‘Zanzibar Gem’ (Zamioculcas zamifolia) is a beautiful type of cycad with thick, glossy green leaves.

While Zanzibar
Gem can be grown outdoors, it’s most often seen as an almost un-killable indoor plant. It’s been described as the
ultimate indoor plant because of its tolerance to low light and lack of water.

In the wild it survives drought periods by disappearing almost completely and then re-sprouting from its underground,
potato-like tubers when the rains eventually come. So, in the unlikely event that your Zanzibar Gem appears to have
died, a good drink just might encourage it to start developing new shoots.

Position – Indoors in a well lit spot away from direct sunlight or, in frost-free gardens, grow Zanzibar Gem outdoors
in semi shade
Water – Water occasionally, but allow the plant to dry out well between waterings. Water less frequently in winter and
when the plant is growing in low light
Soil – Well drained.
Harvesting – N/A.
When To Grow – All year

How To Grow In A Pot:

Step 1: Zanzibar Gem will grow very happily in quite small pots (from 20 cm in diameter). 
Step 2: Choose a spot that is well lit but away from direct sunlight. 
Step 3: Fill chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. 
Step 4: Plant into pot and water in well. 
Step 5: Feed Zanzibar Gem occasionally during the growing season (spring to autumn) with Yates Thrive All Purpose
Liquid Plant Food.
Step 4: Zanzibar Gem does not like wet feet so do not overwater. Only re-water when the potting mix feels dry.

Growing Tips

 Keep the leaves clean by wiping with a damp cloth.

 When a plant becomes crowded in the pot it can be split and divided. Re-pot into good quality potting mix
like Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter and water well to settle the roots into place. You’ll then have a spare plant
to move to another position or give to a friend. Zanzibar Gem makes a perfect gift for a beginner – as long as it’s
understood that it thrives on neglect (no over-watering)!
 During winter, they will survive well without much watering. Misting them once a month is usually enough.
 The sap of Zanzibar Gem is toxic and, if ingested, could make you unwell so, after dividing the plant, make
sure you wash hands well with soap and water.

https://www.yates.com.au/indoor/how-to-grow/how-to-grow-zanzibar-gem/

If you have been searching for a great indoor plant that not only looks great, but needs only minimal
care, then our brand new Zanzibar Gem™ (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) could be just what you are looking
for. Available for the first time in New Zealand, you can enjoy all the benefits of having a beautiful
ornamental plant, without all the hassle of constant maintenance.

A plant of distinguished features, the Zanzibar Gem™ stands out from its counterparts with its unique
spiral structure and high gloss, deep green foliage, that grows 60-90cm tall. Awarded House Plant of the
Year, the Zanzibar Gem™ is resilient against drought, neglect, dry air, low light and bugs! Impressively,
the Zanzibar Gem™ also acts as a bio-filtration system that works to purify the air. This makes it
extremely appealing for office environments, retail complexes, retirement centres, hospitals, schools
and homes.
Important Benefits

Resilient Against Pests

Zanzibar Gem™ plants are not known to be subject to insect pests or plant diseases.

Requires Minimal Watering

These plants will continue to survive, even if you forget to water them for months at a time! The
Zanzibar Gem™ prefers to be on the dry side and too much watering can result in the leaves turning
yellow. The plants have potato-like tubers under the soil which store the water and allows the plant to
survive extremely long periods without a drink. Watering once a month is plenty.

Tolerates Low Light Levels

The Zanzibar Gem™ is perfectly at home in low light situations. Although if you would like it to continue
to grow it is best placed in bright, indirect light.

Purifies the Air

The amazing bio-filtration system Zanzibar Gems™ create through their root-zone can reduce air
pollutants by up to 80%! Research has shown the use of Zanzibar Gems™ as an adaptive, self-regulating,
portable, low-cost and sustainable filtration system for improving indoor air quality.

Turn your brown thumbs green again, order a Zanzibar Gem Today!

