We need a trillion more indoor plants.

[Michaelangelica]

ScienceDaily:

 

ScienceDaily (Dec. 30, 2008) — Contact with nature has long been suspected to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and provide distraction from the pain associated with recovery from surgery. Now, research has confirmed the beneficial effects of plants and flowers for patients recovering from abdominal surgery.

 

 

A recent study by Seong-Hyun Park and Richard H. Mattson, researchers from the Department of Horticulture, Recreation and Forestry at Kansas State University, provides strong evidence that contact with plants is directly beneficial to a hospital patient's health. Using various medical and psychological measurements, the study set out to evaluate if plants in hospital rooms have therapeutic influences.

. . .

Patients with plants in their rooms had

• significantly fewer intakes of pain medication,
  
• more positive physiological responses (lower blood pressure and heart rate),
  
• less pain, anxiety, and fatigue, and
  
• better overall positive and higher satisfaction with their recovery rooms than their counterparts in the control group without plants in their rooms.
  

 

An interesting note to this study—the majority of patients who had plants in their rooms reported that the plants were the most positive qualities of their rooms (93%), whereas patients without plants in their rooms said that watching television was the most favorable aspect of their rooms (91%).

 

The study suggests that potted plants offer the most benefit, as opposed to cut flowers, because of their longevity. Nursing staff reported that as patients recovered, they began to show interaction with the plants, including watering, pruning, and moving them for a better view or light. A number of studies have also shown that indoor plants make . . .. . . ..

Flowering Plants Speed Post-surgery Recovery

this comment

The study suggests that potted plants offer the most benefit, as opposed to cut flowers, because of their longevity.' belies the title of the article and th accompaning photo which was

[Michaelangelica]

LEDs direst from China

Wholesale high power led grow light - Buy Low Price high power led grow light Lots on Alibaba.com

Wholesale Sell high power led grow light

Wholesale LED Plant Light, Ultra High Power LED Growing Light

 

I think the best indoor plants to keep are Aloe vera and bamboo shoots and

bonsai.Aloe vera plants just need to be watered once a week.Bamboo shoots don't mess the house at all cause they just need fresh water and they grow

without mud

FIGHTING POLLUTION IN LITTLE WAYS - Free Stories Center, Free Short Stories, Poems and more!

 

The indestructible Zanzibar Gem

 

Looking for a plant that is almost indestructible? It sounds impossible, but there is such a plant and it is called Zanzibar Gem. It is almost prehistoric looking, somewhat like a cycad, making a striking pot plant or general garden plant for shadier areas.

 

It is native to the lowland forests of Tanzania in Africa where it's shady and the soil is dry and rocky. So in the home, you will find it will grow quite happily in a dark corner - but best of all - the Zanzibar Gem doesn't care if you forget to water it, in fact, it prefers that you don't. Just a good dunk in a bucket of water once a month is plenty.

 

Why is this plant so incredibly tough? Well the first thing is the leaves, they are shiny and waxy - sort of succulent like - so they're designed to hold the water in.

 

And the stems - they are swollen and fleshy so they hold water too and there is even a water-storing tuber underneath the soil. This plant likes it dry, and if you over-water it, it can rot It has got to be the perfect, easy care indoor plant, especially if you are a little forgetful with the watering.

 

If you like the Zanzibar Gem so much you would like one outside as well, that is fine as long as you give it some shade.

Alexanders Nursery Newsletter

 

This thread quoted?

The Sietch Blog » Really Green Buildings

 

reverse that?

Green Walls | Stunning Living Wall of Indoor Plants

Greenwall - Home Page

Vertical Gardens | Stunning Living Wall of Indoor Plants

Having a vertical garden installed in your office improves air quality and provides a spectacular focal point. See our images for real life installations of ...

Vertical Gardens | Stunning Living Wall of Indoor Plants -

An off topic stumble

Hypographics.com - Hypo Graphics - Science forums with active discussion of current issues in science and technology. We welcome everyone.

[Michaelangelica]

Well not exactly indoor but going in the right direction

Rooftop Farms

BTW Brooklyn Botanic Gardens must be one of the best in the world. Go in summer when the rose ropes are flowering. Stunning.

Welcome to Rooftop Farms, a 6,000 square foot organic vegetable farm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

 

June Farm

Rooftop Farms is made possible through the generous contribution of Gina Argento and family. Her company,Broadway Stages, is based in Greenpoint and has been investing in Brooklyn communities for the past 30 years.

 

Rooftop Farms is owned by Broadway Stages and installed by Goode Green. For more information on the farm, including purchasing our produce, volunteering, classes, and school-to-farm programming, check the side links! For installation and press inquiries, email [email protected]

[Michaelangelica]

 

He prefers buying a real tree, but in other homes at this time of year families are busy recovering plastic pines and faux firs from cardboard boxes in the top cupboard and assembling them.

