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It was in the early 1950s that Dr.
T. Randolph associated indoor air pollution with allergies and other chronic
illnesses. Since his findings those
affected by allergy related illness are now 1 in 5 Americans. The EPA currently ranks indoor air pollution
as one of the top 5 threats to public health.
In our effort to maximize energy efficiency due to the ‘70s oil embargo,
the change in our personal environment has put our health at risk. Buildings are practically sealed and the
fresh air exchange is drastically reduced.
Add to this the recent changes in the composition of buildings. Many materials are now synthetic which are
held together with a variety of glues and resins, put in synthetic carpeting
and fabrics, composite material in furnishings, tint to un-openable
windows. Add electronic equipment and we
have closed ourselves in buildings which emit or “off-gas” toxic air. In 1984 the World Health Organization
reported that as much as 30% of new and remodeled buildings had air quality
problems. Back in the ‘80s NASA
scientists began extensive studies on treating and recycling air to create a
life-support system for space stations.
Their studies helped relieve the widespread phenomenon known as “sick
building syndrome”. And surprisingly the
answer to the problem of indoor air pollution is houseplants.
Areca is a genus of 50 – 60 species of single stemmed palms.
Originally native to woodland and humid tropical forest of Malaysia and
Indonesia. Growing conditions should be moderate light, rich loam based soil
with sand, water frequently keeping the root ball damp. Spider mites may be a
problem as will brown tips on fronds from an over-dry environment.
Bromelia is a genus of 46 species native to the rain forest of S. Mexico,
Central America, South America and the West Indies. The most famous bromeliad
is the pineapple. They take many different but similar forms and are slow
growing plants with most interesting flowers and heavy succulent fruit. Water
well during the growing season but cut back on water during winter. Scale and
fungal leaf spots may be a problem.
Cattleya orchids are the ones most
commonly used as a corsage. This is a genus of about 40 species native to
Central and South America at altitude. Rather an ugly plant with leathery
leaves, the large, showy flowers are exquisite with the ability to scent an
entire room. This is not the orchid for amateurs. Cattleyas need high humidity,
good ventilation and bright but filtered light. As with all orchids in summer
water freely, in winter remove shading and water sparingly. Scale, mites,
whiteflies, aphids and mealy bugs attack, fungal, bacterial invasion and viral
diseases can destroy. Unfortunately hybridizes have been messing around with
them and now the plants are more finicky about the conditions they will
tolerate. There is no specific bloom time for cattleya best advice buy in bud.
Cattleyas need temps that range between 55 degrees at night and up to 90 during
the day.
Chamaedorea is your basic parlor
palm. A genus of about 120 species native to Mexico. They like bright light
but not direct sun; soil should be kept moist in winter, water generously in
summer. Spider mites can be a nuisance.
Chlorophytum is a genus of
about 200 species native to the tropics and West Africa. The most common is
called a spider plant. They bear arching panicles of small, 6 petaled
flowers then develop into small seeds and finally new plantlets. Tolerant of
both sun and shade they require little more than light and water for success.
The tick roots retain a great deal of moisture and occasionally burst out of
the pot. Brown leaf tips are the biggest problem and that is due to salt damage
or dry conditions.
Crassula commonly called a jade plant
is a genus of about 150 species of annual and perennial succulents indigenous
to mostly South Africa but also found in Asia and Madagascar. They like a light
and sunny situation and a period of dormancy with cooler temperature. Water
sparingly about once or twice a month, repot after dormant period in a heavy
compost-loam mixture. Propagation is by cuttings. Fertilize lightly, may be
prone to mealy bugs, aphids, spider mites and thrips.
