Houseplants can be soothing because of their visual impact. Besides being naturally appealing, interior plants can make you feel cooler on hot days, especially when they move softly in the breeze from a ceiling fan.
Houseplants are natural air filters, and can remove up to 70 percent of indoor air pollutants. Plants such as English Ivy, scheffleras, spider plants, and philodendrons absorb large also quantities of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and benzene. The most effective plants at removing air pollution are spider plants, pot mums, snake plants, and aloe vera. They're so effective, in fact, that environmental scientists recommend one plant per 100 square feet in your home and office.
Plant lights, in canister fixtures placed on the floor, can highlight a houseplant while casting dramatic shadows on walls and ceilings. Uplights, placed under palm trees cast magnificent line-type shadows, while plants with holes in their leaves, such as Swiss Cheese Philodendron, will cast lace-like shadows.
You can use houseplants to make a uniquely individual statement. For instance, one of my friends has only spiked-leafed plants in her home -- spider plants, snake plants, corn plants, cast iron, and bromeliads. My cousin could only seem to get pothos to grow in her home, so she filled her entire house with them.
Delicate houseplants soften your space, while spiky plants add interesting texture. Collections of African violets, ferns, or trees of all sizes can look fantastic, too. Topiaries, shaped like globes or animals, can add a feeling of luxury and amusement, while Bonsai plants will add a sense of richness to your home.
Keeping Plants Healthy
Because some houses don't have adequate daylight for houseplants, the best method for keeping your houseplants healthy is to have two plants for each desired space. Keep one plant in a sheltered outside area and one in its decorative site, and switch the plants at least once a week. Special plant light bulbs can also help.
Low light plants include the cast iron plant, philodendrons, pothos, Chinese evergreen, English Ivy, and Satin. Flowering plants, like begonias, impatiens, and fuchsias, require more light. Plants requiring considerable amounts of water generally have hair-like roots, such as ferns and coleus, while plants requiring less water have thicker roots, like spider plants and cactuses.
You can remember to fertilize your plants by doing it on the first of every month, except in cold winter. Adding fish emulsion in the middle of the month during spring will help feed hungry plants like ferns. My staghorn fern has thrived for 15 years on banana skins and an occasional misting of orchid food.
Flowering plants, like white flag or peace lilies, need water-soluble fertilizer with a 20-20 concentration. Applying Plant Shine, a spray available in garden centers, once a month will clean and beautify leaves.
They may take some effort to help them continue to thrive, but the benefits you'll derive from keeping houseplants in your home will be well worth any inconvenience, and you'll be healthier and happier as a result.
Joy to you and your healthy, happy home!
(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.
Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhouse fordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm
The first time my husband saw me scrubbing the black... Read More
Many people purchasing a property for their main home actually... Read More
Basements need to be waterproofed for many reasons. Cracks in... Read More
Picnic tables are the perfect solution for an afternoon or... Read More
This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More
So you've scraped and saved, now you've finally gotten together... Read More
What is Concrete Cutting?Concrete cutting is a process of controlled... Read More
For those who may be thinking of building a new... Read More
Understanding a few essential color concepts will help you design... Read More
Installing exterior shutters is a relatively quick way to add... Read More
You can add a personal touch to your home or... Read More
When you are choosing a new ceiling fan there are... Read More
Not all bathrooms can be lavish spaces with whirlpool tubs... Read More
DESIGN STYLESWith thousands of colors and styles to select from... Read More
Nothing soothes the brain like Mother Nature, whose intrinsic scenery... Read More
It's easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out just... Read More
You have likely been making mental notes for years. Every... Read More
Since the introduction of laminate flooring into the US in... Read More
Window coverings are one of the most important focal points... Read More
The bed represents the beginning and ending of life. In... Read More
Nothing makes your home more welcoming than the warmth and... Read More
The traditional look of hardwood flooring is timeless; its beauty... Read More
Steel is a remarkable material that has been steadily increasing... Read More
The cost of furnishing a conservatory can catch many people... Read More
When you read a great inspirational book, prayer, or article,... Read More
Fresh water is essential to our health and comfort. Not... Read More
Ok, you are ready to build a log home. If... Read More
Laminate flooring imitates the aspect of traditional wood. Their biggest... Read More
Bathrooms aren't just about the basics but are about the... Read More
If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom and redoing... Read More
In addition to causing destruction, water damage also has an... Read More
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the... Read More
The cordless impact wrench is quickly gaining in popularity among... Read More
What is Concrete Cutting?Concrete cutting is a process of controlled... Read More
The bed represents the beginning and ending of life. In... Read More
CLUTTER: When clutter starts to accumulate in an environment, imbalance... Read More
Besides providing your home with more living space, a home... Read More
Ceramic tile can be beautiful and elegant. But it can... Read More
Hiring a professional to replace your rollers could cost you... Read More
Wallpaper is often overlooked as a key part of an... Read More
Light fixtures are something not many of us think about.... Read More
When you think about building your new home consider your... Read More
The purpose of a home ventilation system is to maintain... Read More
Color theory is an entire science unto itself, and to... Read More
The Heat is On with... Read More
Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to MaterialsThe... Read More
Jack Frost is nipping at our nose and Santa Clause... Read More
It is quite simple to repair a hole in a... Read More
If you have a heating or cooling systems that uses... Read More
A bathroom vanity is the centerpiece of your bathroom. Regardless... Read More
So you've decided to build a new home. Like many... Read More
Just two words and a bit of explanation about them... Read More
Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments;... Read More
Heat your pool with a Solar Pool Heater and save... Read More
In the last five years a new type of clear... Read More
Whether you want to install a new bathroom or make... Read More
Lighting"Light has illuminated the path of humanity" ? While Einstein... Read More
Choosing an asphalt paving contractor can be a major event... Read More
My Grandmother used to say to me "Nothing cheap is... Read More
Have you ever seen a beautiful house or office building... Read More
If you are putting in a new patio on a... Read More
Steel building kits are a comprehensive set of all the... Read More
Steel is a remarkable material that has been steadily increasing... Read More
Why replace your single-glazed windows with double glazing ? For... Read More
Motion detectors are in use all around us in both... Read More
In an effort to help consumers in the Atlanta area... Read More
Home Improvement |