Tips for Caring for your Zanzibar Gem Plant

Choose an indoor spot that is not in direct sunlight - the plant does best in partial or filtered sun. The
Zanzibar Gem™ will survive in the dark but it won't continue to grow.

Allow the plant to dry out well between watering. Watering once a month is plenty.

Water less frequently in winter.

Don't use leaf shiners, as the leaves are naturally shiny and do not like chemicals. If necessary, wipe
them with a damp cloth

Make sure that the pot and soil you use have good drainage.

Add a slow release fertilizer to the pot during spring for the best results.

https://www.vanlier.co.nz/shop/ZanzibarGem/20cmZanzibarGem/x_sku/7055Zanzibar_Gem.html

There’s an exciting newcomer on the indoor plant scene – a very hardy and attractive- looking plant
called Zanzibar Gem.

Zanzibar Gem’s scientific name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, gives a hint of its resemblance to the palm-like
cycads called zamias. Because of this distinctive botanic name the Europeans have christened it ZZ plant.
In Asia it’s known as the Money Tree. Sometimes, too, it’s called ‘arum fern’ because it belongs to the
same plant family as arum lilies and has a slightly fern-like appearance. Another common name, Eternity
Plant, acknowledges its indestructibility.

Zanzibar Gem, which grows in dry, shaded sites in its native African habitat, tolerates an amazing
amount of neglect. Cold and over- watering are the greatest threats to its well- being. Keep Zanzibar
Gem warm and not too wet and the plant will grace your house or garden for years.

While Zanzibar Gem can be grown outdoors, it’s most often seen as an almost un-killable indoor plant.
It’s been described as the ultimate indoor plant because of its tolerance to low light and lack of water. In
the wild it survives drought periods by disappearing almost completely and then re-sprouting from its
underground, potato-like tubers when the rains eventually come. So, in the unlikely event that your
Zanzibar Gem appears to have died, a good drink just might encourage it to start developing new
shoots.
Zanzibar Gem’s shiny, waxy leaves are divided into a number of smaller leaflets. New leaves emerge as
upright spikes from which the leaflets gradually unfold.

Here are tips for caring for Zanzibar Gem:

Choose a brightly lit indoor spot with no direct sunlight.

Or, in frost-free gardens, grow Zanzibar Gem outdoors in semi shade.

Water occasionally, but allow the plant to dry out well between waterings. Water less frequently in
winter and when the plant is growing in low light.

Feed during the growing season with a gentle fertiliser like Yates Dynamic Lifter Liquid Concentrate half
strength Thrive All Purpose Liquid Plant Food.

Keep the leaves clean by wiping with a damp cloth. Adding a few drops of PestOil will deter pests such as
scale insects (although these plants are said to be almost pest free).

When a plant becomes crowded in the pot it can be split and divided into two. Re-pot into good quality
potting mix and water well to settle the roots into place. You’ll then have a spare plant to move to
another position or give to a friend.

Zanzibar Gem makes a perfect gift for a beginner – as long as it’s understood that it thrives on neglect
(no over-watering)! The sap of Zanzibar Gem is toxic and, if ingested, could make you unwell so, after
dividing the plant, make sure you wash hands well with soap and water.

https://www.yates.com.au/gardening/grow/zanzibar-gem/

Houseplant Alert! 3 Reasons You Need The Awesome ZZ Plant

This houseplant is so easy to care for & tolerates low light. Here are 3 reasons, plus care & repotting tips,
as to why you need the ZZ Plant.

This houseplant really shines – literally! I love the ZZ Plant because it’s gorgeous, tough and so easy to
care for. Other names it goes by are Zanzibar Gem, Welcome Plant and its tongue twisting botanic
name Zamioculcas zamifolia. Mine just got repotted so I’m sharing that project with you along with tips
for keeping your ZZ healthy and looking like its fabulous self.

The 3 reasons why I love the ZZ Plant are: it tolerates low light, needs infrequent watering & is a
stunning addition to any home.

