My Favorite Houseplants

With air conditioning, air tight windows, and new insulation, the air exchange in buildings is being reduced, so we're breathing in the same air, again and again. We're also breathing in the fumes of modern synthetic furnishings, construction materials, computer and electronics emissions, aerosol sprays, and everyday household cleaning products.

Houseplants can remove a variety of toxic air emissions including ammonia, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene, xylene and trichloroethylene. Plants take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and produce oxygen. They also stabilize humidity levels and remove air-borne pollutants.

Companies are beginning to realize that adding plants into the office environment helped increase morale and reduces stress. A manufacturing company added plants to their office, close to each employee. The company administrator noticed enhanced creativity and increased productivity.

Plants also fight fatigue and colds.
In a University of Agriculture in Norway study, it was found that indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30%, partially by increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust and mold.

"Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. Those plants in your office or home are not only decorative, but NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings."
See Full Story Here: NASA Study House Plants Clean Air

Unfortunately, most dead houseplants are killed by kindness.
Gardening indoors is an artificial climate and all plants will need a period of adjustment. Sometimes you'll see a few leaves drop at first. It is normal to lose a few leaves, such as the case of Ficus or Hibiscus, but they'll put out new growth within a couple weeks. The new leaves are bright green and more glossy than the older ones.
One thing you can do for indoor plants is to learn something about their growing conditions. Plants grown inside obviously need the same care as plants growing in your garden; water, light, soil, nutrients, etc. Provide your inside plants with the proper environment so they grow in healthy conditions.

When you buy houseplants, check them over carefully to make sure there are no signs of disease, and look for pests, both on top and bottom of leaves. Spider mites, aphids, mealy bugs and scale can cover a plant in just a few days. If there is any sign of these, don't bring them home into your environment, or you'll infect your other plants as well.

Give your plants just enough water so the soil gets wet and drains through, but never allow them to just sit in water. Make sure the soil is loose and not packed solid, or the water will not drain properly. Mixing some peat moss and perlite in your potting soil helps to keep it loose and placing rocks in the bottom of your pots will help water to drain through.

Plants that are not getting enough sunlight will look pale, as opposed to a bright green. New growth is elongated as it reaches for the sun, and the new leaves are smaller than usual. Try moving your plants around so they each get periods of sunlight.

Keep your indoor plants, especially tropical or blooming plants, away from an outside door or drafty windows. This repeated blast of cold air will quickly shock your houseplants and they will start to wilt and look sickly.

Soon the plant is restricted, and dries out more quickly than normal as there is not enough soil to hold the water, and it soon outgrows its pot. Transplant these into a larger pot, or divide them into two or more small pots, adding new soil.

Once you pull the root mass out of the pot, you can gently pull the roots apart to find each plant. Then you can replant these in other pots.
Sometimes there is only one large plant with a massive root system. Plant this into a larger pot.
Spider plants have large, tuberous roots and are easy to divide. They also send out long stems with more 'spiders', which can be pulled and potted. Be careful, these will soon get out of control and you'll have more than you want.

Peace Lily
Studies have shown that Peace Lilies can reduce levels of microscopic mold spores in the air by 60 percent. The flowers soak up mold through their leaves, then transmit the spores to the roots for food. This is great for bathrooms since it prevents mold spores from building up. This is especially good to know if you have allergies to mold. This plant absorbs atmospheric vapors like acetone and alcohol. Studies also have shown that regular exposure to these chemicals (commonly found in cosmetic and bathroom products) can lead to dry eye syndrome, dizziness and muscle weakness, especially in a confined space like a bathroom.

The peace lily is a tropical plant that has dark green leaves that can grow up to more than one foot in length. It has white flowers and lives for years when properly cared for.

Peace Lilies do best in full sunlight, away from drafts. When watering, drench the soil and allow it to become somewhat dry between waterings. If they dry out too much, the leaves will wilt quite drastically, but usually will recover once watered thoroughly.
Use organic fertilizer twice a month during the summer months. Misting the leaves with water helps them grow and bloom better.

Boston Fern
In winter when we are heating our homes, the dry air leaves many people with parched, itchy skin. Boston ferns act as humidifiers and restore moisture to the air by releasing water vapor in exchange for atmospheric pollutants, which the plants convert to fuel.

The Boston ferns are bright green with long, toothed fronds that hang down around its pot. It also produces numerous slender, furry runners with new plants at their tips. There are many varieties of Boston fern, most with frilly or lacy fronds. The Boston Fern makes a beautiful hanging basket plant. It is easy to care for; plant in rich potting soil and mist frequently with warm water. Boston ferns grow well in bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil slightly moist and feed weekly.

English Ivy

English Ivy (picture on right) is a plant that has proven to help one stay focused better. English ivy neutralizes benzene, a colorless toxin emitted by some paper products and office equipments. That's good news since benzene can slow thinking and break concentration by disrupting the central nervous system. (Take Caution: The leaves are poisonous to pets.) Ivy plants are easy to care for and are perfect for hanging baskets. Ivy grows well in bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil evenly moist, mist occasionally with warm water and feed every two weeks during growth periods.

