This genetically modified houseplant purifies your indoor air, but there is a catch

Whether it is a dragon tree, a philodendron or an ivy, the foliage is considered a beautiful decoration for the home or office. In addition, the plants are supposed to improve the indoor climate by filtering out pollutants and “bad air”. However, this has not really been proven. A 1989 NASA study examined the effects of common indoor plants on pollutant concentrations (of TCE, benzene and formaldehyde) in small rooms and concluded that indoor plants can indeed reduce pollutants.

Based on the NASA research, the Paris-based company Neoplants has developed a plant that can purify indoor air 30 times better than the best performing plant in the study.

The plant is called Neo P1 and has been genetically manipulated so that it can convert so-called VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into substances that are less harmful and useful for the plant, such as CO₂ or sugar. Pothos, commonly known as “Devil’s Eye,” served as the original plant.

Also important for the conversion of the VOC are bacteria in the soil, which enter into a symbiosis with the plant. However, these micro-organisms are not self-sufficient and must be built up again and again with special drops. So far so good.

The catch is that pollutant reduction can only be demonstrated when plants are confined in small isolated rooms for long periods of time. The rooms in the NASA study had a volume of only 0.42 cubic meters. The Neo P1 was also tested under similar conditions to the NASA study plants.

According to a 2019 study, it takes about ten houseplants per square meter to noticeably improve the air. If you believe the manufacturer’s information that the Neo P1 can clean the air 30 times better, you would need one plant per three square meters. For a bedroom of 18 square meters you need a total of six plants to keep the air clean. According to the study, the same effect can be achieved if you ventilate your room for an hour a day. (ears)