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What do you think about using some fun images like this 

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What do you think about using some fun images like this 

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I found a really good link on benefits on plants that Tiah can use

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I found a really good link on benefits on plants that Tiah can use

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Indoor plants don't just look good, they make us feel good mentally and physically, too.

Words by The Sill
Common Care Questions Next Article
Indoor plants don't just look good, they make us feel good mentally and physically, too.

Studies have shown indoor plants:

Boost mood, productivity, concentration and creativity

Reduce stress, fatigue, sore throats and colds

Clean indoor air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity and producing oxygen

Add life to a sterile office, give privacy and reduce noise levels

Are therapeutic and cheaper than a therapist

It's true when we say plants make people happy.

Plants Against Pollution

Pollution levels on the planet earth are on the rise. If you live in a busy, dense city, you encounter pollution everyday. It wreaks havoc on our skin, our hair and most of all, the air we breathe. Pollution is not just outside. It's in the places we call 'work' and 'home'.

Sick Building Syndrome is a term used to describe symptoms experienced by otherwise healthy people working in large commercial buildings -- think sudden allergies; irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; headache, dizziness, and fatigue; respiratory and sinus congestion; and nervous system disorders. In 1989, Dr. Bill Wolverton, a leading scientist in NASA's Clean Air Study revealed, "when the building occupants are away for a given time, the symptoms usually diminish, only to recur upon re-entry into the building."

The cause? Indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is generally a consequence of toxic emissions from synthetic building materials, airborne mold, viruses, and pollutants, along with energy efficient construction, like making spaces as airtight as possible, which reduces the air circulation. These contributors release toxin emissions such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene.

Gross, right?

It's not just big commercial buildings either. These compounds can be found in almost every home. Not great news when the Environmental Protection Agency estimates Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors.

Most wall paints, rubbers, vinyl, laminates, computer parts and plastics all break down over time and release compounds into the air we breathe. The good news is, we can improve our indoor air quality with plants. Plants absorb harmful toxins, breaking them down into gentle byproducts, and storing them in their soil to use later for food.

Back to Nature

When you feel a little low, it's amazing how a walk in the park can do wonders. That's because when we get in touch with nature, we reduce mental fatigue and stress, while increasing relaxation and self-esteem. Even brief exposure to nature has been shown to make us more altruistic and cooperative. This study shows touching real foliage elicits an unconscious calming effect. Other studies like the lean vs green study show where indoor plants are present, work performance increases, staff well-being improves and employees take less sick days.

We are only beginning to understand the impact indoor air quality has on our mental health and work performance, but so far, the introduction of indoor plants to improve indoor air and reduce pollution points to positive outcomes.

Plants for Purification

Here are some of our favorite air-purifying plants,

Snake Plant

This no-fuss tropical plant has thin, upright leaves with irregular banding that resembles the skin of a reptile. Its adaptations for surviving drought make it a suitable plant choice for anyone, anywhere. Snake Plants have been shown to filter benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene.

Pothos

Nicknamed the "cubicle plant" at our office, the Pothos is our go-to for brown-thumbed customers with less than ideal conditions. Like the similar-looking Philodendron, the Pothos's trailing vines can grow to over 10 feet long. The Pothos has been shown to filter benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene.

Rubber Plant

A popular houseplant, this variety of ficus has thick upright stems with glossy, oversized leaves that can store water in case of drought. They prefer bright to moderate indirect light. Rubber Plants have been shown to filter formaldehyde.

ZZ plant

A ZZ Plant is a spectacular choice for any low-light environment. They are extremely dry-tolerant and low maintenance. In addition, the plant meaning of ZZ is prosperity and friendship, making it a gift for the plant lover in your life.

Bird's Nest Fern

The Bird's Nest Fern is characterized by ripple-edged fronds that grow out of a nest-like crown. It makes for a lovely hanging plant indoor. They thrive in indirect light and a humid environment. Ferns have been shown to filter formaldehyde, xylene and toluene.

Philodendron

In the right indoor conditions, the Philodendron's heart-shaped leaves and trailing vines can trail to over 10 feet long, making it the perfect plant for a high shelf. Did we mention it has a reputation of being one of the easiest houseplants to grow? Philodendrons have been shown to filter formaldehyde.