P1310732_new

I’m always interested to know where plants are from and which others are in the same family and/or
genus. This shiny beauty shares the same family with these other popular houseplants: pothos,
spathiphyllums, agloanemas and diffenbachias. You can find these plants in my book Keep Your
Houseplants Alive if you’re new to the wonderful world of indoor plants.

Care tips & things to know about the ZZ Plant coming at ya:

–> Size: They get about 3-4′ tall & 3-4′ wide. Many consider it to be a slow grower but mine has been
growing at a moderate rate.

–> Exposure: Here’s 1 category where the ZZ Plant really is at the top of the list. It tolerates low light
conditions just fine. Your plant will grow much slower but it’ll hang on in like a trooper. The ZZ prefers
natural, bright light which mine gets & that’s why I had to transplant it – it was growing! Mine is
spending the summer into fall outdoors here in Tucson but is in the bright shade. Head’s up: no direct
sun for this houseplant.

–> Watering: Easy does it when it comes to watering the ZZ Plant. They grow & spread via swollen
rhizomes which are basically underground organs with store nutrients & water. Massive amounts of
thick, fleshy roots grow off of these rhizomes & both they & the spongy stems will rot out if you water
this plant too frequently. You want to water it thoroughly, let all the water drain out & let it go dry
before you water it again. I water mine here in the desert every 3-4 weeks & when I bring it indoors for
the winter, that’ll probably drop to every 8 weeks. Of course, the smaller the pot the more often you’ll
need to water the plant. Head’s up: never let this plant directly in water.

–> Fertilizing: This isn’t always necessary but your ZZ Plant would enjoy a feeding with an organic
houseplant fertilizer once in the spring. I top dress mine with worm compost in late March or early April
when the roots are really starting to wake up.

–> Pests: Mine has never gotten any nor have I heard that they’re subject to any. Please let me know if
yours has.

–> Propagation: This is easy to do by either division of the root ball or leaf cuttings.

–> Flowers: The spathe like blooms are insignificant & appear infrequently. They open close to the base
so there’s a chance you could miss them.

P1310720_new

Here’s another thing that’s good to know: this plant is shiny on its own. Never spray it with leaf shine.

Because the ZZ Plant tolerates low light & dry air, it makes an excellent office plant.

To sum it all up: ignore this plant and it’ll be happy. Of course, shower it with admiration and praise but
no babying is needed with this 1. Water your ZZ Plant infrequently, don’t let it sit in water, keep it out of
direct sun and never use leaf shine. Sounds like a winner of a houseplant to me!

https://www.joyusgarden.com/3-reasons-you-need-fabulous-awesome-zz-plant/

9 Benefits of Keeping Plants Indoors

krishna BODY CARE, SKIN CARE 5 Thoughts

Pin It

Hey girls! Most of my friends decorate their houses with beautiful plants. And I actually think that is a
really good idea. Not only it has sooo many benefits but it also helps global warming right? So why not
go green 🙂

You might think what’s a little plant going to help but think about it. If everyone is going to say that, we
would have been surrounded by desert right now.

The Benefits:

They purify the air inside the house. So if you are living in a very polluted city, you might want to try this
to keep your house purified. Purified air also makes your skin glow and your over all health.

It removed carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from the air.

Putting a plant indoors will reduce health problems like coughing and dry throats.

It reduces fatigue. So for lazy people (like me) this is very helpful.

If you are surrounded by a good environment, then naturally it keeps you happy and glowing.

Kenneth Freeman, head of Ambius University notes that by putting plants in the work environment,
people are healthier, they’re happier, they’re more engaged with people around them. People are up to
17 per cent more productive just by having plants there

Some plants aloe vera are SUPER beneficial since you can use it for your skin, hair etc… In India, most of
the families had at least one aloe vera plant because this plant doesn’t need much water and since it is
REALLY hot there, it can survive easily.

