A natural way to purify indoor air is with the Corn Plant, Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’.  Yesterday I wondered which were the most popular plants, so I did some online research.  I came across the Corn Plant. It makes an ideal house plant because it is easy to take care of and naturally cleans the air.

Unfortunately I also learned that Corn plant is toxic to dogs and cats.  If the plant is ingested, vomiting and increased salivation can occur.

Apparently it is one of the best house plants for removing indoor air toxins such as formaldehyde,ammonia,xylene, and toluene.  What surprised me the most, was that I actually have one. Several months ago one of our long time neighbors moved and gave me some of her plants, one of which is a Corn Plant. You can see it in the photo above.

They are slow growers, but apparently can grow up to 6 feet. They like bright light, but will tolerate low light, which is one of the reasons they do well indoors. During the growing season it’s best to keep soil moist, but not soggy. Keep soil dryer during the winter months. They like room temperatures and prefer a good quality all-purpose potting mix. Fertilize monthly spring through fall, with a weak fertilizer solution.

I don’t think I every really appreciated the beauty of this plant until yesterday when I took a closer look at it. I hate to admit it, but I was keeping it outdoors.  Since then, I’ve moved it inside where we can enjoy the beauty, and the benefits of its ability to purify our air. Our little white dog, Annika is a plant nibbler, so I was already keeping the plant up high and away from her. When I learned of the toxicity to cats and dogs, I realized I have to be cautious. I learned that there are several other plants that share this air purification quality and I can see the beginning of a new plant collection.