Yucca, with their clean, sharp edges, and simple look offer a trendy, modern appeal to decor.
The fact that it is a very low maintenance
plant and can be grown in almost all parts of the United States, give it an
added appeal to beginner gardeners.
For potential consumers who garden
primarily for the healthy lifestyle, the plant offers a wide variety of
homeopathic and household uses.
Learn four reasons why you should grow yucca today.
Every time you buy a new carpet, fabrics, or other furnishings for
your home, you might not be aware that you’re bringing some of manufacturing chemicals into your house. These chemicals contribute to the air
pollution inside your home.
Though you might not smell them, volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) likely exist. These compounds easily become gases your
family inhales each and every day, and they’re harmful to your health. Costa Farms O2 For You, Houseplants with a Purpose collection, lets you bring home earth’s natural air purifiers for health and well being for May's Clean Air month.
Since
May is clean air month, here are effective tips for improving the air
quality in your home.
Houseplants are almost magical when it comes to indoor décor: They work
with just about every theme and style, from modern contemporary to casual and
cottagey. And they instantly make any space more comfy and cozy. But
houseplants are more than just good-looking home décor.
Generations of people have enjoyed the beauty of plants in their indoor spaces. Here are some reasons to celebrate during the third week in September.
Plants are more than just pretty faces. Did you know that indoor plants can remove toxins from your indoor space and help you concentrate better? There are lots of benefits of indoor plants, and here's how a few super heroes can change your life.
O2 for You Anthurium from Costa Farms
Reduce Stress - Stay calm, carry on, buy a plant. People who keep flowering houseplants in their home feel happier, more relaxed and less stressed. According to an article in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, flowering plants add positive energy which reduces stress-related depression.
Improve Indoor Air - The EPA found that the air in your home may be more polluted than outdoor air. Strategic placement of plants in your living and working space improves your indoor air quality, scrubbing out toxins. Having at least one plant for every 100 square feet provides maximum air-cleaning benefits, from allergy symptom relief to enhanced mood and concentration.
Heal Faster - A flowering plant is often the gift of choice for someone ill or in the hospital, and there's science behind the reason why. Just the presence of a flowering plant in a hospital recovery room speeds the healing process. If you want to help in someone's recovery, bag the cut flowers that don't last long and choose a Peace Lily for long-lasting benefits.
Become More Empathetic - An article from the University of Texas indicates that people who buy and care for plants are more likely to care for their fellow human beings. A ZZ plant is easy to fall in love with and pass the love along.
Neon Pathos-Costa Farms
Enhance Learning - Looking for a way to help your kids get better grades? There are cognitive benefits from being around plants, helping focus and concentration which in turn improves learning capabilities. Easy care pothos is a plant that gets an "A" and enlisting plant care with your children helps them learn how fun and easy it can be. For the workplace, a red aglaonema on your own desk will help increase concentration up to 20% for the tasks at hand.
Orchid-Costa Farms
Create a Spa-like Experience - It's no accident that spas use plants to create a restful and calming experience. Add plants to your shower or bath to amp up the restful ambiance, along with a few candles and low lighting, and you've created an environment that helps you relax, unwind, and smile. Orchids are a perfect fit as they love humidity and will provide you with that 'ahhhhh' factor of beauty and restfulness.
Dracaena-Costa Farms
Group Therapy - If you think just one plant is good for you, imagine the benefits of several plants that will help clean your air and provide a sense of well-being, whether at home or your workplace. A combination of dracaena, peace lily and snake plant can transform your inner space into a beneficial, toxin free environment for optimal healthy living.
Costa Farms®, the largest grower of indoor houseplants in North America, suggests we create healthier, cleaner and happier indoor spaces by surrounding ourselves with these green heroes. It's an inexpensive way to improve our health and well being, and National Indoor Plant Week, September 15th - 21st, is the perfect time to get started. Watch this video to learn more about O24U and the benefits of indoor houseplants.
