Aerial roots elevate indoor plant health: Physiological and morphological responses of three high‐humidity adapted Araceae species to indoor humidity levels. (27th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sheeran, Laura; Rasmussen, Amanda
• Is Part Of: Plant, cell and environment. Volume 46:Number 6(2023)
• Page Start: 1873
• Page End: 1884
• Publication Date: 2023-02-27
• Subjects: adventitious roots -- indoor plant health -- nitrogen preferences -- relative humidity -- tropical aroids -- whole plant physiology; Plant physiology -- Periodicals; Plant cells and tissues -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; 581.105
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.14568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-7791

Abstract

Abstract: Heightened by the COVID‐19 pandemic there has been a global increase in urban greenspace appreciation. Indoor plants are equally important for improving mental health and air quality but despite evolving in humid (sub)tropical environments with aerial root types, planting systems ignore aerial resource supply. This study directly compared nutrient uptake preferences of aerial and soil‐formed roots of three common houseplant species under high and ambient relative humidities. Growth and physiology parameters were measured weekly for Anthurium andreanum, Epipremnum aureum and Philodendron scandens grown in custom made growth chambers. Both aerial and soil‐formed roots were then fed mixtures of nitrate, ammonium and glycine, with one source labelled with 15 N to determine uptake rates and maximum capacities. Aerial roots were consistently better at nitrogen uptake than soil roots but no species, root type or humidity condition showed a preference for a particular nitrogen source. All three species grew more in high humidity, with aerial roots demonstrating the greatest biomass increase. Higher humidities for indoor niches, together with fertiliser applications to aerial roots will support indoor plant growth, creating lush calming indoor environments for people inhabitants. Summary statement: The importance of healthy indoor plants for our wellbeing has become a hot topic in a post pandemic world of ever‐increasing population densities. Despite being present on many house plants and typically being ignored, this study shows that aerial roots have a higher nitrogen uptake capacity than their soil‐based counterparts in multiple species and under two humidity conditions. This highlights the importance of understanding and incorporating aerial root physiology in our design and maintenance of indoor greenspaces.