The Kind Window
Houseplant news, notes and know-how from a painter’s window in Asheville, North Carolina
Curiosities
The honest answer: not by much. Where the idea came from, and what the research says.
The idea comes from a 1989 NASA study that tested plants inside small sealed chambers. Real homes are very different, with air constantly flowing in and out.
A 2019 review of the research estimated that you'd need somewhere between 10 and 1,000 plants per square meter (roughly 1 to 100 per square foot) to match what ordinary ventilation already does.
So keep plants for everything else they bring: color, life, and a reason to slow down and pay attention every morning.
General information only, not professional, veterinary or medical advice. See our Terms of Use.
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