The benefits of houseplants is undeniable. They are natural air filters that can remove up to 87% of indoor air pollutants, and most people spend 90% of their time indoors! Plants produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Plants reduce stress, fatigue and headaches as well as lower blood pressure. Plants are as vital to our well being inside as they are to our survival outside. So why not have a little fun with indoor plants. Here is a DIY idea from the Kazahstan agency Good that does just that.
All you need is a basic pot, a houseplant, a faceprint and a clear protective pot.
The fun is combining plants with personalities for an eye-popping visual association. These planters are sure to get the attention of everyone, while at the same time cleaning your indoor air. Pot up a head, have some laughs and breath easy.
Are you joining in the national effort for cleaner, fresher indoor air in our homes, schools and workplaces? National Indoor Plant Week (September 16-22) is in full swing with several companies giving out free plants and retailers showcasing some great displays with houseplants (see images). This grassroots initiative was created to raise awareness of the value and
benefits of live indoor plants. They're more than just a pretty face; they're our "green heroes"!
During National Indoor Plant Week and throughout the month of September, look for indoor
houseplants such as peace lilies, ferns, palms and spider plants with bright ‘O2
for You’ plant tags at local retailers.
So, go out and buy yourself some fresh air for yourself and your family!
To learn more about houseplants and their benefits, visit www.o2foryou.org.
It isn't necessary to turn your house into a tropical jungle to get the most from houseplants. In fact, just a few well-placed, well-grown houseplants can contribute to a lived-in coziness to any room, whether it's filled with Victorian clutter or spare streamlined furnishings. The trick is to give the plants what they want in terms of light, water, humidity, fertilizer, and a good soil mix, and they'll perform like they were back in their native environment.
Check out this video from Costa Farms to learn the ins and outs of houseplants!
We're excited to help spread the word about National Indoor Plant Week (September 16-22), a grassroots initiative that was created to raise awareness of the value and benefits of live indoor plants.
Did you know that research indicates that certain varieties help purify interior spaces and improve productivity in offices where we spend most of our day? Studies from the US Environmental Protection Agency have found that levels of indoor air pollution can be 2-5 times higher - and in some cases 10 times more polluted than outdoor air.
This is where the indoor plants come in! These green heroes, as we like to call them, provide truly amazing benefits. Working 24/7, certain plants absorb almost all volatile organic compounds (VOC's) in indoor air. These VOC's are common chemicals like ammonia, formaldehyde and benzene found in many products around your home and office, like carpets, printer ink, tobacco smoke and cleaning products.
During National Indoor Plant Week and through the month of September, look for varieties such as peace lilies, palms, ferns and spider plants, with 'O2 for You' plant tags at your local retailer. These are the hardest working plants when it comes to cleaning your air!
Please help us spread the word about the about the many benefits of indoor plants! For more information on National Plant Week visit www.nationalindoorplantweek.com). To learn more about 'O2 for You: Houseplants with a Purpose' visit www.o2foryou.org.
Thank a plant on Earth Day. Silently and always “working”, these green heroes
toil tirelessly to purify the environment, naturally cleansing the air and
providing truly amazing health benefits! They filter indoor air 24/7 to sweep it
clean from dangerous chemicals and toxins while continuously releasing fresh
oxygen in homes and offices. When selecting indoor plants, consider the plants “job”. Does it work the day
shift or night shift? Is it for the home or office? Does it work in bright light
or low light? This Plant Guide
from O2 For You
allows users to find houseplants that suit their conditions and fit their
lifestyle. According to a landmark NASA study, it is recommended that at least one or
more medium sized houseplant for every 100 square feet in the home or office
will help maximize the health benefits and freshen the air. Why Are House Plants Green Heroes? People's lives depend on technology,
but ordinary household products such as paints, tobacco smoke, printer ink and
carpets hold hidden dangers that plants can help reduce. Former NASA research scientist Dr. Bill Wolverton found plants improve air
quality through their natural “filtering” ability. He discovered houseplants can
absorb up to 87% of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), like formaldehyde and
benzene, found in many homes and offices. Houseplants work round the clock to “clean” the air! How? They absorb these
VOCs into the root zone where they’re broken down by microbes. Some of the
hardest working plants are the peace lilies, ferns and palms. Bring a Houseplant to Work Put a plant on your desk to feel happier,
enjoy better health and be more productive. The NASA study recommends office
workers should have at least one medium size plant in their “personal breathing
space” at work to effectively remove indoor pollutants. Research conducted in the Netherlands supports this, finding office workers
who had plants in their workspace out performed co-workers without plants.