If you keep a little plant in your office or study room, it will keep you stress free and this will allow you to
work for longer hours and harder 🙂

If you are prone to allergies, keeping plants in your house may help you reduce them.

What Plants are Suitable Indoors:

Aloe vera- needs very little water

Chinese Evergreen- grows in low sunlight so perfect for indoors, and highly rated as indoors purifier.
Lady palm or Rhapis excelsa- tolerates low light and it is long lasting.

Prayer plant or Calathea- Enjoys warm, high-level light situations

Zanzibar gem or Zamioculcas zamiifolia- Great for high or low levels of light and tolerant of long dry
spells

I hope we will soon end the global warming.

Your little efforts will bring a big change.

So respect your earth by giving a few hours from your precious lives to bring this change.

Take Care.

http://www.diybeautytutorials.com/2012/07/9-benefits-of-keeping-plants-indoors.html

Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Araceae) is native to east Africa and is generally grown as indoor ornamental
plant. It has air purifying qualities for indoor environment. The plant has the ability to remove the
volatile compounds from indoor environment. The scientific researches have proved that plant is not
poisonous. It contains calcium oxalate crystals like other Araceae members which could irritate sensitive
parts of the body like skin, mucosa etc.

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Zamioculcas_zamiifolia_Zanzibar_Gem_ZZ_plant_was_reported_to
_be_toxic_Are_there_any_reliable_scientific_work_on_it

An air purifier or air cleaner is a device which removes contaminants from the air in a room. These
devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing
or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke. The commercially graded air purifiers are manufactured as
either small stand-alone units or larger units that can be affixed to an air handler unit (AHU) or to an
HVAC unit found in the medical, industrial, and commercial industries. Air purifiers may also be used in
industry to remove impurities such as CO2 from air before processing. Pressure swing adsorbers or
other adsorption techniques are typically used for this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_purifier
  
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Family • Araceae

Zamioculcas
Zamioculcas zamiifolia  (Lodd. et al) Engl.
ZZ PLANT 
Jin qian shu

Scientific names Common names

Zamioculcas zamiifolia Lodd. et al. Aroid palm (Engl.)
Zamioculcas loddigesii Emerald fronds (Engl.)
Zamioculcas lanceolata Golden tree (Engl.)
Caladium zamiaefolium Lodd. et al. Succulent philodendron (Engl.)
  Zanzibar gem (Engl.)
  Zu Zu plant (Engl.)
  ZZ plant (Engl)

Other vernacular names

CHINESE: Jin qian shu.
General info
Zamioculcas is a genus of flowering plant in the Araceae family, with the single species Zamioculcas .

Botany
Zu zu plant is an evergreen plant that grows from a stout underground, succulent water-storing rhizome,
attaining a height of 45 to 60 centimeters. Leaves are pinnate, 40 to 60 centimeters long, with 6-8 pairs
of leaflets 7 to 15 centimeters long, smooth, shiny and dark green. Flowers are small bright yellow to
brown on bronze spadix 5 centimeters long, partly hidden among the leaf bases.

Distribution 
- Common pot cultivation in the Philippines.
- Introduced.
- Native to eastern Africa, from Kenya to northeastern South Africa.
- Wide scale commercial propagation by Dutch nurseries around 1996. 

Uses
Folkloric 
• No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
• In the jungles of Ghana, leaves used by shamans to relieve stomach ache. 
Others 
• Considered to have air-purifying property; included in the list of "Plants that Detoxify the Air."

