Reduce Stress by adding Plants to Your Living Space

Long work days.  Traffic.  The holiday rush.  Stress adds up.  And, while experts advise exercise and other personal lifestyle changes to relieve stress, a recent life satisfaction study conducted by Rutgers University, shows that nature provides us with a simple way to improve emotional health -- plants and flowers.  The research shows the presence of plants and flowers triggers happy emotions, heightening feelings of life satisfaction. 

The resurgence of house plants is part of this trend to reduce stress while improving our living environments.  The charm of indoor plants is universal.  Plants not only cleanse the air, but provide this soothing mood.

Here are a few simple tips when choosing and caring for plants:

- Choose wisely.  Check with us to find the plant that will thrive in your location.  Even an expert can’t make a low light plant survive in a sunny room.  For low light, try Chinese evergreens, pothos or philodendrons.  Medium light plants include palms and ivy.  For high light, try ficus (all species), crotons with lots of leaf color, jade plants and cacti.

- Don’t drown them.  Roots need air as well as water.  Using the correct soil and letting the plant dry out between waterings is essential.

- Create humidity.  Houseplants can thrive in Colorado!  With the help of a humidifier or pebble tray, we can grow just about any plant in the house.  Or choose low humidity plants such as cactus, succulents, palms and rubber plants.

- Treat trouble promptly.  Watch your plants carefully.  They will tell you if you are watering too much or if the light in not right.  Look closely for scale insects or mealy bugs.

- Group them together.  Nearly all plants look better and grow better when grouped together.  Groupings can be displayed from tall in the back, medium in the middle to low growing plants in the front.  Smaller plants can be grouped together on a pebble tray.  A display window shows off groupings of cacti and succulents or herbs.  Or try a vertical display using a plant stand.

As in fashion and home décor, there are trends in house plants.  These plants can help you build on your theme.  For instance, when creating a  tropical theme -- try using orchids, palm trees and the newest Hawaiian Volcano Rock Plants.  These plants grow in authentic lava rock and varieties include anthuriums and the schefflera.

For an Oriental mood, choose Lucky Bamboo or linear plants like Sansevieria.  To add variety, look for plants with textures, variegated leaves or blooming plants.  One of the newest takes on an old favorite is the African Violet.  In a sensational effort that launched African Violets into a new frontier, the Optimara Space Violet program put more than 25,000 seeds into orbit for nearly six years.  This turned out to be one giant leap that has produced significant and exciting characteristics for African Violets.  The EverFloris series of African Violets is comprised of African Violets that have been developed from the space violet program.  They’re bigger and easier to grow, with larger, fuller blooms that flower continuously. 

Plants can involve the entire family.  Let the kid’s have fun with a Venus Fly Trap or character cactus.  For the kitchen, try growing fresh herbs and have an aloe vera plant on hand for scrapes and minor burns. Adding life to your household with plants and flowers can bring joy to your home.  For the new year, make a resolution.  Make your space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere with indoor plants.