Abstract
Use of foliage plants for indoor decoration is pursuing tradition in several cultures. With contemporary living patterns, frequent replacement of indoor plants has become impractical. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to identify indoor plants with low carbon dioxide (CO2) emission or CO2 absorption ability in nights to be kept continuously indoors. Five common indoor plants (Cryptanthus sp., Dieffenbachia seguine, Dracaena sanderiana, Sansevieria trifasciata and Zamioculcas zamiifolia) were placed separately in 1000 L airtight chambers for 12 h in the dark. The CO2 level in each chamber was measured before and after the experiment and the difference was calculated. The stomatal count of both adaxial and abaxial surfaces was taken in each plant type to determine the relationship between CO2 emission/absorption efficiency and stomatal density of tested ornamental species. From the test plant species, D. seguine, D. sanderiana and Z. zamiifolia, showed positive CO2 equilibrium in the chambers and the CO2 increments were 0.16 ppm cm-2, 0.39 ppm cm-2 and 0.18 ppm cm-2 of leaf area, respectively. Both Cryptanthus sp. and S. trifasciata showed negative CO2 equilibrium at around -0.20 ppm cm-2 of leaf area. Sansevieria trifasciata and D. sanderiana possessed stomata in both adaxial and abaxial surfaces, while stomatal number in adaxial surface of other three test plant species was negligible. The average number of stomata Cryptanthus sp. was 5.56x10⁴ cm⁻2, D. seguine 5.03x10⁴ cm⁻2, D. sanderiana 9.05x10⁴ cm⁻2, S. trifasciata 5.25x10⁴ cm⁻2 and Z. zamiifolia 3.51x10⁴ cm⁻2. Stomata in Cryptanthus sp. and S. trifasciata close during day time and open at night. Present study concludes that potted Cryptanthus sp. and S. trifasciata (plants with CAM photosynthesis pathway) used for indoor decoration absorb CO2 during the night, and hence, are safe to keep indoors during day and night.
Highlights
Use of foliage plants in indoor decorations has shown a positive trend in the recent past
Plants of five common indoor plants available in the local pot plant market and are produced in large scale, namely, Cryptanthus sp., Dieffenbachia seguine (Jacq.) Schott, Dracaena sanderiana Mast., Sansevieria trifasciata Prain., and Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Lodd.) Engl. were obtained from the Horticultural Research and Development Institute (HORDI), at Gannoruwa, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Dieffenbachia seguine, D. sanderiana, S. trifasciata and Z. zamiifolia showed new leaf initiation during the acclimatization period, but leaf initiation or flowering was not observed in Crypanthus spp
Summary
Use of foliage plants in indoor decorations has shown a positive trend in the recent past. Beautification of living environment, and the natural effect of plants contributing positively to mental health, physical health and safe indoor environment (Lohr, 2007) are their other beneficial effects. Plants can substantially improve indoor environmental quality by reducing the major types of urban air pollutants (Burchett et al, 2011). The volatile organic compounds (VOC) and CO2 are the two major classes of air pollutants in indoors and plants can significantly reduce these. The indoor CO2 levels are about 10 times higher than that of the outdoor levels. The city dwellers spend more than 80% of their time inside the buildings, and face higher risk due to indoor air pollution (Torpy et al, 2014). Growing plants indoors is one of the potential remedies in converting concrete buildings into living-friendly environments
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