The Dragon Tree plant is one of the most effective in removing harmful impurities from the air. It's an exotic looking plant that adds character to any room. This plant will grow into a tree if you let it. I have had to cut mine back several times so it wouldn't touch the ceiling. I have taken those stems and replanted them to propagate more plants. As with any plant propagating, you can really go wild and end up with too many.

Eucalyptus
Everyone knows you can clear congestion with Eucalyptus. This plant offers defense against colds and stuffy noses. Its leaves are packed with tannins, that when inhaled raise levels of healthy periciliary fluid in the body's airways. Breathing in eucalyptus steam can raise fluid levels in the respiratory tract, thinning and loosening congestion, which causes phlegm.

The beautiful round leaves of Eucalyptus are beautiful additions to flower arrangements.

Pothos, (Epipremnum aureum), Silver Vine, Money Plant, Centipede tongavine and Devils Ivy, is a native to southeastern Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia) and New Guinea. It is sometimes mistakenly labeled as a Philodendron. Keep in a bright spot away from direct sunlight. While it can survive in a low lit area, the variegation will fade. Keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. Allow it to dry out slightly between waterings.

Cuttings can be taken at anytime and usually root well in water. Avoid drafts as Pothos is quite sensitive to sudden drops in temperature. Pothos, as well as many of the above listed houseplants, help improve indoor air quality in any room.
Pothos are listed as poisonous, so keep away from small children or pets.

Ficus
Ficus benjamina is a beautiful plant that is commonly grown
indoors as a houseplant. The Ficus is the original 'Bodi' tree where Buddah sat and attained enlightenment. It can add beauty to an otherwise plain room,
and like other houseplants, it will help clean the indoor air.

Ficus are homebodies and once they are settled into a spot they
like, they will protest by dropping leaves if they are moved
to another location, or from outside to inside or vice versa. I still move my Ficus outside into the shade in summer and it does quite well there, but it drops leaves during these transitions.

Ficus benjamina do best in high humidity, but they don't like
to have wet feet. They can be misted daily, but they
should be watered only when the top couple of inches of soil
feels dry to the touch. The soil should be allowed to dry
slightly between waterings in the winter. Overwatering will also
cause ficus leaves to turn yellow and drop.

Ficus prefer bright, filtered light and a consistent air temperature.
Keep your ficus away from drafty doors, large windows that change temperature
throughout the day, and heater vents. Avoid hot locations that
receive direct sun all day.
During the growing season, your ficus should be fertilized
monthly with an organic fertilizer or half-strength liquid
fertilizer. Do not fertilize a Ficus during the winter when
it is not actively growing.

Ficus benjamina doesn't mind being slightly root bound, but if
they become too crowded in their pot, new leaves will be small
and the plant will grow slowly. Repot Ficus in late
winter or early spring, when close to being dormant, and transplant into a
slightly larger pot.
Be patient because it can take several weeks for the plant to adjust
and stop dropping leaves.

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum species)
This dramatic and colorful indoor flowering plant has always been a favorite of houseplant enthusiasts. They come in many different colors, most common being red and pink.
Amaryllis prefers a cool location. Keep the soil on the dry side, but not totally dry. Your Amaryllis plant will not need any fertilizer while it is blooming.
After the flowers have bloomed and fallen off, move your Amaryllis to a dry, cool and dark area. I put mine, pot and all, in a brown paper bag in the basement. Leave the plant in this location for eight weeks. Don't water during this period. Remove any dead or dying foliage. After the eight week dormant period, move the plant to a well lit location and water thoroughly. Your Amaryllis should bloom again in four to six weeks.

Aloe Vera
Aloes are some of the easiest plants to grow and propagate inside. As a desert plant, they love a bright, warm location, and are drought tolerant. In fact, most Aloes die from over watering. Aloes need proper drainage and don't like to sit in water. Keep them on the dry side, watering only once a week or less.
Aloes are susceptible to mealy bugs, so when you spot them, either pick them off or use a cotton swab with alcohol to remove them. Run water over the leaves to remove all the fuzzies. Then spray with insecticidal soap.
Keep a pot of aloe in your kitchen for burns or wounds. Pick off a leaf and slice it to expose the gel and apply to the wound.

Children may find the bright colors and different textures of plants irresistible, but some plants can be poisonous if touched or eaten. If you're in doubt about whether or not a plant is poisonous, don't keep it in your home. The risk is not worth it.
You can refer to the list in the box below for plants that should not be kept in homes with children. The list is not comprehensive, so be sure to seek out safety information on the plants in your home to be safe.
Chinaberry
Crocus
Daffodil
Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
Foxglove
Glory lily
Hemlock
Holly berry
Indian tobacco
Iris
Jimsonweed
Lantana
Larkspur
Mistletoe
Morning glory
Philodendron
Poppy