With air-purifying in mind, we hope you'll make any one of these plants an addition to your home or office.

Authors Note

When NASA needed a cheap, easy way to filter the air on space stations - they chose the most common houseplants at the time to test. Reporters then wrote about the NASA study, but misinterpreted it as 'these are the only plants that filter the air' instead of 'all plants filter the air, but these are the only plants NASA had the time and budget to test'. We encourage you to bring all different varieties of plants into your living spaces to improve air quality.

For more information, check out NASA's Clean Air Study and Dr. B.C. "Bill" Wolverton's "How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home or Office".

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Words by The Sill Common Care Questions Next Article Indoor plants don't just look good, they make us feel good mentally and physically, too.

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sorry I've had problems loading padlet, yes I am happy to do introduction slides 

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sorry I've had problems loading padlet, yes I am happy to do introduction slides 

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Should we aim to get this done over the weekend so it is ready for Monday.

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Should we aim to get this done over the weekend so it is ready for Monday.

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I found some copyright free images. Here are them:

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I found some copyright free images. Here are them:

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From Celyn

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Daffodils Flowers Daffodil - Free photo on Pixabay 960 × 640 - 111k - jpg pixabay.com

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Here is a really good source of information for planting bulbs it shows tips on planting bulbs at different times of the year in different surfaces. 

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Here is a really good source of information for planting bulbs it shows tips on planting bulbs at different times of the year in different surfaces. 

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Callum

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Chepstow Garden Centre in Pwllmeyric, South Wales

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Chepstow Garden Centre in South Wales for all your gardening needs such as clothing, tools and furniture, pet and wild bird supplies, locally produced goods, plants, a wide variety of giftware, or delicious cup of tea or special events! We also have an online shop and deliver throughout Wales!

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yeah i think this sounds good i will attach my research for you to see what i will be including.

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Do Houseplants Really Purify the Air in Your Home?

Gardeners could have told you long ago that life is simply better in the company of healthy, happy plants. But now, with the Internet, we all have ready access to information like the study NASA did on how certain houseplants purify the air. This is a hugely trending topic these days.

I would love to tell you that houseplants help to purify the air in your home, assist your sleep quality, improve your mental focus and concentration and in general improve your life! These are highly attractive and popular claims that just do not have a strong basis in accepted science. Yes, NASA did that study, but the conclusions of that study are more nuanced and rather different from what we see and read in so many blogs and articles.

But this article is not about "Gotcha" for the articles that do claim great benefits. Nor is it to de-bunk them. In fact, there is great reason to believe in the overall health and wellness benefits of living with and among plants both indoors and out. It just is not nearly so simple as choosing from a list of 10 special species and expecting to achieve cleaner air.

NASA's study (done in the early 1980's, by Dr. Bill Wolverton) found that the soil for every houseplant they tested in their specific chamber environment did capture and fix sufficient air pollutants to make a remarkable difference in the over all air quality. This is exciting, but there is no indication that any particular plant had any effect. Further, the soil in pots in your home will not be sufficiently exposed to the air to really affect your home's air quality.

But there is ample evidence from many other scientific tests that plants do have a big impact in our health and wellbeing by dramatically reducing our psychological and physiological stress when we are near them, either indoors or out. And now, with most people spending an estimated 85% of their daily life indoors, the importance of houseplants that are easy to grow and care for is greater than ever before.

There is also evidence that "the presence of plants can boost your attention span", says Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Because all of the evidence indicates these health benefits are associated with plants in general, rather than any specific type of plant, I want to focus on some fun and easy to care for plants to enjoy in your home. Any plants that you enjoy and that prosper in your care will be a boon to your health and well being, especially if you have several indoors!

7 Easy to Grow Houseplants that Improve Your Health and Wellbeing!

Dracaena fragrans, corn plant

Dracaena fragrans, often called corn plant or mass cane plant, is a popular houseplant that is super easy to grow. Wide, lush leaves are variegated with a lighter green flare down the center of each leaf. As the botanical name implies, the flowers, when they form, are incredibly and wonderfully fragrant. Provide bright, indirect light, water only moderately and give a short drying time between waterings.

