Helpful hints The House Plant is Back
The House Plant is Back Benefits all round
Houseplants, commonly known as indoor foliage are overwhelmingly becoming our most beneficial plant group. Their advantages lie not only in their ability to decorate the home or office into a trendy upscale living environment which brighten up the room, but also provide a cheerful sight to plain and dreary areas of the house/office. They also contribute to the air quality, our emotions and everyday health.
Enhances Health and the Environment
Given the importance of water conservation, it makes perfect sense for Australians to create a lush, private oasis of foliage or a seasonal array of vibrant colours inside our living/working areas or in a shaded patio.
Indoor plants actually return up to 97% of the water they receive to the environment and humidity levels are reduced. Indoor plants are therefore extremely water efficient and are constantly cleansing carbon dioxide (we exhale) and filtering it into oxygen which we then breath.
Not only do indoor plants create oxygen but they reduce Sick Building Syndrome. This is done by reducing (VOC) Volitile Organic Compounds which contribute to sicknesses every day. VOC are emitted in offices, carpets, upholstery, copier machines and cleaning products.
Recent studies from scientists and recommendations from NASA state that the inclusion of indoor plants in the office environment would reduce substantially the amount of VOC's that people are exposed to. They are now suggesting as a health recommendation that a certain number of indoor plants should be present for every square metre of space.
With the social responsibility of having a ‘green’ and sustainable environment we must consciously strive to reflect this in our own living and working premises.
Plants To Improve Your Bottom Line
Recent studies in the work environment have proven some major advantages to incorporating plants into your workplace. By simply providing green space the following benefits can be added to your business.
- INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY - up to 12% lessening noise, distractions, screening.
- INCREASE EMPLOYEE RETENTION - positive effects on dispositions - less stress.
- HEALTHIER AIR - lower VOC, provides increased oxygen
- IMPROVED CORPORATE IMAGE - Enhance perception, lively and cheaper way of decorating
- REDUCED STRESS AND DISTRACTIONS - reduce office noise
- REDUCE SICK LEAVE EXPENSES - studies show pollutants(micro-organisms, toxins) up to 10 times more in areas without plants. 50-60% fewer airborne moulds and bacterias with plants present.
- BOOST COMFORT LEVELS & REDUCE O&M COSTS - Maintains comfortable humidity level -60%, comfortable environment more conducive to productivity
- CONTRIBUTE TO A POSITIVE IMAGE - Indoor foliage is perceived as looking expensive, more welcoming and relaxed
- ADDS COLOUR - visual exposure to greenery reduces recovery from stress, and vibrant colours give off the feelings of cheerfulness and uplifting vibes and reduce sleepiness and fatigue
Therefore the benefits of plants in the workplace far outweigh the costs associated with maintaining them.
Interior Design
Indoor plants can be used to decorate any room in any location provided there is a glimmer of natural light. The plant is a matter of choice but there are those which complement a contemporary scheme and some that may suit a more traditional style. It is common to have a mix of plants for the following reasons:
- Some plants look stunning when 1-2 placed singly along a plain wall.eg Cordyline,Draceanas. Or when arranged in mixed groups-Ferns,Crotons,Syngoniums
- Many micro environments, must select best suited plant for area
- Some areas get full sun and some shade, always check plant labels for guidelines
- Some are near air conditioning and some external doors, don’t put near radiators or cold drafts
- Some will fit wide foliage and some require tall and narrow, be aware of growth rates. Eg Spathiphylum is a great entrance showpiece
- Can be used to suit design, in trendy ceramic, tin or plastic pots eg. Cyclamens, Caladiums, in classy terracotta eg. Spathiphylum,Philodendrons, in clay containers eg Ficus, Diefenbachias, decorative type pots, or hangers to fill those corners or empty areas on the patio eg ferns,syngoniums,pothos,windowleaf
- Remember to pick the plant to suit the pot type and the feature which you desire
Life Indoors - Selected Varieties
At Pohlmans with so many varieties available in a range of colours and sizes there is a plant for every situation and environment. From a range of sizes 100ml, 130ml for further potting up or multi-planting, 200ml slimlines as feature plants, 200ml Hangers for those cascading and hanging varieties-vertical aspects, and 220ml square designer pots to fill in larger area with advanced foliage.
The following varieties will be provided for their different aspects:
- Feature/Centrepiece - Spathiphylums, Ficus, Cordylines
- Hangers - spillers, vertical growing - Pothos, Syngoniums, Window Leaf
- Fillers - Syngoniums, Diefenbachias, Ferns
- Trendy/Vibrant - Caladium, Calatheas, Anthuriums, Giant Coleus
Life Indoors - Range Focus
- Coleus Kong An exciting and vibrant coleus range with extremely large leaves. Unique patterns on a well branched plant habit. May be used indoors, large containers or a great landscape filler in a fully shaded area. Height 45-55cm. Colours include Green, Red, Mosiac, Scalet and Rose.
- Coleus StarThis is a stand alone colour with its attractive red velvet to mauve inner vein colouring surrounded by a bright yellow outer leaf suface. Very trendy appearance with its very bright eye-catching colours making it a standout amongst any combination plantings or as a stand alone in a feature pot. Grows up tp 65 cm on a very upright and vigourous bush. Requires full shade.
- Caladium SeriesThis relatively new series boasts luxurious tones of vibrant pink, green, white, burgendy and red amonst dazzling coloured veins on arrow shaped leaves in a range of different sized foliage. From massive coloured leaves in 180ml to squat habits and tiny cute leaved varieties this offers plenty of colour to any indoor setting. Can be grown outdoors but performs well with filtered light indoors (especially if cool outside). Most range between the 30-60 cm range.
- Ficus elasticasNow the common Burgundy Rubber Tree has some colourful relatives. Now available in exciting contrasting colours with the same wide glossy leaf features. Includes a yellow, red and creamy/pink coloured margin versions. These are ideal as centre pieces in any interior scaping or landscaping and can grow to ceiling height 12-15ft. As vigorous as these are they are surprisingly drought tolerant and can stand little to no light up to semi shade.
- Calatheas Not only is this one of the better cleansing plants but they come in various lovely leaf shapes and patterns amongst an array of bright interveinal colours and pale green to purple undersides. With an assortment of habits and colours ideal for a gift plant kept in medium light but not direct sunlight. Needs only a moderate watering regime.
- Cordylines This plant is back in fashion, this time in bright and vibrant colours. From fluorescent reds, pinks and purples to sunny yellows and oranges these old but new again varieties will liven up any dull grey areas around your living or working areas.
