A kind reader pointed out that my troubled, leaf dropping rubber tree, Ficus Elastica Sylvia, is notoriously difficult in indoor homes. He eventually found a good home with a greenhouse for his. Researching my rubber tree online, I just discovered that the rubber tree is one of the best plants for reducing indoor pollution. They do this thorugh their natural processes, transpiration and photosynthesis.

I knew that spider plants and philodendrons were good for this, but didn’t know that there were so many others. Anyway, this makes me more determined to hang onto the thing, as I’ve been experimenting with adding more indoor greenery to my apartment, for air-quality benefits. In fact my dream is to have an indoor plant wall. And a fountain. And a bigger apartment.
Anyway, in the meantime, I find there is a book written on the subject by a NASA scientist, B. C. Wolverton. It’s definitely on my list to check out. It has a five star rating on Amazon. See the book on Amazon here.
Another in depth article (by Alys Fowler from the Guardian) about this subject is here. Among her recommendations are keeping a Christmas Cactus by your bed as they are one of the few plants that release oxygen at night. She also mentions that areca palms transpire a litre of water every 24 hours.
Until you visit the book, the list of plants is here:
Areca Palm Dypsis lutescens (old name: Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) Lady Palm Rhapis excelsa Bamboo Palm Chamaedorea seifrizii Rubber Plant Ficus robusta Dracaena “Janet Craig” Dracaena deremensis “Janet Craig” English Ivy Hedera helix Dwarf Date Palm Phoenix roebelenii Ficus Alii Ficus macleilandii “Alii” Boston Fern Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis” Peace Lily Spathiphyllum sp. Corn Plant Dracaena fragrans “Massangeana” Golden Pothos Epipremnum aureum Kimberley Queen Nephrolepis obliterata Florist’s Mum Chrysanthemum morifolium Gerbera Daisy Gerbera jamesonii Dracaena “Warneckei” Dracaena deremensis “Warneckei” Dragon Tree Dracaena marginata Red Emerald Philodendron Philodendron erubescens Syngonium Syngonium podophyllum Dumb Cane Dieffenbachia “Exotica Compacta” Parlor Palm Chamaedorea elegans Weeping Fig Ficus benjamina Schefflera Brassaia actinophylla Wax Begonia Begonia semperflorens Lacy Tree Philodendron Philodendron selloum Heart-Leaf Philodendron Philodendron oxycardium Snake Plant Sansevieria trifasciata Dumb Cane Dieffenbachia Camilla Elephant Ear Philodendron Philodendron domesticum or Philodendron tuxla Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla King of Hearts Homalomena wallisii Prayer Plant Maranta leuconeura “Kerchoveana” Dwarf Banana Musa cavendishii Christmas and Easter Cactus Schlumbergera bridgesii, Schlumbergera rhipsalidopsis Oakleaf Ivy Cissus rhombifolia “Ellen Danika” Lily Turf Liriope spicata Dendrobium Orchid Dendrobium sp. Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum “Vittatum” Chinese Evergreen Aglaonema crispum “Silver Queen” Anthurium Anthurium andraeanum Croton Codiaeum variegatum pictum Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima Dwarf Azalea Rhododendron simsii “Compacta” Peacock Plant Calathea makoyana Aloe Vera Aloe barbadensis Cyclamen Cyclamen persicum Urn Plant Aechmea fasciata Tulip Tulipa gesneriana Moth Orchid Phalenopsis sp. Kalanchoe Kalanchoe blossfeldiana