Friday, October 3, 2008

House Plant Success - Research Your Plant Choices Well

By Keith Markensen

The natural benefits of plants in an office or home are many. They provide a great decorative touch to those lonely stretches of unpopulated floor, table or desk space, they improve the air quality of the room, and have a naturally uplifting presence that calms and soothes those who look upon them.

These are but a few of the reasons why every home and office space should be outfitted with any number of plants. Yet before you go turning your home into a leafy, jungle paradise that oozes atmosphere you should observe the following pointers and tips on some of the plant varieties you may feel inclined to add to your abode.

Firstly, as beautiful and innocent as most plants appear, many have an unknown danger lurking in the tips of its leafy tendrils that can potentially be very dangerous or even deadly to both animals and children. Some plants when consumed or even touched can cause severe illness. One of most popular poisonous plants is ivy, with philodendron another popular choice that is potentially harmful.

Any household that includes children and/or pets either living there or visiting even infrequently needs to have its plant life chosen with care. Researching beforehand the potential dangers a plant may hold, the symptoms they are likely to cause upon consumption, and the quickest and most effective remedy should that occur are all vital. Maintaining constant supervision over children and pets in areas where these plants exist is important, though ensuring they're out of reach is even more so.

Kids are ingenious though, and if that pretty plant catches their eye, you can be sure they'll devise a clever way to reach it and take a closer look, so don't let your guard down even when you feel a plant is out of their reach.

Aside from the potential dangers of plants, when choosing any plant for your home it's important to identify which area of the house that plant will reside, and the amount of sunlight it is likely to receive there. Hiding a plant that requires plenty of sunlight in a dark corner will ensure it does develop well, though you can remedy this by moving it into a sunny spot for at least a few hours each day. Putting your indoor plants outdoors for a few hours on nice days is a great way for them to get sunlight and air.

Another factor that can influence plant growth is the temperature of the room or area it's located in. Some plants thrive in warmer climates, while others may require cooler temperatures. Most need a nice moderate environment though, so if you stick it in a cool basement, or a stifling room in the summer, they may not grow as desired.

As a general rule of house plant care flowering plants will require more sunlight to feed their growth than other types of plants. Tropical plants will do better in an environment with moist air, while cacti will thrive in the areas with dry air, those resilient plants should be able to survive even in conditions not ideally suited to them. - 15266

About the Author: