Question
I have read that English Ivy produces negative ions in the air.  Does Pathos Ivy also produce negative ions?      Are there any other indoor plants that rid the air of "poisons" and give off negative ions?

Answer
Hi Sally,

The idea that negative ions help clean the air or make it fresher is a myth. Consumer Reports tested and found that Ionizer air cleaners were ineffective. Here is a link about the myth of negative ions: http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/02/11/mrstatic.html.

That said, potted plants do have some beneficial effects in removing certain toxins from the air in certain situations. Plants are most effective in sealed modern buildings that do not have windows that open. Such buildings often have mildly toxic levels of pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, acetone and ammonia that originate in the chemicals used to manufacture furniture, flooring, carpets and upholstery. These chemicals tend to stay within a building that does not have fresh air cycling through. If there are a lot of plants per square foot, then the plants will absorb some of the chemical pollutants and filter them out through the soil.

The effects of potted plants in homes with fresh air circulating through open doors and windows is very limited. There is no evidence that pollutant such as tobacco smoke and vehicle emissions are removed by plants. In other words, do not rely on plants as a way to remove pollutants and allergens in your home. Plants may help a bit and certainly will do no harm, but they are not the final answer to indoor pollution problems.

Various lists of plants best at removing air pollutants circulate in books, magazine articles and on the internet. None of them are very accurate. While it is true that certain plant species tested were more effective than other species at removing certain specific chemicals, but all of the tests were done in ideal growing conditions in which the plants were all healthy and growing vigorously.

The plants that are most effective overall are the plants that have the most total leaf surface, regardless of species. So most any large plant will be more effective than any small plant. Most importantly, healthy plants are more effective than ailing plants.

The bottom line is that you should select a plant species not from some list, but based on matching its light requirements with the light you have available for it. If you do not have adequate light for a particular plant species, then it will not do well and it will be ineffective as an air cleaner.

As for the two plant species you mentioned, English (Hedera) Ivy requires more light than Pothos. If you have a sunny window, then the Ivy would be a better choice. If the light is indirect and not real close to a sunny window, then a Pothos is a better choice.

I hope this lengthy reply helps "clear the air" about plants as air cleaners!

I have written articles on plants and clean air and on Ivy and Pothos care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com