Spathiphyllum mauna loa

When NASA in the 1970s commissioned Dr. B. Wolverton a study on the plants that could act on the microclimate by fighting the pollutants, the American space agency had in mind to find new solutions for the improvement of life style in the space bases. But the results have proved to be useful also for our daily life, because the plants identified by the study of NASA as the most active and able to remove toxic substances are also excellent indoor plants, for offices and houses, not just for their beauty and ornamental role but also for their healthy properties to purify the air. The perennial plant Spathiphyllum mauna loa, native to Colombia and characterized by beautiful white flowers, belongs to this long list of plants studied by Dr. Wolverton. The plant belongs to the family Araceae, one of the most effective against pollutants, in fact the spathiphyllum has been demonstrated to be able to remove up to 79.5% benzene, a substance considered carcinogenic and that is released by cigarette smoke, candles, incense, but also coatings for floors, paints, glues and new furniture. In addition to this, this plant reduces formaldehyde by 50%, another substance that is considered carcinogenic to humans but that, unfortunately, is very easy to find in the houses since it is released by wooden furniture, chipboard or plywood, carpet, parquet, glues and solvents used in construction but also disinfectants and deodorants. Finally, the spathiphyllum acts by eliminating 32% trichlorethylene, toxic and used in stain removers, solvents and detergents. As for the treatment spathiphyllum adapts to different lighting conditions but prefers a warm environment, it suffers when the temperature is low and therefore it is better to keep it indoor. As for watering, pay attention that the plant requires a damp soil, so give more frequently water in summer and less in winter. It is also good to spray the leaves to keep the humidity around the plant.