 

While hanging baubles from the branches, many are wondering which Christmas tree is better: real or fake? Plastic trees don't need watering and don't shed debris on the floor. After Christmas, they are put away for another year. The relics of real trees are instead spotted on footpaths well after the Christmas season has passed.

 

But on the cost front, real trees are generally cheaper than their fake peers, costing as little as $50 if you are hardy enough to pick them up yourself. Many artificial trees are in the range of $200 to $1000, but at least they can be reused. Is it more environmentally friendly to buy a plastic tree once every five or 10 years, or water, fertilise and then chop down a real tree every year?

 

The Australian Conservation Foundation says real trees are better for the environment than plastic ones, given the energy required to produce and ship artificial trees from overseas. China and Thailand produce many trees sold in Australia.

 

Mr McClellan says another drawback of fake trees is the chemicals used to make them. Customers at his farm are invited to return their trees after Christmas to be chipped and used as fertiliser.

 

Nicole Keleher, owner of Melbourne retailer My Christmas, believes artificial trees make more economic sense because they don't have to be replaced each year. But the call of nostalgia appears to be drowning out the economic message, according to sales figures. While there has been a resurgence in interest

 

 

in real trees, big retailers such as Myer say fake tree sales are flat. At Christmas Tree Farm, Mr McClellan expects to sell 20,000 trees this season, up 10 per cent on last year. He believes sales are up because Australian tree growers have mastered the art of cultivating trees with classic thick branches and a conical shape.

 

Oxfam volunteer Brian Moran, who has distributed more than 40,000 Christmas trees over three decades and earned an Order of Australia for his efforts, says real trees are back in fashion.

 

But still there's the hassle of ordering a new tree each year or lugging one home in the car or on the trailer then having to dispose of it after Christmas.

 

A real tree lasts only one festive season, while artificial trees can have 10-year warranties. A 1.2-1.5-metre tree from Christmas Tree Farm costs about $45, a 1.8-2.1-metre about $55. Oxfam volunteers deliver 1.75-metre trees for $65.

 

Delivery otherwise can cost about $150-$200. Ms Keleher says a 60-centimetre artificial tree costs $35, with a five-metre tree costing up to $3000. A typical two-metre tree costs $250-$300, a three-metre version $800. Trees with inbuilt lighting cost up to $1080.

 

 

 

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/pining-for-a-festive-tree-change-20101218-191dm.html

[HydrogenBond]

One disadvantage of real trees is if they are allowed to get too dry, they burn like a torch. The video below shows the difference between a dry tree and one that is well watered. Back when a few of these fires occurred, artificial trees became more popular, since they were suppose to made of inflammable materials. With better lighting and fire codes, such fires are rare.

 

[Michaelangelica]

Chlorophytum comosum

 

We make no claim that this is a rare or uncommon plant as it is often found in many homes up and down the country, and of course was always popular in Victorian times, and used as both a hanging basket and ornamental plant alike. It is only in recent years that this plant has been recognised as having particular beneficial properties in cleansing and ridding the air of pollutants. Even BBC Tomorrow's World featured this plant being introduced into houses in Canada to relieve the harmful effects of a particular gas that was being liberated as a result of using an untried cavity foam insulation material. As a result of using the plant the occupants of such properties were able to live without feeling nausea and sickness resulting from the gas liberated by the insulating material that had been used. Likewise in stuffy offices or smoky atmospheres this plant has a beneficial effect in improving the cleanliness of the air.

 

In recent years, in publications such as the New Scientist, articles have revealed problems that people suffer from having houses built over granite rock, particularly in the West Country, Scotland and parts of the Midlands where, apparently Radon gas leaks directly into their homes. This is known to be extremely harmful to health. Where new properties are being constructed measures are being taken to insulate floors to prevent the ingress of Radon gas.

 

 

http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/medicinal_and_healing_plants/spider_plant/

 

[Michaelangelica]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wAEW4TipEWs

http://inhabitat.com/video-andrea-air-purifier-uses-a-plant-to-clean-the-air-in-your-home/

Andrea Air Purifier Uses a Plant to Clean the Air in Your Home

 

Read more: VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Andrea Air Purifier, a Partnership Between Man and Plant | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Edited January 24, 2013 by Michaelangelica

[Buffy]

A terrarium with a fan! :o :cheer:

 

You aren't selling these are you Michael? :rolleyes:

 

I hope that while so many people are out smelling the flowers, someone is taking the time to plant some, :phones:

Buffy