Question
i have a small office with bad air, no daylight.  can you suggest a plant that will survive and enhance the environment, give off a lot of oxygen. i'm getting an air purifier soon. thank you.  i want you to tell me what to buy.  thanks  

Answer
Hi Jillian,

I care for many plants in offices like yours. Typically, they have no windows, recycled air, and overhead fluorescent lighting. In these situations, light is the controlling factor. Only a limited number of low-light plants will survive in artificial light and even fewer will thrive.

As far as air purification and oxygen production go, a healthy plant is more important than any particular species of plant. So you need a plant that will do well in the limited light that you have available.

I recommend the following: Pothos, Aglaonema, Dracaena 'Janet Craig' or 'Lisa,' ZZ Plant, and parlor palm.

All of these should do well as long as the lights are left on for about 8 hours, 5 days per week. These plants will grow slowly because of the limited light so they should not be repotted, fertilized, or watered very frequently.

I have written an article on low light plants that I will email to anyone who sends a request to my email address below. I also have articles on plants and air purification and plants and oxygen.

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

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]