Caution !
All parts of the plant are reported poisonous if ingested.
Studies
• Air-purifying: Research studies showed ZZ to be one of the plants most effective in counter-acting off-
gassed chemicals and maintaining a balanced internal humidity. (2) 
• Phytoremediation / BTEX: Zamioculcas has the potential of reducing the concentration of benzene,
toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) from contaminated indoor air. Benzene, a smaller molecule,
is taken up by plants faster than toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. The toxicity of BTEX on plant leaves
and roots was not found. (4) 
• Xylene Removal: Study evaluated fifteen plant species for removal efficiency of xylene from
contaminated air. Among the test plants, Z. zamiifolia showed the highest xylene removal efficiency. (5)

Counterpoint
• Can plants control indoor air pollution? 
Recent reports in the media and promotions by the decorative houseplant industry characterize plants
as "nature's clean air machine", claiming that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
research shows plants remove indoor air pollutants. While it is true that plants remove carbon dioxide
from the air, and the ability of plants to remove certain other pollutants from water is the basis for some
pollution control methods, the ability of plants to control indoor air pollution is less well established. Most
research to date used small chambers without any air exchange which makes extrapolation to real world
environments extremely uncertain. The only available study of the use of plants to control indoor air
pollutants in an actual building could not determine any benefit from the use of plants69. As a practical
means of pollution control, the plant removal mechanisms appear to be inconsequential compared to
common ventilation and air exchange rates. In other words, the ability of plants to actually improve
indoor air quality is limited in comparison with provision of adequate ventilation.
     While decorative foliage plants may be aesthetically pleasing, it should be noted that over damp
planter soil conditions may actually promote growth of unhealthy microorganisms. (3) 

Availability
Ornamental cultivation. 

Last Updated July 2014

Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
SOURCES
Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Zamioculcas / AvianWeb
(2)
Plants that Clean Pollutants out of the Air
(3)
Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals / Can plants control indoor air
pollution? / Environmental Protection Agency
(4)
Phytoremediation of BTEX from Indoor Air by Zamioculcas zamiifolia  / Waranat Sriprapat, Paitip
Thiravetyan / Water Air and Soil Pollution (Impact Factor: 1.75). 224(3). / DOI: 10.1007/s11270-013-1482-
8
(5)
Factors affecting xylene-contaminated air removal by the ornamental plant Zamioculcas zamiifolia. /
BioMed Search.com
It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the
DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page.

•
Latest Updated Tagalog and English Lists of Philippine Medicinal Plants

Bahay Kubo

 
The Medicinal Plant Song
Alternative Medicine Dictionary
Un-Abbreviated Dialect Sources of Common and Local Names
Plant Names
List of Philippine Medicinal Plants with Chinese Names
 •

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http://www.stuartxchange.com/Zamioculcas.html

MICRO-FILTRATION VS. HEPA FILTRATION

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WHAT’S THE BEST SOLUTION FOR YOUR

BUSINESS OR HOME?
We often receive questions about the difference between Micro-Filtration and HEPA
filtration. As the industry’s leading supplier of Janitized® brand “commercial grade” vacuum
cleaner filter bags, we have extensive experience on this subject.
It seems that many consumers believe these are similar technologies. While their ultimate
function is similar – the collection of microscopic particles – the technology used is actually
quite different.

MICRO-FILTRATION
Micro – means “small” and used to indicate a smaller than average scale (microscopic
scale), as opposed to prefixes like mega and macro, used to indicate a larger than average
scale. Specific to vacuum cleaner filter bags, microfiltration is specific to the filtration level or
filter efficiency of the filter bag.
Standard vacuum filter bags are made using a 1 ply outer layer of cellulose filter media,
Micro-Filtration filter bags incorporate an additional 2nd ply layer typically comprised of a
polypropylene melt-blown filter media.  This
additional 2nd ply increases the filter efficiency, reducing the amount of micro particulates
being blown through the filter bag and exhaust air into your office or home. Traditional 1 ply
or lower quality filter bags pick up and trap large pieces of dirt and debris, but cannot stop
fine dust molecules or allergens from being released into the air. Micro-Filtration filter bags
vary in filter efficiency and may have more than 2 ply’s.
A 2009 study by the University of Virginia Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, entitled
“Micro-Filtration Vacuum Bags May Ease Allergies” found that microfiltration bags can have
a positive effect on reducing allergens in the air. These findings pointed to the positive effect
on removing cat dander, one of the most common, and aggravating, sources of allergy
suffering. ASTM standards provide consumers with confidence in the things they buy and
use, including vacuum cleaner bags.
Because single layer vacuum cleaner filter bags do not trap allergens and small particles,
vacuums can actually reintroduce these particulates back into the breathing zone in your
office or home. A vacuum fitted with a Micro-Filtration filter bag can significantly increase
the filtration of submicron particles and improve indoor air quality.

