Interior Plantscaping

Interior Plantscaping - Bringing the Outdoors in
Interiorscaping originated in the Denver Metro area some time in the late 1950's or the very early 1960's. A small group of plant people came up with the novel idea of placing houseplants in offices for hire.
Today the trade has grown and matured into a multi-million dollar industry. Every where you go... offices, hotels, banks, shopping malls, restaurants, airports... all have live tropical plants enhancing their interior environment. Many modern buildings are actually built around the placement of interior plants.
But why plants? You may not realize it... but interior plants can be a powerful tool:
Employee productivity... productivity is one of the greatest benefits of interior plants. Studies have shown that work areas with interior plants increase employee moral, productivity and employee job satisfaction.
Large open areas... will feel more inviting. Interior plants function as sound absorbers removing the echo from large spaces, not to mention... helping to attract new tenants.
Increased sales... interior plants soften and comfort sales floors, conference and closing rooms... all while projecting an image of a healthy... well maintained business.
Plants Clean interior air... a well documented study conducted by NASA has proven that interior plants can eliminate harmful indoor air pollution... know as "sick building syndrome".
Remodel with plants... plants are the least expensive method of remodeling an existing space. They can be a very flexible design element.
http://www.denverplants.com/Plantscape/html/index.htm 09.06.08
The following text was reprinted directly from the NASA site.
9/26/89: STUDY SHOWS COMMON PLANTS HELP REDUCE INDOOR AIR POLLUTION. RELEASE: 89-149
"Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution, based on research conducted by NASA.
NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) today announced the findings of a 2-year study that suggests that common indoor plant may provide a natural way of combating "sick building syndrome". An acute incidence of indoor air pollution that can occur in closed or poorly ventilated offices and residences.
Research into the use of biological processes, as a means of solving environmental problems both on Earth and in space habitats, has been carried out for many years by Dr. Bill Wolverton, a senior research scientist at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Based on preliminary evaluations... the use of common indoor plants for indoor air purification and revitalization, ALCA joined NASA to fund a study of about a dozen popular varieties of ornamental plants to determine their effectiveness in removing several key pollutants associated with indoor air pollution.
Each plant type was placed in sealed, plexiglass chambers in which chemicals were injected. Philodendron, Spider plant and the Golden pothos were labeled as the most effective in removing formaldehyde. Flowering plants such as the Gerbera daisy and Chrysanthemums were rated superior in removing benzene from the chamber atmosphere.
Other plants demonstrated to be effective air purifiers include the Bamboo palm, Peace lily, Ficus, Dracaena massangeana cane, Mother-in-Law's tongue (Sanseveria), English Ivy and Chinese evergreen species.
"Plants take substances out of the air through the tiny openings in their leaves", Wolverton said. "But research in our laboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors"
This list of NASA Clean air houseplants can be purchased from our house plant sponsor or our interior plantscape sponsor.
Sources of airborne toxins
Plants that remove toxins
Benzene based ToxinsDetergentsInks and DyesPetroleum productsPlasticsRubber productsSynthetic fibersTobacco smoke
Chinese EvergreensChrysanthemumDragon treeEnglish IvyGerbera DaisyJanet Craig DracaenaPeace LilyStriped Dracaena
Formaldehyde based ToxinsCarpetingCleanersFoam InsulationFurniturePaper productsPlywoods and Particle board
Bamboo palmCorn stalk plantDevils IvyFicus treesPhilodendronsSnake plantSpider plants
Trichloroethylene ToxinsAdhesivesDry cleaningInks and DyesLacquers and PaintsVarnishes
Dragon treeGerbera DaisyPeace LilyPotted flowering MumsRibbon plant