Let’s Talk About…House Plants That Clean Your AiR

Let’s face it, our air quality in most homes and offices is not as clean as we need it to be. I personally have asthma and because of that, I’ve try to improve my air quality by using air purifiers, changing my furnace filter more often and lot of plants. Using these methods, does improve the air quality. My Livingroom air is the best in my house, it is clean, fresh and crisp. It’s like being on a nature walk on a much smaller scale. I have over 60 plants (I won’t disclose the actual amount lol) in there and the air is phenomenal. The plants cleanse harmful toxins and chemicals from the air and they affect your health in a positive way.

Typically, the air we breathe indoors is stagnant, and toxins build up and they can’t escape because homes or buildings are closed up without outside airflow. The toxins that are mostly found in buildings and homes are benzene, formaldehyde, acetone, chloroform, just to name a few. There is a simple yet satisfying solution to that issue…..just buy a few air purifying houseplants! I promise that you won’t regret it. Not only do they improve your air quality, they are esthetically pleasing and create a beautiful backdrop to your home furnshings. There are numerous house plants that can absorb the pollutants in the air. Below I’ve composed a small list of houseplants that you can benefits from.

What types of air purifying plants should I get for my home or office? Here are a few options, in no particular order:

1. English Ivy-This plant is great at reducing airborne fecal particles which makes it the perfect air purifying plant for your bathroom, it can also ivy can also help reduce mold levels in your home.

2. Spider Plant-This plant reduces toxins including carbon monoxide and xylene.

3. Snake plant-By simply placing this plant in your bedroom, it can offer a good night’s rest, it releases oxygen at night, helping you to breathe better while sleeping.

4. Peace Lily- The Peace Lily is one of the top air purifying plants as it can help filter out certain harmful compounds. To keep it thriving, place it in bright, indirect light.

5. Golden Pothos- Devil's Ivy will thrive anywhere, they prefer brighter spots in the home. They also love moisture, so make brilliant bathroom plants.

6. Chinese Evergreen- This tropical plant is proven to be an effective cleanser of formaldehyde and benzene, found in detergents and cosmetics, perfect for a bathrooms.

7. Aloe Vera- Mostly used to soothe any kitchen burns, this succulent will be purifying the air of formaldehyde and benzene, found in varnishes, floor finishes, and detergents.

Now that you have the details….which plants are you planning on purchasing? Your air quality depends on it. Let me know. See you next blog!

Be safe and buy more plants,

Chani

Variegated Peace Lily

Let’s Talk About……House Plants!

In case you didn’t know, the house plant game is strong! There are so many different types of house plants, the list is endless! In the recent years, there are more & more people that collect, harvest & sell plants to other plant enthusiast. The “planty” life is increasingly becoming more trendy, and I absolutely love it! I am apart of 10+ plant groups online. The groups are designed to be a safe place for people to post, show off, ask questions and receive help regarding their plant babies. It is a good community, and it helps others to connect from all over.

My love for plants started when I was young, and my grandmother had big beautiful plants that vined around her “sitting room”. She also had huge elephant ear plants and gorgeous flowers in her front yard. I remember helping her plant and pull weeds. I hated to pull weeds, but she explained that your plants need to grow, and the weeds will choke the plant’s roots and the plants will die. Although, I still hated pulling weeds, I understood and found the value behind it. I learned a lot from her, she was amazing. If you are ever invited to my home, You can thank my granny for the plant overload both inside and outside of my house (lol). Caring for plants have become a calming therapy for me. If I feel stressed, being near my plants often changes my mood, and provides an euphoric yet zen feeling for me. I love to see my plants grow and thrive. It brings me a peace. I love to get baby plants and watch new leaves grow. It becomes a bit overwhelming at times, when I need to do a “mass watering”(its a lot of plants), but remembering that they need water, food and nutrients to thrive motivates me to get it done. I started of with just a few plants, and it quickly developed into a crazy collection that keeps growing weekly, sometimes daily! Don’t judge me!