HEPA FILTERS
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters provide much higher filter efficiencies vs Micro-
Filtration filters. Glass fibers, typically used in HEPA media’s, are microscopic fiber
diameters randomly layered and arranged. The spaces between the fibres are larger than
the sub-micron particles they capture.
As air and debris pass through the filter, the glass fibres trap small particles in three

ways.  Some particles catch the side of the

fibres and stick to them – called “interception” – while others impact directly into the fibre,
embedding themselves – called “impaction.” The third process is called “diffusion.” These
particles collide with gases in the filter, causing them to slow down or stop, and then get
caught up in the fibres.
Interestingly, HEPA filters become more efficient as they capture more particles. As
particles build up on the fibres, their electrostatic charge becomes stronger, improving their
ability to attract particles.

MICRO-FILTRATION VS. HEPA FILTRATION –

WHICH IS THE BEST INVESTMENT?
There is no simple answer to this question as each end use varies. For example, contract
cleaners, hotel & hospital operations, and government buildings have fixed cleaning
budgets. The replacement cost of filter bags vs HEPA filters needs to be carefully examined
to determine total appliance maintenance costs. Often forgotten is the cost of lost
productivity due to sick leave, which could be a result of reintroducing allergens into the
working environment. This should be factored into this equation.
Other factors include the quality build of the vacuum cleaner. Commercial vacuum cleaners
are typically better constructed for more abuse vs household vacuums.
Ultimately, it depends on what trade offs you are willing to sacrifice for high air purity.

Make an Air Purifier on the Cheap

 by rsobchak in tools
I'm sure there are some of you out there, like myself, whose room is full of dust,
allergens, and other debris.  After looking at the prices of some of the purifiers on the
market, I decided to make one myself, and construct an instructable on how to recreate it.

Step 1: What You'll Need

This was a good price, for a good filter.

You will need the following parts:

A foot of 3 - inch diameter PVC tubing

A 3 - inch diameter computer fan (mine was 12V)
An AC/DC adapter, with a DC output the same as your fans
Filter for a room air conditioner
Toggle switch
Hose clamp for the 3 - inch pipe

I already had the fan and adapter laying around, but everything shouldn't cost more than
20 dollars.

You will need the following tools:

Drill and various bits
Soldering iron + solder
Hot glue gun + sticks

Step 2: Preparation

Start by drilling two small holes for the wires of the adapter, and the wires of the fan.
Make sure your holes are placed close enough to the top so that you have room to install
the fan.  

Next, make one larger hole in between the two smaller ones to accommodate the toggle
switch.  

Step 3: Assembly Pt. 1

Twist together, then solder the negative wires together.  

The twist and solder each of the positive wires to the prongs of the toggle switch.
(Positive on the adapter has a white stripe)

Step 4: Assembly Pt. 2

Push the toggle switch through the large hole, and screw on the anchor that comes with it.
Next, using the hot glue gun, glue the holes where the wires go into, and around the
toggle switch to form an air tight seal.  Allow a couple minutes to completely cool.  

Then, place the fan on the top, make sure its centered with the air flow going AWAY
from the pipe, and hot glue the corners down.   Then, form a nice tight seal around the
edges of the fan and pipe.  

Step 5: Put on the Filter

The filter unfolds to a pretty large sheet.  I decided to cut a third of it off, then fold it into
a square.  This made it 4 layers thick.  
Place it on top of the pipe, opposite side of the fan, and secure it with the hose clamp.  
Tighten as hard as you can, then trim off the excess filter corners.  

Step 6: All Done!

