Three of the best-known houseplants for clean indoor air in one set: a peace lily, a spider plant and a Boston fern, all from the NASA clean air study.
The peace lily, Spathiphyllum wallisii, has glossy dark green leaves and white hooded flowers in spring and summer, often repeating through the year indoors. The spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, makes a fountain of arching green and white striped leaves and sends out dangling plantlets on long stems, which makes it a natural for a hanging basket or a shelf. The Boston fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, has long feathery bright green fronds that cascade from a central crown. Between them they suit bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and home offices.
All three are happy in bright to medium indirect light out of direct sun. The peace lily and spider plant will tolerate a duller spot, but the fern wants reasonable light and, above all, humidity, so a bathroom or kitchen suits it best, or mist it regularly. Keep the fern's compost consistently moist without waterlogging it; water the peace lily and spider plant when the top of the compost is dry. The peace lily wilts dramatically when thirsty and recovers within hours of watering, which is not a sign it is dying. Keep them above 10C, away from cold draughts, and feed regularly from spring to autumn. Rainwater is better than tap water for the fern and the spider plant, which brown at the tips from the salts in tap water.
Supplied as three plants in 1 litre root balls, ready to pot into your own containers. The peace lily is harmful if eaten and its sap can irritate skin and eyes, so keep it away from children, cats and dogs.
Cultural Information
Common Name: Peace lily, spider plant and Boston fern
Fully Grown Height and Spread: Peace lily 30 to 60cm, spider plant 30 to 45cm, Boston fern 40 to 90cm
Growth Habit: Clump forming, arching and trailing
Perfect For: Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and home offices
Foliage: Glossy dark green leaves, green and white striped leaves, and feathery bright green fronds
Flowering Time: Peace lily flowers spring to summer, often repeating indoors
Planting Position: Bright to medium indirect light indoors
Soil Type: Free-draining, peat-free houseplant compost
Hardiness: Tender, indoor only; keep above 10C
Maintenance: Moderate; the fern needs humidity and moist compost
Seasonal Interest: Spring and summer flowers on the peace lily, with evergreen foliage all year
Type: Houseplant collection of three plants