Many of us have houseplants, but do we take the time to learn about the proper care of each? For example a common houseplant, the Golden Pothos aka Devils Ivy needs well draining soil, bright indirect sunlight, moderate temperatures, and the top inch of soil should be dried out between waterings. The Croton plant is another popular house plant. It needs plenty of bright light and high humidity to thrive. The bright light helps the colors become more developed, but they can tolerate partial shade. They like to have moist soil, especially in the spring to autumn season. I often mist mine to keep up the humidity.

There is a lot to consider when picking out the right plant for you. When choosing a plant, you should consider your window direction, room lighting, and the amount of time you have to properly care for your plant babies. For example, if you travel often, maybe consider a plant that needs less care or love……..perhaps Snake plants of Succulents. They can be watered once a month most times.

Let’s talk about plant pet peeves. For me, nothing burns my biscuits more than seeing a plant store (big box or other) placing plants with vastly different care needs combined together in one pot. I’m not saying that it is wrong…….I just don’t personally like it! I typically see a snake plant in the same pot as pothos, or cactus plants paired in with plants that request frequently watering. Some plants have completely different watering schedules. For example, a snake plant likes to stay more on the drier side, verses the ferns that require water more often.

Some of my favorite plants families are Anthuriums, Phillodenrons, Monstera, Syngoniums, and Begonias.

My wishlist plants are:

Anthurium Warocqueanum (Queen)

Anthurium Veitchii (King)

Anthurium Metallicum

Anthurium Crystallinum

Phillodendron Billitiae

Philodendron Melanochrysum

Philodendron Spirtus Sancti

Philodendron Patricae

Monstera Deliciosa

Deliciosa Borsigiana “Albo” Variegata

Deliciosa Variegata “Thai Constellation”

Deliciosa “Aurea” Variegata

Syngonium “Pink Splash”

Syngonium “Pink Allusion”

Syngonium Wendlandi

Begonia Maculata “Wightii”

Begonia “Frosty”

Begonia”Silver Quuen”

What are some of your wish list plants? Enjoy my goofy plant photo. See you next blog!

Stay Safe & Buy More Plants,

-Chani

Let’s Talk About….. Orchids

Discover The World Of Orchids at the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), Washington, DC

February 17- April 30 2023

This year’s Orchid Show displays orchids from all over the world. There are a host of vibrant varieties from different orchid families. The atmosphere and climate is beautiful………..Simply breathtaking! Lots of photo background opportunities. A perfect solo or date outing!

They offer stories on how modern technology has changed the way orchids are grown and how they survive. The garden will offer educational opportunities including online programs about orchid care and cultivation, lectures on orchid conservation, in-person experts answering visitors’ orchid questions, and more. If you are in the Washington DC area, go and check it out!

About Orchids & Care:

There are more than 25,000 different species of orchids. Most orchid house plants come from humid, tropical regions. They do best in a humid atmosphere. In most centrally heated homes the air is dry, so mist the foliage every two to three days using tepid water, but avoid spraying the flowers, as the petals can be marked by water.

Being tropical plants, orchids prefer warm temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid drafts, cold spaces, rooms with sudden temperature drops and hot air vents. Orchids flourish in air that is 50 percent humidity or above. They can do well in moist places such as by a kitchen window.

Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae, a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, the Orchidaceae is one of the two largest families of flowering plants.

Avoid overwatering…..if you think that your orchid needs to be watered……wait one more day! When an orchid stops blooming, cut off the flower stalk at the base of the plant. Then put your orchid in a room in your house where you can simulate the tropical climate conditions it likes. An orchid will not grow in soil. Orchids are epiphytes, and in their native tropical environments, they grow on trees (not in soil). Plant orchids in an orchid potting mix (which contains wood chips or bark) and they will be happy. Don’t use ice cubes, orchids are tropical plants that love warmth and ice cubes are cold.

Check out these stunning plants from the show! What is your favorite Orchid? Are you planning on going to this event? See you next blog!

Stay Safe & Buy More Plants,

-Chani