Workers reported they felt better and their concentration improved with plants
on their desks, especially working at computers! Another test conducted in Norway reports that 25% fewer health problems
occur, in particular respiratory ailments, headache, and fatigue, when plants
were introduced to their workspace. Snake plants, broad sword ferns and rubber plants are among the top ten air
purifiers recommended by experts. They’re easy to grow, are natural humidifiers
and remove airborne chemicals. Other green heroes are philodendrons,
dieffenbachias and ZZ plants. Take a Heavy Night Breather to Bed Some plants actually work at night
while we sleep! These green heroes “breathe out” oxygen (O2) and absorb carbon
dioxide (CO2) at night, rather than in the daytime, when the majority of plants
do their “breathing.” Kate Santos, director of research for Costa Farms, the largest indoor houseplant
producer in North America, recommends snake plants and orchids, particularly in
the bedroom. These natural botanical air purifiers make perfect bedroom buddies
to refresh and beautify these spaces for a healthy, restful night’s sleep! “Which plant you choose, and where you place your plants is important to reap
optimum benefits,” says Santos. Santos says to consider the light, humidity, and temperature to determine the
best spot for a plant. “Put a Majesty Palm in your living room, fern in the
family room and a Peace lily in the kitchen. Add golden pothos or heart leaf
philodendron for beauty and maximum air cleansing benefits.” Look for the ‘O2 for You’ displays at Lowe’s Home Depot, and Walmart nationwide this April.
Costa Farms Social Summit held in Miami earlier this month was a huge hit. Everyone was blown away by seeing hundreds of thousands of orchids, ferns, succulents, cacti and other tropical plants in one location.
Here are what a few of our friends had to say about their visit:
Justin Hancock, BHG.com editor, pictured here in orchid heaven, had this to say: "Last week I had the pleasure of traveling to Costa Farms, one of the coolest companies in the horticultural industry."
Justin says the the Costa Farms trial gardens, which are open to the public, are "definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. "
Martha Stewart Living senior associate garden editor Stacey Hirvela (pictured here with me) wrote two blog posts. In her first post "Meet Maria Costa Smith, Stacey told us about Costa Farms' sustainable initiatives. "Maria told us about some of the things that they are doing to be a smarter, better source for plants. While they are working on addressing all of the sustainability issues I mentioned, it is the packaging that gardeners will notice most." Click here to read more and take Stacey's packaging survey.
In the second post, entitled "Sublime Reputation", Stacey talks more about the plants. "When I was down in Miami visiting Costa Farms, one of the most stunning sights was the sheer quantity and precision of their growing ranges. It's pretty unbelievable to be standing in a room with nearly three quarters of a million orchids, or 60 acres of nothing but Boston ferns." Stacey posted lots of great pictures to give you an idea of the scope of the Florida nursery.
Christopher Tidrick actually won a social media contest to attend, and we're glad he did. What a delight he is. He did a great post Plants with a Purpose, A Plantsman with Passion , calling the trip to the Costa Farms greenhouses "a visual experience so surreal, there aren't really words that can do it justice." But he found the words and really recapped everything -- from Costa Farms O2 for You educational program, to the Wall Street Journal's recent article to a wonderful profile of Mike Rimland.
Here we all are in our guayaberas, or Cuban wedding shirts for our closing dinner. What fun to be Cuban for a night!
Public relations is an oxymoron -- an uncontrolled discipline. Until you actually see something materialize either in print, on air or online, you just never know if your hard work and perserverance will pay off.
But for four Garden Media Group clients, our wonderful staff's hard work paid off big time this month: Better Homes & Gardens. The magazine has a paid circulation of some 7.6 million! That translates into about 25 million readers -- and that doesn't count all those people reading it in their doctor's office. And its online reach is more is about 2 million. WOW!!!
