What's the best plant for cleaning the air?

You don't have to create a jungle in your building to appreciate the health benefits of plants - just by adding a plant here and there will give your staff ample opportunity to enjoy these clean air machines.

So are some plants better than others? 

Generally speaking,  all plants are good, it's just a case of what's good for your building and your personal preference.  Here's a list: -

Spathiphyllum
Kentia Palm
Dracaena Janet Craig
Chlorophytum
Nephrolepis
Pot Chrysanthemum
Gerbera
Phoenix roebelenii
Ficus robusta and benjamina
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Chamaedorea
Rhapis excelsa
Schefflera
Scindapsus/Epipremnun
Aglaonema

Now to compliment things a bit further.  Whilst most plants give out oxygen during the day, there are a few night time workers who do it the opposite way around.  Epiphytic Bromeliads, orchids and succulents exchange Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide at night rather than most other plants which do this in the daytime.  This makes them perfect bedroom plants to refresh the air we breathe during sleep - or even to keep your night shift workers more alert perhaps?.

If you have particularly dry conditions in your building, there are some plants which raise humidity levels. As plants return 97% of the water we give them back into the air, these water loving plants help to raise humidity levels.  Particularly useful in centrally heated or air conditioned buildings.

Some water loving plants include:
Schefflera
Bamboos
Hemp

If you need a bit more advice about selecting the right plant for your environment, just ask us, we'd be happy to help.   Alternatively, you can visit the Plants for People website which is an organisation with the aim of promoting plants in the working environment.