~ gardening tips and classes~
Houseplants: Let’s Just Clear the Air
I have to admit that I have a hard time coming up with nice things to say about winter. I can think of one: the cold weather encourages us to spend time indoors with our friends, co-workers, and families. And being forced to snuggle up with my dogs and a seed catalog on my day off is absolutely a good thing.
There is a down side to spending so much time indoors. Some refer to it as “Sick Building Syndrome.” Our homes and offices are virtually sealed off from the outside environment. Inevitably there are trapped pollutants, and we pass colds and germs back and forth. Solution? It’s simple, HOUSEPLANTS. Many moons ago, NASA scientists researched various ways to create suitable space station habitats. What they discovered is that all indoor plants, flowering or not, are able to purify indoor air to some degree through their normal photosynthesis. Some are more beneficial than others in removing household toxins. Studies show that houseplants can be responsible for REMOVING 90% OF CHEMICALS IN THE AIR IN ONLY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS! So buying a few houseplants to clean and filter the air naturally and inexpensively is a no-brainer. I haven’t even touched on the aesthetic compensation.
Call the shop if you have questions about your houseplants.September 2015
Overwintering your plants
Bougainvillea, jasmine, mandevilla, banana, agapanthus, gardenia, hibiscus. If you grew a few tropical plants in your garden this summer and want to try your hand at keeping them alive indoors until next spring, you have three options:
- Keep the plant in active growth in a warm, sunny place (like a sun-room or heated greenhouse). Cut the plant back to 1/3 it’s size.
- Take cuttings and allow the “mother” plant to die. Root the cuttings and pot them up so you have new plants in the spring.
- Allow the plant to go dormant and keep it in a cool, dark place until spring.
Rose of Sharon at Blossom Hill
101 Pleasant Street
Dunstable, MA 01827
telephone:
978-649-7559
978-264-4675
Regular hours
monday - friday
9am - 5pm
saturday
9am-2pm
Visit our well-lit, open-air market!
payment is on the honor system for cash/check
or call the shop with credit card or Venmo