Cyclamen is a genus of about 15 species that grow wild throughout the
Mediterranean countries, Asia Minor and Iran. All species resemble each other
and have tuberous rootstock, and heart or kidney shaped leaves with
green/silver top color and reddish on the reverse. The flowers emerge from the
foliage and almost look like badminton shuttlecocks minus the cap. Five petaled
flowers with little or no scent, strains have been developed with fringed,
smooth or striped flower tips in the most delightful colors. They like their
food and constantly moist soil and relatively cool conditions. Always remove
faded flowers and yellow leaves. The list of pests is long, mites, aphids,
crown and leaf rot, mold, black let, thrips, viruses, and something new to me
eelworms. When buying a cyclamen always look inside the foliage to see how many
new flower buds are forming.
Dionaea is the genus name for the Venus
flytrap native to the marshy regions near the coast of the Carolina’s. They
are insectivorous plants, sensitive to touch, the edges are covered in stiff
hairs and as soon as the plant feels anything, the two halves of the leaf fold
along the midrib and the hairs interlink and do not reopen until the food is
digested. Best in a terrarium or cool greenhouse they need plenty of water,
high humidity, potted in a mixture of peat, sphagnum moss and potting soil. Do
not feed.
Dracaena is a genus of about 40 species of
shrubs and trees found naturally in the scrub and dry open slopes of the
Euphorbia, most commonly known as poinsettia is a genus with
over 2000 species naturally occurring in subtropical and tropical zones the
second most famous is Crown of Thorns.
The species poinsettia do not tolerate direct sun outside nor do they like cold
temperatures, they should be watered regularly with tepid water and enjoy a
misting but will tolerate low humidity levels, over watering causes leaf drop.
Poinsettias require a great
deal of feeding during active growing and propagation is from tip cuttings in
the spring and summer by dipping the cuttings in charcoal or rooting powder to
stop the latex flow then potted and they are also successfully grown from the
seed.
Although they are considered succulent poinsettias are susceptible to mealy
bugs and scale and spider mites, also gray mold, thrips, aphids and root rot
are the most common problems.
Hedera is the genus for ivy and
contains 8 – 12 species of climbing and trailing woody stemmed evergreen
plants. Identified by five different leaf types classified further into
miniature, oddities and variegated forms. In autumn they produce tiny, 5 lobed
yellowish-green bisexual flowers followed by fruit. Propagation is by taking
semi-ripe cuttings of juvenile growth in water or with a rooting hormone. They
are susceptible to fungal and bacterial spot as well as spider mites, aphids,
mealy bugs and scale. Water freely indoors in a well draining pot and feed a
balanced fertilizer monthly.
Hoya is a genus of over 200 species of plants
with thick succulent leaves and waxy flower. Hoya likes plenty of light, keep
cool and dry during the winter but water will in spring and summer. For best
flowering results keep the plant in a constant position. Prone to mealy bugs and
scale.
Jasminum is a genus of 200 plus species of deciduous, evergreen,
shrub and climbing plants. Cultivated for their scent the little star shaped
flowers can be overpowering. Tropical in origin they should be grown in a sunny
location indoors and a low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer monthly, water freely in
summer and locate outside in a dappled shade area. Propagation is by semi-ripe
cuttings and root powder. Prone to root rot, fungal and bacterial sports and
many viruses. Aphids, scale, and mite can be problems.
Kalanchoe is a genus of over 200 species. Considered a succulent it
should be kept in very good
light spring and summer with the midday sun filtered. Spent flowers should be
removed and their dormant temperatures should be about 60 degrees. In summer
the soil should remain moderately, moist while in winter they can be allowed to
go a bit dryer. Soil should be a good
compost with extra sand or perlite and they like a small amount of
liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
The genus miltoniopsis has five
species found naturally at altitude in the mountainous regions of Central and
Nephrolepis is commonly called
the Boston fern. The genus contains about 30 species of evergreen,
epiphytic and terrestrial ferns found naturally in rainforest, opens habitats,
tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They like rich loamy soil cut with
sand, moderate to high humidity, bright filtered light. Resistances to
infestations, remove dead leaves that dry in the undergrowth, fertilize monthly
and keep the soil moderately moist.