Plug it in, and listen to that baby purr.  It's extremely quiet and blows pretty nicely.  Set it
somewhere in your room, and let it clean your air.  I would recommend changing the
filter about once a month, or when the color looks about #333333.   

This was my first instructable, so if you like, lemme know!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-an-Air-Purifier-on-the-cheap/

Better Box Fan Air Purifier

Like this article? Please help by Liking, +1'ing, Tweeting or Pinning. Thank you!
103Save

39
A better more efficient and odor eliminating homemade air purifier than just taping a
20x20x1 filter to a box fan. Sometimes you need to help clear the air in a dirty
environment but don't want to use an expensive air purifier such as in a room after
renovating and painting. Here's a cheap and easy way to build one.

Air purifiers can be expensive and you've probably seen articles recommending to just
put a 20" x 20" x 1" furnace filter on a cheap 20" box fan and POOF! instant cleaner air
for not a lot of money. It really does clean the air pretty cheap.

There's a problem with this though. These fans weren't designed to be run with a filter.
The filter will restrict air flow which will put a higher strain on the motor causing it to
use more electricity and in worse cases could be a fire hazard. The higher the MERV
rating (cleaning efficiency) of the filter the more stress it will put on the fan.

Don't worry! You can still have your cheap air purifier as long as the filter area is
increased to decrease the effect of air resistance. Instead of using one 20x20x1 filter
we'll use two 20x25x1 filters which increases the filter surface area over 250%. It's a
little more expensive because you're using two filters instead of one but the increased
filter surface area also helps the filter last longer before it gets clogged up and we're
saving on energy use compared to a single filter.

I can't take credit for the design, I found it via Marshall Hansen Design but I'm using
different filters.
I recently remodeled my basement and there's a lot of dust (including drywall dust and
sawdust) and fumes from paint, cleaners and other building materials. It's an
underground basement and mold has to always be a conern too. Because part of the
space will be my home theater in the future I plan to get a more expensive air purifier
that's smaller and quieter such as this Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier AP-300PH with True
HEPA Filter  because it has great reviews, is reasonably priced and the replacement
filters aren't that expensive or a Sharp Plasmacluster True HEPA Air Purifier  or Blueair
HepaSilent Air-Purification System  if I find some extra Benjamins in the couch
cushions. But I don't want to put that in the dusty environment right away because I'll
have to replace the more expensive filters fairly quickly because the air is so bad. I also
don't want to spend the money right now but I do want cleaner air now.

So I decided to get things going with a homemade air purifier that has filters that
not only clean the air of particulates but also reduce VOCs and odors. Even after I
purchase an air purifier I'll still have an air purifier I can use for other purposes like
when I'm painting or cutting wood.

Also, don't forget to add more plants to your home. They're natures air purifiers. Not
only do they convert carbon dioxide to oxygen but houseplants filter toxins and emit
negative ions too!

What You'll Need

Materials
 Filtrete Home Odor Reduction Filter, 20-Inch by 25-Inch by 1-Inch, 4-Pack  (only
using 2 at a time)
 20" Box Fan
 Cardboard (from the package the filters came in) or oak tag
 Duct Tape or Clear Cellophane Tape
 Optional  Plug-in Timer  so the fan isn't running constantly without manual
intervention.

Tools
 A pair of scissors or utility knife
Quick Info About Filters
The nice thing about this box fan filter setup is you can use any filters you want. If you
are only concerned about large particles generated from something like cutting wood,
you can use cheaper, lower MERV rated filters. If you're worried about finer particles
from allergens such as mold, you can use a higher MERV rated filter. To understand
more about what the MERV ratings mean have a look at Table 2 on this EPA article on
residential air.

I chose to go with the Filtrete Home Odor Reduction Filters which are a new type of
filter from Filtrete. They contain a lot of activated carbon to help filter out odors and
VOCs.  They are rated MERV 11 and are equivalent to their 1000 MPR furnace filters.
They should do a good job with even the fine drywall dust and the activated carbon will
help a lot with odors. I bought a 4 pack for around $57 which gives me 2 sets of filters.

