Gardening > House PlantsJuly 20, 2004

By ChaChanna Simpson

Have you ever thought of getting a houseplant? Why not? For thousands of years the practice of growing plants has brought aesthetic and therapeutic pleasure to many. Maybe you have tried to keep a houseplant and it died. That's okay - below, I'll show you, step-by- step, how to take care of a new one.

You're probably wondering; why in the world should I want a houseplant? Plants are much more than pleasant additions to a home or office, they actually filter and remove toxins in the air by absorbing contaminants. According to research there are much more harmful air pollutants indoors than outdoors. One culprit is formaldehyde, you know the liquid that pickled the pig's heart in anatomy class, it is also used for making paper bags, facial tissue, paper towels, and many common household cleaning agents. Plants take this and other toxic substances through tiny openings in their leaves (stoma) removing trace levels of toxic vapors.

We also can learn valuable lessons when we are tending to plants. By pruning a plant we learn to rid ourselves of hostility and learn patience, peace, and contentment.

Having a plant is great for the home but it also provides a calming, spiritual effect in the workplace. Their presence has been known to ease tension and reduce stress. In hospitals, patients who have a view of plants from their window recover faster from illness. The calming and pleasant nature view that a garden creates gives patients an escape from the stress of the hospital setting.

Plants Even You Can't Kill

For those of you who weren't born with a green thumb, let me introduce you to a houseplant that requires little maintenance. The pothos (Epipreminum aureum) is a beautiful lush green vine plant that can live in little or natural light. It can hang low around your windowsill or drape across your bookcase. And if you are afraid you'll forget to water it, you'll be relieved to know this plant only needs to be thoroughly watered when the top of the soil dries out. The pothos can tolerate any temperature and only needs to be fertilized once a month during the spring and summer seasons. When potting your plant use liquid indoor fertilizer and follow the package instructions. During the summer spray the plant with clean water to remove dust from the leaves but make sure to spray them early in the day to allow the leaf surface to dry. Leaf disease can develop if the leaf surface remains wet overnight.

So now that you know what gardeners have known for years, why not go out to create your own little sacred space in your home or cubicle?

About The Author: ChaChanna Simpson is the publisher and editor of Twentity.com, the free ezine for twentysomethings, featuring cheap and free events every Wednesday. Subscribe today at http://www.twentity.com

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