Houseplants

Orange County Plant Service Company goes gaga over Succulents Indoors!

So, everyone knows that succulents are the new ‘it plant’. You see them popping up in front yards everywhere you look. They are a wonderful choice in Southern California and Orange County from the inland desert areas to coastal regions. They are drought tolerant, have interesting textures and shapes, and magnificent colors year-round! I am a definite proponent of the

Pencil Cactus as Art!

succulent movement! Plus, you pretty much just pop them into the ground, avoid over-watering and Voila, a garden transformation is made!

All that sounds fun and easy, because it is, but running a primarily

Pencil Cactus

Interior Plant Design and Maintenance Company we have not always been so successful with succulents when growing indoors with mostly low light. For as easy as they grow in the exterior, in the interior they do the complete opposite and become bug infested, rotten and leggy overnight. But the artist inside of me wouldn’t give up and I have become determined to grow succulents indoors! Through a lot of trial and decease, I have had a few breakthrough plants I would love to share with you.

Snake Plant

Succulents come in so many interesting shapes and forms, they add to a space, just like a beautiful piece of art enlivens a room. My all time favorite Succulent Indoors would have to be the Pencil Cactus, Euphorbia tirucalli. This plant has proven to me that it can handle lower light while keeping its gorgeous architectural form. It will always need some natural light, but I’ve really tested this plant and as long as you don’t over water, it can be put in a medium light room with ease.

ZZ Plant

Two stand out plants, more common in the interior world, but definitely worth a mention for their versatility and hardiness. First, is Sansevieria ‘Snake Plant’ (comes in a lot of different varieties, some growing only 6 inches, others as tall as 4 feet). Second, is the Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘ZZ Plant. Both of these plants can be used in a modern design and take very little care. The big bonus to these succulents are they can take medium to low light!

Aloe

So, the key to finding succulents that will grow and thrive indoors is to find plants that grow SLOW! I’m still continuing to experiment, but I have had good luck with Aloe varieties, Haworthia varieties, Agaves, Euphorbias and Kalanchoe ‘Flap Jack’.

And if you just have a brown thumb, you can always resort to replica succulents! I’m not shy to use these in low light situations

Haworthia species on left with Replica Succulents on right

and they look great when combined with living plants!

If you’ve had luck with growing succulents indoors please leave me a comment and tell me what you’re growing! Let’s share the knowledge and continue to grow together!

If you can’t get enough, click here for a few more awesome succulents in your home!

Benefits of Interior Plants in your Home and Office

When you decide to add plants to your home or office you are not just adding beautiful greenery. These living organisms interact with your body, mind and home in ways that enhance your quality of life!

A Natural Air Filter

Plants are proven to remove toxins from air – up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every 24 hours, according to NASA research. VOCs include substances like formaldehyde (present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette smoke and grocery bags), benzene and trichloroethylene (both found in man-made fibers, inks, solvents and paint). Benzene is commonly found in books and printed papers abound.

We are Less Stressed and More Productive Around Plants

Plants significantly lower workplace stress and enhance worker productivity. In a research study common interior plants were used in a computer laboratory with 27 computer workstations. A computer program to test productivity and induce stress was specifically designed for these experiments. Participants working in an environment with plants present were 12 percent more productive and less stressed than those who worked in an environment without plants.

Plants Reduce Sick Leave!

In another study by the Agricultural University of Norway, sickness rates fell by more than 60 percent in offices with plants.

The Dutch Product Board for Horticulture commissioned a workplace study that discovered that adding plants to office settings decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats and flu-like symptoms.

Other Benefits of Interior Plants

Increased positive feelings and reduced feelings of anxiety, anger and sadness.
Reduction of sound levels
Reduction of stress levels
Control of humidity to the within the optimum levels for human health
Cooling effect
Absorption of carbon dioxide and emission of oxygen refreshing the air
Improved concentration levels leading to improved productivity particularly with those working with computers
Reduction of absenteeism in the workplace
Faster recovery from mental tiredness
Interiors feel spacious, looked after and clean
People prefer to occupy rooms that contain plants
Improved image – interiors are perceived as “more expensive”
Increase in creativity

Conclusion: Love your environments!

Our need for nature was identified by the American biologist, Edward O Wilson, who developed a hypothesis called Biophilia, which he defined as “the innate affiliation people seek with other organisms and especially the natural world.”

Wilson’s research shows that, when given freedom to choose the characteristics of their ideal environment, people gravitate towards a location that combines three major features: positioned at height, overlooking the landscape, and being close to open water. Effectively, what has been described is the landscape of our distant ancestors from the African plains, and that is the sort of landscape where we instinctively feel at home and safe: Humanity’s natural habitat. So, by incorporating interior plants into your home or office it should be possible to make significant improvements to employee and human well-being.

For more information and facts go to: http://www.greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org