Houseplants, left to right: Snake Plant, Banana Plant, Corn Plant (Draceana), 2 Peace Lilies and a Peperomia in back next to the window on the right.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Much of my interest in horticulture began with indoor plants. I liked being surrounded by a jungle of tropical plants and enjoyed taking care of them. The fact that plants in the home or office help us to be healthier and happier has been shown by several scientific studies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Many of the materials used in the construction of our homes, offices and other indoor spaces contain toxic chemicals. Harmful chemicals also come in on our furnishings, computers, electronic devices, cleaners, and other everyday household products. Many of these chemicals volatilize into the air we breathe. These all contribute to what has become known as <\/span>“sick building syndrome.\u201d <\/i>Indoor plants improve indoor air quality by actually removing many of these contaminants as well as airborne mold and bacteria.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 In addition to sequestering harmful volatile compounds, plants decrease carbon dioxide levels and increase oxygen & humidity levels, helping to reduce fatigue, colds, headaches, sore throats, coughs, nausea, sore & itchy eyes, dry skin, and loss of concentration. Plants can even help to prevent allergies by building tolerance levels and immunity to allergens. All these benefits help us get a more restful sleep, too.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Plants that share our indoor space help our mental well-being. They help relieve stress, help us to be more productive, and just feel better all around.\u00a0 Cheerful flowers make you calmer and more optimistic. And just the act of caring for a living thing can help when you are depressed and lonely.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Indoor plants can muffle or absorb sounds, reducing distracting or annoying background noise. Plants with a lot of leaves such as Weeping Fig, Ficus benjamina<\/i>, work best for noise reduction. Large indoor plants can also be used for screening.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 When I worked at the Seymour Conservatory, we would often get patrons wanting advice on houseplants.\u00a0 A common one was: What can I grow with no light? My response to this query was: \u201ctry silk!\u201d \u2013Or– that if there is not enough light coming in from windows, supplemental lighting will be necessary.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The other most common reason for failure in growing houseplants is infrequent watering or overwatering. Many people water regularly about once a week. I always recommend checking the dampness of the soil before adding more water. The best way is to stick your finger below the top layer of soil; sometimes you can tell by the color of the soil or the weight of the pot.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The easiest \u201cbeginner\u201d houseplant to grow is Snake Plant, Sansevieria trifasciata<\/i>, also known as \u201cMother-in-law\u2019s tongue.\u201d\u00a0 Also fairly easy is Spider Plant, <\/span>Chlorophytum comosum, <\/i>Peace Lilies, Spathiphyllum sp., Peperomia <\/i>species, <\/i>Dragon or Corn Plants, Dracaena sp., <\/i>Swedish Ivy,\u00a0 Plectranthus australis<\/i>, and Wandering Jew, Tradescantia sp.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Succulents, such as many species of cacti, can be easy to grow if you have a sunny south or west window. Donkey\u2019s Tail, Sedum morganianum, <\/i>and <\/i>Jade Plant, Crassula argentea, <\/i>are easy to grow succulents. <\/i>I also always keep<\/span><\/span> an Aloe vera<\/i> growing to treat burns and other skin ailments.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 African Violets, Saintpaulia sp.,<\/i> brighten up my kitchen windowsill. The flowers are cheery and they bloom frequently.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Although most houseplants are tropical in origin, Piggyback Plant, Tolmeia menziesii,<\/i> is a Pacific Northwest native that can be grown as a houseplant.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n