Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Plant Species >> House Plants

Plants That Repel Insects and Purify Air for a Bangalore Senior Community

Insect-Repellent Plants for Tropical Climates

See Ohio State University's guide: Plant-Based Insect Repellents. Note: Efficacy varies; plants alone won't create a bug-free zone.

NASA-Validated Air-Purifying Plants

Common Name	Scientific Name
Bamboo Palm	Chamaedorea seifrizii
Chinese Evergreen	Aglaonema modestum
English Ivy	Hedera helix
Gerbera Daisy	Gerbera jamesonii
Janet Craig Dracaena	Dracaena 'Janet Craig'
Marginata	Dracaena marginata
Mass Cane/Corn Plant	Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana'
Mother-in-Law's Tongue	Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii'
Pot Mum	Chrysanthemum morifolium
Peace Lily	Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa'
Warneckii	Dracaena 'Warneckii'

More NASA info: Zone10 NASA Plants.

Local Adaptation

Choose species suited to Bangalore's tropical climate (warm, humid). Many listed thrive outdoors there; indoors, ensure bright light and good drainage.

House Plants: Rescuing Dracaena Marginata from Root Rot; Propagating Dracaena Canes from Bare Stems: A Long Shot Guide; Sudden Leaf Drop on Dracaena marginata: Troubleshooting Light, Temperature, and Water; Cold Damage Recovery for Dracaena Marginata; Dracaena Fragrans (Corn Plant) Disaster After Unnecessary Repotting; Do Rooted Dracaena Heads Become Woody Canes Indoors?; Fungal Growth in Dracaena Soil: Mushrooms and Finger-Like Projections; Dracaena 'Pamela': Top-Heavy with Suckers—Stake or Propagate; Dracaena 'Warneckii' and Majesty Palm Toxicity to Cats: What Veterinary Resources Say; Dracaena Care: The "Dragon Tree" for Low-Light Interiors

Garden Articles

Propagating Dracaena from a Broken Top and Managing the Mother Plant's New Growth

Propagating Dracaena marginata from Stem Cuttings

Dracaena Compacta: Dense, Dark-Green Foliage for Modern Interiors

Dracaena Corn Plant (Massangeana): Striped Leaves on a Woody Cane

Dracaena Lemon Lime: Vibrant Yellow-and-Green Striped Foliage

Dracaena Marginata (Madagascar Dragon Tree): Sculptural Canes with Red-Edged Leaves

Dracaena Reflexa (Pleomele): Green or Variegated, Always Architectural

Plants

Dracaena 'Lisa' Stem Browning: Root Damage from Watering Errors

Why Your Dracaena Marginata Trunks Are Cracking

Rescuing Dracaena Marginata from Repotting-Induced Root Rot

Dracaena Marginata Decline After Vacation: Watering and Light Fixes

Dracaena 'Anita' Root Rot from Overpotting: How to Fix It

Dracaena Plant Guide: Species, Selection, and Basic Care

Dracaena: Care Guide for Dramatic Foliage Houseplants