Filtrete Odor Reducing Air Filters

The filtering power of these Filtrete Odor Reducing filters isn't listed on Filtrete's
website or on Amazon but I contacted them and found out that these filters have a
MERV 11 rating and filter 90% of particles between 1-10 microns which makes them
more efficient than the Filtrete Micro Allergen Reduction Filters  I've been using in my
air conditioning for the past few years. Plus Filtrete packs over 180 grams of activated
carbon to help reduce odors.

After I go through both sets of carbon filters I'm probably going to switch to the Filtrete
Elite Allergen Reduction Filter  which does a much better job of filtering small particles.
If odors are a problem I'll get some Cut-to-fit Carbon Prefilters  and tape them over top
of the Filtrete filters.
Okay, enough of the why, now for the how!

Step 1: Unbox The Filters

You're thinking "OMG! He's actually describing how to open a cardboard box?!?!?!" The
best deal I found for these filters were on Amazon and with my Prime membership (or
supersaver shipping) the shipping is free. Plus the packing box is going to be part of the
filter so we need to keep in intact.

The box is sealed very well. Not only is it taped but the seams are also glued together. To
get the filters out of the box I cut the top where it's perforated with a utility knife as
shown.

Be careful not to cut too deep and damage the filters. Keep the box someplace safe to the
side while we continue. 

Step 2: Hinge Filters

Start by taking 2 of the filters out of their plastic wrappers and lay them one on top of
the other with the air flow arrows pointing towards each other. With the Odor Reducing
Fitlers this means the black, carbon sides will be facing each other.

With the filters lined up, tape one of the short (20") edges of the filters to create a hinge
between the two filters as shown.

I decided to go with white duck tape so it looks a little nicer but it makes it hard to see in
the photos against the white cardboard filter frame.
Step 3: Tape Filters To Fan
Lay the box fan face down on a flat surface to mount the filters to the back making sure
the bottom of the filters are about flush with the bottom of the fan and do not extend
past the bottom.

Use a strip of duck tape to secure each side to the side of the fan.
Step 4: Cut and Attach the Cardboard
Cut out one of the large sides of from the cardboard shipping box, place it over the top of
the of the filters and secure it with a strip of tape to the top of the fan. Position it so that
it's pretty even over both filters but it doesn't have to be perfect.

Using a pencil, trace around the filters (while pressing down the cardboard so nothing
moves) to mark where the cardboard needs to be cut.

Lift the cardboard up (the front piece of tape acts like a hinge) and cut along the lines to
trim the sides. By the way, I really like these Fiskars Cuts+More 5-in-1 Multi-Purpose
Scissors .
Repeat the process for the bottom cardboard. The other large piece from the box is
seamed but it's taped and glued and very stiff so it shouldn't be an issue but you can run
a strip of duck tape over the seem if it makes you feel better.

Also keep in mind that the bottom of the fan has feet. I positioned the cardboard
underneath the feet and then pulled the feet out to tape.

After taping up the sides of the bottom cover to the filters, I added an extra strip of duck
tape all the way around where the filters/cardboard meets the fan for added support.
The rounded corners of the fan means there might still be an air gap there so check them
and add extra duck tape if necessary. On the bottom there are also some holes, duck
tape over those as well. Finally, replace the feet.

Step 5: Seal The Back

Where the hinged filters meet the cardboard in the back, add another strip of duck tape
for support and to seal any gaps.

Give another look around the seams to make sure there aren't any gaps. If you find any,
tape them up.

When using the fan, I always make sure that the cord isn't underneath the cardboard
and instead is under the metal fan chassis, just in case something goes wrong and the
cord overheats. Can never be too safe.

Replacing Filters
When it's time to replace filters, use a utility knife to cut the filters free but leave the
cardboard in place. Then just hinge and attach the new filters. 
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