Now that we've sealed up our window and door cracks, can anyone suggest a place to get a small houseplant? We would love some oxygen now that we've shut out the outside air. Somewhat around the moat would be great but not necessary. I though we drove by some nurseries to the NE of old town in a songtaew once...

Yep, NE, Kamthieng market. Behind Tesco, here: 18.807218,98.997127.

As you know most plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen during the process of photosynthesis; but a couple of suggestions at the top of the list for not only oxygen but also clearing up lethal toxins in the air (fomaldehyde, ammonias etc) are what I call "mother in laws tongue" or "dragon tail" and the broadleaf lady palm (rhapis excelsa)

both very common here.

but if i may just add an extra point, the "dragons tail" is the one to have in the bedroom becasue of its excellent oxygen emitting qualities.

And before anyone gets excited about the amount of oxygen plants dispel from their leaves, you would need to be sleeping amongst 400 plants to give only an hours oxygen, puts it in perspective I suppose.

Rim Ping grocery store and some of the Tops stores have a small selection of house plants. Much more expensive than going to Kamthieng, but perhaps more convenient if you just want a plant or two and would like it already planted in a nice pot.

Oh, the home delivery people will usually bring them with your groceries, too, if your total order is over a certain amount. I think it's any order over 1500 baht and the delivery service is free.

I seem to remember that when the science project of a sealed Dome Bio-sphere environment was being set up, one of the key factors required was 'Spider Plants' for Oxygen replenishment.

Yep. Spider Plant for the win.

Just painted the new room today. I figure about 500 of them should clear the air in a month or two.

Local people typically don't put plants inside the house, so if you do get plants at Khamthiang then you will want to repot in some high-end soil/growing media or you're importing a bug farm.

As for suitable plants, I'm finally having luck with a jade plant. They're notoriously picky about their environment and hate change. Very nice plant though.

Edited March 26, 201313 yr by WinnieTheKhwai

Local people typically don't put plants inside the house, so if you do get plants at Khamthiang then you will want to repot in some high-end soil/growing media or you're importing a bug farm.

As for suitable plants, I'm finally having luck with a jade plant. They're notoriously picky about their environment and hate change. Very nice plant though.

It's true, you rarely ever see a plant inside the house of a Thai. I understand why.

My wife re-pots any plants we buy for inside the house using standard bags of soil/leaves from any garden centre we come across, along with slices of coconut husk, we don't have bugs in the house, at the moment we have potted plants in every room of the house and still no bugs.