AI Says You'd Need 184 Boston Ferns to Breathe — Then the Catch
JoyRose31 · reddit · 2026-09-13
A user in a tightly sealed house (can't open windows at -40/30 in winter, suffering suspected CO2 poisoning) asked AI how many Boston ferns it would take to supply their oxygen.
The AI calculated: an average resting adult consumes 550 liters of pure oxygen per day, and a mature Boston fern produces 3 liters per day under optimal light — so about 184 plants. In 900 sq ft that's one plant every 4.6 sq ft, turning the home into a dense rainforest canopy.
The AI also flagged two practical catches: plants switch to respiration at night, consuming oxygen and releasing CO2, so a sealed space would need grow lights running 24/7; and 184 heavy transpirers would push humidity toward 100%, turning the home into a swamp. The user joked about not knowing plants consume oxygen at night and about their steak being too juicy.
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