air and release 80% oxygen in a 24-hour period, and it can carry out photosynthesis even in extremely weak light. At night it does not release carbon dioxide. In a room of just over ten sq m, two or three pots of clivia are enough to absorb the smoke indoors. This is especially true in the cold northern winter, when doors and windows are kept tightly closed and indoor air does not circulate; clivia will do a good job of regulating the air and keeping the indoor air fresh.

2. African Jasmine (Murraya paniculata): the volatile oils it produces have a marked sterilizing effect; it can help people relax, promote sleep, and also improve work efficiency.

3. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): suppresses the waste gases exhaled by the human body, such as ammonia and acetone. At the same time, it can also filter benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air. Its high transpiration rate can prevent the nasal mucosa from drying out, greatly reducing the likelihood of illness.

4. Silver Queen (Aglaonema commutatum): known for its unique air-purifying ability: the higher the concentration of pollutants in the air, the better it can exert its purifying ability, so it is very well suited to dark rooms with poor ventilation.

5. Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum): it can absorb about 20 micrograms of formaldehyde per hour, so it is considered the most effective biological "purifier." People who deal with paint and coatings all day long, or who have smokers around them, should place at least one pot of fern in the workplace. In addition, it can also suppress the xylene and toluene released by computer monitors and printers.

6. Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola): brings fresh air to smoking households. Its leaves can absorb nicotine and other harmful substances from smoke-filled air, and through photosynthesis convert them into harmless substances of the plant's own. In addition, it can lower formaldehyde concentration by about 9 milligrams per hour.

7. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): can absorb 95% of the carbon monoxide and 85% of the formaldehyde in the air.

The spider plant can carry out photosynthesis in weak light. The spider plant can absorb toxic and harmful gases from the air; one pot of spider plant in a room of 8-10 sq m is equivalent to an air purifier. Generally, keeping 1-2 pots of spider plant in a room can release oxygen 24 hours a day while absorbing formaldehyde, styrene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other carcinogenic substances from the air. The spider plant has a particularly strong absorption capacity for certain harmful substances; for example, the carbon monoxide and formaldehyde mixed in the air can reach 95% and 85% respectively. The spider plant can also break down benzene and absorb relatively stable harmful substances such as nicotine in cigarette smoke; therefore the spider plant is also called the green purifier of indoor air.

8. Aloe (Aloe vera): one pot of aloe is equivalent to nine biological air cleaners.

Potted aloe enjoys the reputation of being an air purification expert. One pot of aloe is equal to nine biological air cleaners; it can absorb formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and other harmful substances, and its absorption of formaldehyde in particular is especially strong. Under 4 hours of light, one pot of aloe can eliminate 90% of the formaldehyde in one sq m of air; it can also kill harmful microorganisms in the air and adsorb dust, playing a major role in purifying the home environment. When the harmful gases indoors are too high, the leaves of the aloe will develop spots. This is a distress signal; as long as a few more pots of aloe are added indoors, the indoor air quality will return to normal.

9. Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa): absorbs carbon dioxide at night and improves air quality.

The Swiss cheese plant's air-purifying function is slightly weaker; unlike the spider plant and aloe, it is not an all-rounder at purifying air. But the Swiss cheese plant has a fairly obvious effect on removing formaldehyde from the air. In addition, the Swiss cheese plant has the ability to absorb carbon dioxide at night, which greatly helps improve indoor air quality and raise oxygen content. Add to that the fact that the Swiss cheese plant is generally a larger plant with an elegant form and relatively airy, attractive leaves, and it is a very ideal indoor plant. After the fruit of the Swiss cheese plant ripens, it can be cooked as a dish, with a fragrance like pineapple or banana.

10. Ivy (Hedera helix): the champion of formaldehyde absorption.

Ivy is currently the most effective indoor plant for absorbing formaldehyde. The leaves of ivy can absorb 1.48 milligrams of formaldehyde per sq m, and the total leaf area of 2 mature ivy plants is about 0.78 sq m. At the same time, ivy can also absorb benzene, a toxic and harmful substance; under 24-hour light it can absorb 90% of the benzene in a room. It is estimated that for a room of 10 sq m, only 2-3 pots of ivy are needed to purify the air; it can also adsorb particulate dust.

11. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica): an all-rounder at eliminating harmful substances.

The rubber plant is an all-rounder at eliminating harmful substances, with a certain resistance to harmful gases in the air such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride. The rubber plant can also eliminate inhalable particulate pollution and has an effective dust-retaining effect on indoor dust.

12. Asparagus Fern (Asparagus setaceus): a protective umbrella that eliminates bacteria and viruses.

The plant fragrance contained in the asparagus fern has antibacterial components; it can remove bacteria and viruses from the air and has health-promoting functions, so the scent released by the asparagus fern has the power to sterilize and benefit beneficial bacteria. In addition, the asparagus fern also has high medicinal value. Dig up its fleshy roots, wash off the dirt and grime on them, and dry them in the sun for later use or use them fresh; the leaf-like branches are picked as needed; all have the effects of relieving cough, moistening the lungs, cooling the blood and detoxifying.

13. Broadleaf Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa): eliminates heavy metal pollution and carbon dioxide.

The function of the broadleaf lady palm is similar to that of the Swiss cheese plant. The broadleaf lady palm, which also belongs to the large-leaved ornamental plants, can absorb more than 80% of various harmful gases and purify the air. At the same time, the broadleaf lady palm can also eliminate heavy metal pollution and has a certain resistance to sulfur dioxide pollution. Of course, as foliage plants with huge leaves, their greatest feature is the ability to digest carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, which ordinary plants cannot match.

14. Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana): a healthy plant suitable for the bedroom.

Lucky bamboo can help improve the air quality of rooms that are not often opened for ventilation, and it has a disinfecting function; especially in the bedroom, lucky bamboo can effectively absorb waste gases, improving the private environment of the bedroom.

15. Money Tree (Pachira aquatica): counters the waste gases produced by burning tobacco.

The money tree is evergreen all year round; it can absorb toxic gases and release oxygen through photosynthesis; it can fairly effectively absorb carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide pollution, and has a certain effect in resisting the waste gases produced by burning tobacco.

16. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): improves air quality and eliminates harmful substances.

Golden pothos has very strong vitality and a very strong ability to absorb harmful substances; it can help improve the air quality of rooms that are not often opened for ventilation. Golden pothos can also eliminate harmful substances such as formaldehyde, and its function is no less than that of ivy or spider plant.

17. Cactus: the best plant for reducing electromagnetic radiation.

The cactus has a strong anti-inflammatory and sterilizing effect. When it comes to dealing with pollution, the cactus is the best plant for reducing electromagnetic radiation. In addition, the cactus absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen at night. Keeping a cactus in the bedroom at night can supplement oxygen and help with sleep.