Opuntia is a genus of about 200 species found in very arid regions of North,
Central and South America and the West Indies commonly called prickly pear
cactus. Amazingly fast growing this cactus blooms glorious yellow flowers
in summer or spring in the desert. The platelets are actually stems. The stems
have evenly spaced areoles each bearing hundreds of mini-hooked spines. The big
leaves or spines are hard, sharp and generally are three inches long and they
rim and cover the surface area Flower nodes appear along the edge of the
platelets in the early summer and can be profuse. Begin fertilization
with a weak solution in March increasing in strength till the nodes first
appear.
Phalaenopsis is one of the
never fail orchid genus and a great one for beginners. Best choice is to
buy one that is about to bloom; they will last up to two months. The flower
spike will set when night temperatures reach 50 degrees. As the flower spike
begins it will give the appearance of a little green knob breaking out of the
side of the plant just above the roots. Once that happens don't rotate the
plant, this is one of many plants that require a consistent position to the
sun. Phalaenopsis is a genus of about 50 species originally from dense, wet
forest areas of India and Southeast Asia and the Philippines. They have no
water-storage organs so they like a moist environment easily achieved from a
daily light misting. Phals prefer a shaded atmosphere and like most orchids,
moving air. Fertilize once a month during growth, allow to go dormant after
blooming. Yellow leaves indicate over watering a common mistake for rookies,
better to heavily mist.
Plumeria is a genus of 8 species the best known is called fragipani or pagoda
tree. Native to tropical and subtropical America the simple leathery leaves
are arranged spirally and the fragrant flowers have five broad petal lobes.
Trouble free the plumeria is plagued only by spider mites.
Saintpaulia commonly called African violet is a genus of about
20 species of low-growing perennials found on the banks and streamside
naturally in a very small area of tropical E. Africa. There are over 2000
cultivars derived basically from one species. They like bright light, but not
direct sun. Moist soil, but don't get the leaves wet and please use warm water
because they can catch a chill. African violets are heavy feeders but stick
with appropriate fertilizers, enhance blooms with a few rusty nails pushed into
the soil. Propagation is easy, put aluminum foil over a glass full of water,
poke a hole in the center with a pencil and remove a healthy leaf breaking it
off as close to the trunk as possible. Place the stem through the hole so that
it's almost submerged but not getting the leaf wet. Keep the glass in a sunny
window and repot once it has developed a good root system. Once established
remove the original leaf. Gray mold, mites, root rot can be problems.
Schefflera is a genus containing over 900 species. Naturally found in
warm-temperate and tropical areas of SE Asia to the Pacific islands, Central
and South America. Indoors schefflera’s need bright filtered or indirect light.
Scale, thrips and mealy bugs may be a problem.
Schlumbergera is a genus of about six species of bushy, epiphytic or
rock-dwelling cacti native to tropical rain forest of SE Brazil. Commonly
called Christmas cactus. Cultivated for their wonderfully intricate
flowers which have no scent but they really are quite exotic in bloom. They
like humus rich soil, keep moist but well drained. Fertilize during the growing
season keep outside during summer with the orchids in a shady spot and water at
will. They do not tolerate a dry situation, strong winds or temps that drop
below 50 degrees. Buds emerge late November and blooming time is generally
mid-winter.
Sinningia is a genus of 20
naturally occurring species native to the tropical rain forest of Brazil,
commonly called gloxinia. Grown from tubers, the plant has large, soft
leaves and generous funnel-shaped flowers in deep, rich colors. Gluttonous
feeders they also should be watered with demineralized, tepid water with a bit
of fertilizer every time. They like moist soil and a hothouse atmosphere but
not bright sunlight.
Sprengeri is a genus of over 300 species of fern originally
from all points in Africa. It has thick tuberous rootstock and woody, strongly
branched stems often with thorns. The leaves are tiny, spurred from the base of
the stem. Tolerant of shade they do enjoy moving air. Water well during the
summer but give a rest during winter. Feed weekly from May to September with a
weak diluted solution. Plants rarely are subject to disease.
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