Aloe vera is well known for the benefits of the gel produced and stored in its thick, fleshy leaves. This aloe gel is a salve for burns, a gentle exfoliator, can be used as a hand sanitizer and even aids digestion! There are many varieties of aloe, and all are easy to please indoors. Provide bright, indirect light, and be sure to plant in a succulent or cactus potting mix. Water well, but check the soil to be sure it is dry a full 2 inches down before watering again. When you need some aloe gel, just slice off a leaf and use it!

Oxalis triangularis, purple shamrocks

Oxalis triangularis, or the purple shamrock, is a wonderfully long-lived houseplant with attractive purple foliage. These leaves open and close in response to light, closing up at night like a cluster of little purple butterflies! An incredibly long-lived plant, oxalis triangularis needs bright light indoors to look its best. Water moderately, and allow the soil to dry between waterings. These plants occasionally go dormant, typically every few years. Don't be alarmed if it appears to be dying. Simply stop watering, and set the plant aside for a few weeks. Once you see new sprouts, resume watering again.

Chlorophytum comosum, spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum is often called spider plant or airplane plant, for the way it produces baby offsets that trail the mother plant. Spider plants look their best as either a hanging plant, or in a container on a pedestal, that shows off the foliage and the trailing baby plants. Incredibly easy to grow, spider plants prefer bright, indirect light, but will continue to thrive even in dark conditions. Provide ample water, but a healthy spider plant will continue to flourish even missing a few weeks of water. This is an especially good house plant for beginners.

Epipremnum aureum, golden pothos

Epipremnum aureum is a variety of pothos with yellow variegation shot through its heart-shaped leaves. Another great choice for beginners, this easy to grow plant forms trailing, vining stems that can reach 40 feet long in their native tropical jungles. Simply keep twining the vines around the plant in the container for a full look, then let them spill over the edge and drape down to the ground, or up over a window rod. Provide bright, indirect light. Water moderately, allowing the soil to dry well between waterings. A good way to avoid any root rot is to water well only when the plant appears to droop a bit.

Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant

Sansevieria trifasciata is also known by the fetching names of snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue! Leaves are thick, and stiff, growing upright in a spear shape, often with mottling and contrasting margins throughout. A fine architectural element to add to any room. Sansevieria will thrive in just about any amount of lighting, and generally prefers dry soils. Plant to water just once every 2-3 weeks. Another great choice for beginning gardeners, or those new to houseplants.

Hippeastrum, amaryllis Minerva

Hippeastrum, or amaryllis, are commonly linked to Christmas, since that is the time they are most readily found in stores, but they can grow and bloom indoors at any time of the year. Amaryllis bulbs produce the most magnificent blooms in a wide variety of colors, with many alluring flower forms. Grown from large bulbs, amaryllis prefer bright light and moderate moisture. Although they can happily grow indoors year round, for best blooming, let them spend the spring outdoors in bright, indirect light, and feed well.

What ever color of thumb you have, these houseplants will grow and thrive for you with little effort. As they do, they will add beauty to your home, and improve the health and wellness of your entire family. I would love to learn whether you enjoy houseplants, or plan to start! :) Please take a moment to leave a comment and let me know!

Happy gardening!

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7 Houseplants that Improve Your Health and Wellbeing!

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Do Houseplants Really Purify the Air in Your Home? Gardeners could have told you long ago that life is simply better in the company of healthy, happy plants. But now, with the Internet, we all have ready access to information like the study NASA did on how certain houseplants purify the air.

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Yes that sounds great! I will get started right away

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Yes that sounds great! I will get started right away

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Callum

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I'll do the final few slides, ben can do the introduction, tiah can do the benefits and callum can do the planting tips. Do you all agree? 

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I'll do the final few slides, ben can do the introduction, tiah can do the benefits and callum can do the planting tips. Do you all agree? 

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From Celyn

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yeah i agree,are we doing a PowerPoint because we have had a lot of practice on them.

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yeah i agree,are we doing a PowerPoint because we have had a lot of practice on them.

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I think that 10 slides will be a good amount to produce as we then have enough slides to give detailed information without overrunning. 

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I think that 10 slides will be a good amount to produce as we then have enough slides to give detailed information without overrunning. 

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Callum

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How did you all get on with your research? we need to agree who's doing what slides. Shall we aim to do a 10 slide presentation? 

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How did you all get on with your research? we need to agree who's doing what slides. Shall we aim to do a 10 slide presentation? 

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From Celyn