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>Its results suggested that certain common indoor plants, like pothos, ivy and ficus, may absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis, and provide a natural way to remove toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air.

I don't understand why there's a "may" in front of "absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis"

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Maybe those houseplant species have just been pretending to photosynthesize, and instead were stealing food out of the refrigerator when no one was looking.

Because the light flux may be insufficient to cause enough photosynthesis to balance respiration when not illuminated.

Plants consume oxygen and respire when there is insufficient light just like we do all the time.

Your comment made me think. I think it’s wrong for growing plants. We are oxidizing stored sugars, by the things we ate. Where is the energy coming from in plants? What’s the carbon source getting oxidized? Where does it come from? The soil?

While a plant may be in a carbon oxide positive state (beyond the night) for a while, I don’t think that’s sustainable. As long it’s alive, every new leaf should fix some carbon in its construction. Of course in decay it’s more or less net zero again.

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