Costa Farms, the largest grower of indoor plants in North America, got a nice plug for its O2 for You Houseplants with a Purpose educational campaign.
And the new SimpleGarden from Fertile Earth was featured in a full page spread about gardening indoors. Looks like it might be in a few upcoming books as well.
And Campania, one of BH&G's favorite container and outdoor accessories companies in the world, another hit this year.
A big thanks to our good friends at BH&G!
And way to go to the ever persistant Stacey, Lynne and Karen.
I just took this great little quiz online at Better Homes & Gardens to see which indoor plants are best suited for my home.
After answering a few simple questions, I was told that easy-care, drought-resistance types such as snake plant, ZZ plant and ponytail palm are best for me. These plants tolerate low light well and are great picks for growing in your home or office. Just my thing, since I really need low-maintenance plants in my busy life!
If you want to see which plants work best for your environment, take the quiz here. And to learn more houseplants, check out Costa Farms and O24U.
Woo Hoo! Good Morning America!! We are so thrilled that our very own Mark Highland, the Organic Mechanic, was on GMA this morning to chat about the amazing role indoor plants play to help filter toxins and CO2 - and give back fresh air!
The segment showcased plants that help filter nasty volatile organic compounds (VOC's) emitted from tobacco, carpets, paints, printers, and common household cleaning products.
From the all-around clean-machine, the Peace lily (that cleans a broad range of toxins) to ferns and more, indoor plants are a natural solution to indoor pollution!
So cheers and hats off to Costa Farms - for their terrific 'O2 For You' public service campaign, the hard-working girls at GMG, and to Mark Highland, for a super segment that brings the message clearly home! :)
O2 for You hit Boston in a big way. Teaming up with Jane Goodale's Roots & Shoots, Costa Farms gave out 200 peace lilies to new mothers and children at Boston Medical and St. Elizabeths. Later that afternoon in Dorchester Rev. Bill Loesch organized a group of BOLD Teens to give families a gift of fresh air with the gift of a peace lily. It was a great day.
Looking for something new to grow?
Houseplants are almost magical when it comes to indoor décor: They work
with just about every theme and style, from modern contemporary to casual and
cottagey. And they instantly make any space more comfy and cozy. But
houseplants are more than just good-looking home décor.
The benefits of houseplants is undeniable. They are natural air filters that can remove up to 87% of indoor air pollutants, and most people spend 90% of their time indoors! Plants produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Plants reduce stress, fatigue and headaches as well as lower blood pressure. Plants are as vital to our well being inside as they are to our survival outside. So why not have a little fun with indoor plants. Here is a DIY idea from the Kazahstan agency Good that does just that.
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Are you joining in the national effort for cleaner, fresher indoor air in our homes, schools and workplaces? National Indoor Plant Week (September 16-22) is in full swing with several companies giving out free plants and retailers showcasing some great displays with houseplants (see images). This grassroots initiative was created to raise awareness of the value and
benefits of live indoor plants. They're more than just a pretty face; they're our "green heroes"! 
Costa Farms Social Summit held in Miami earlier this month was a huge hit. Everyone was blown away by seeing hundreds of thousands of orchids, ferns, succulents, cacti and other tropical plants in one location.
nearly three quarters of a million orchids, or 60 acres of nothing but Boston ferns." Stacey posted lots of great pictures to give you an idea of the scope of the Florida nursery.
Farms O2 for You educational program, to the Wall Street Journal's recent article to a wonderful profile of Mike Rimland. 
Public relations is an oxymoron -- an uncontrolled discipline. Until you actually see something materialize either in print, on air or online, you just never know if your hard work and perserverance will pay off.
The hot new 'Pink Lemonade' blueberry from Briggs Plant Propogators was a full page in the magazine and a great offer in the BH&G GardenStore.
I just took this great little quiz online at Better Homes & Gardens to see which indoor plants are best suited for my home.
O2 for You hit Boston in a big way. Teaming up with Jane Goodale's Roots & Shoots, Costa Farms gave out 200 peace lilies to new mothers and children at Boston Medical and St. Elizabeths.
