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Houseplants Benefit Us in Many Ways
Posted On 2009-10-16 , 12:01 PM
Houseplants Benefit Us in Many Ways
Much has been written lately about the ways indoor houseplants benefit us by removing volatile organic compounds ( VOC's) from the air, but there are many other benefits our houseplants can and do provide.
- Houseplants produce and give off oxygen, replacing the oxygen we remove when we breathe.
- As the plants grow, they take up the water from the soil to use it in producing new plant material. Some of this moisture is given off, raising the humidity in the room. In the dry air of the winter, this makes the air easier for us to breathe, a definite benefit to those with asthma or other breathing problems.
- Houseplants can make the visual impact of a room more pleasing. They can round off sharp edges and provide a texture in a room filled with the straight lines and flat surfaces found in most rooms today. They can add colorful accents to the decor and draw out the features of the other furnishings of the room.
- They can create an ambience in a room that will create a calming effect. This calming effect will reduce the stress levels felt by the occupants of a room.
- Many houseplants have also been grown for their medicinal properties. Many keep an aloe vera plant in their home for the ready fresh supply of the gel contained in the leaves. This gel has long been used for the treatment of cuts and burns.
- Many herbs can be grown indoor to provide a fresh source of garnishes and spices to season our foods. They are also a good source of many nutrients our body needs. Parsley, for example, may be used as a garnish on the plate or combined in the food ( as in pesto). Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K.
These are just a few of the ways in which we benefit from growing houseplants in our home or office.
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Reblooming a Poinsettia
Posted On 2009-10-01 , 1:29 PM
 It is still not too late to get last years poinsettia to rebloom.
To have a poinsettia plant that is full and attractive, you needed to cut the poinsettia back to about 3 to 4 inches in mid to late April. This will get rid of all the old growth and give a base for new growth to start. It will also keep the poinsettia from getting too large.
Then after the new growth has established, you pich back the poinsettia plant in early July. This will cause each of the new stems to branch out creating a fuller bush.
Now starting in late September, you need to give the poinsettia plant 12 to 14 hours of continuous darkness each day for 8 to 10 weeks to get the poinsettia to produce the colorful brachts in time for a December display.
You can do this by many methods, but it is important that the process is not broken. It must be done each day for the period. The darkness must be total. Room lighting for regular living will be enough to affect the process. Even the light from a street light outside can affect the production of the colorful brachts.
Some people will place the poinsettia in a darkened room at night. The curtains should be drawn and the room should not be visited during the 12 to 14 hour period. Even the turning on of the room light for a short period will affect the poinsettia.
Instead of using a room, you may use a closet for the dark period. Again the closet should be kept completely dark and the light should be blocked from getting in through the cracks around the door.
Another way is to enclose the poinsettia in a dark garbage bag for the 12 to 14 hours of darkness. The bag must be very dark and thick so as not to let in the light through the bag. Manufacturers of garbage bags are getting very good at making strong bags with thin sides and coloring them green. This allows too much light to pass through, so choose a heavy black bag. When using this method you also want to support the bag so that it does not touch the poinsettia leaves. Also during the daylight hours, lower the bag completely so that the poinsettia can breathe.
During this 8 to 10 weeks, the poinsettia needs to be returned to the bright light during the daytime. The poinsettia plant is still growing, producing the brachts or colorful leaves that we want.
Reblooming last years poinsettia requires some patience, but you can produce a beautiful houseplant to add to your winter decorations.
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| October 2009 | Page 1 Of 1 | |
