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House Plants - Branch out with your decorating!

They were big in the 70's, yet somehow fell foul to fake alternatives in the 80's, but now house plants are making a comeback! And for good reason...

House plants are a great way to add interest in decorating your room or help soften and break up your space. They also have a calming effect and help to purify the air in your home.

In 1989 NASA published the 'Clean Air Study' which suggested that certain indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing toxic chemicals from the air including benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, all of which are as terrible for your health as they sound. 

You may be thinking "the idea of house plants sounds great, but the only thing I've been able to grow are the 12-month-old potatoes sprouting at the back of my pantry" Luckily, Dellis Furniture have spoken to plant enthusiast Sam Cat, who has advised us which of the plants NASA recommends are readily available and nearly impossible to kill.

Mother-In-Law's Tongue

Mother In Law's Tongue

Sansevieria trifasciata, image source

Spider Plant

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum, image source

Rubber Plant

Rubber Plant

Ficus elastica, image source

Dracaena

Dracaena

Dracaena marginata, image source

Devil's Ivy (Note: Keep this plant out of reach of children and pets)

Devil's Ivy

Epipremnum aureum, image source

Not on the list, but definitely worth adding to your collection are:

Birds Nest Fern

Bird's Nest Fern

Asplenium, image source

Rhipsalis

Rhipsalis

Rhipsalis, image source

 

Caring Tips

Sam Cat also has some tips for how to care for your indoor plants so that they flourish for years to come. 

Don't over water

"This is one of the most common mistakes plant newbies make. One way to tell if your plant needs water is to stick your finger in the soil; if it's still moist don't water it."

Let there be light

"It may seem like common sense to most, but If you keep your plants in a dark room or never open your curtains they will not survive."

Keep them clean, keep them keen

"Try to make a weekly habit of wiping dust and hair from the leaves of your plants, they will thank you for it. This also provides an opportunity to check for pests and disease, if you have any concerns about the health of your plants try the Yates website, they have a great live chat feature."

Plants need food too

"Once a year, use a fertiliser such as Osmocote Contolled Release - All Purpose, it gives your plants the nutrients they need to stay healthy. If your plants are looking a little droopy try watering them with a product such as Seasol to pep them up, but make sure you do it outside as it has an unpleasant odour when wet."

 

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