Celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day with Costa Farms

Houseplant Appreciation Day is January 10th. Costa Farms recognizes all of the amazing benefits houseplants provide. They’re decorative, boost well-being and purify indoor air.

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to show your houseplants a little TLC. Thank a plant today for bringing beauty into your home and office, making you feel good and naturally cleansing the very air you breathe inside.

Here are 5 simple tips to celebrate the day:
 
1. Recognize Green Heroes
Many houseplants clean the air every minute of the day. They absorb up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that hide in ordinary household products such as paints, carpets and ink. Studies from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have found that levels of indoor air pollution can be two to five times higher — and in some cases 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. Some of the best houseplants to absorb indoor toxins include peace lilies, orchids and ferns.

2. Decorate Your Home or Office
A houseplant instantly transforms any room. Care for the same plants every month or mix it up for special occasions such as anthuriums for Valentine’s Day, orchids for Mother’s Day or Devil’s Backbone for Halloween. Change up your pots to match the season or holiday.

Houseplants give new life to a room when placed in colorful pots and made into a focal point. Make an impact by topping a table with a vintage tablecloth and houseplant. The bright green leaves of an indoor plant make a gorgeous complement to white walls or boring offices. Plants can also add height and texture.

3. Connect with nature
Bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors with a houseplant. According to the EPA, most people spend 90 percent of their time indoors; a houseplant is the perfect way to be reminded of the beauty the world has to offer.

4. Find the right houseplant
Some houseplants, like those from Costa Farms’ Plants of Steel collection, are very easy to care for. Just add water, light and nutrients from time to time to show these houseplants some love. Check the plant tag or visit costafarms.com for information about how much light a plant needs. A houseplant lets you know the spot is right by maintaining healthy leaves.

5. Start a Water Schedule
If you don’t have a schedule for watering houseplants, today’s the day to start one! If the soil is dry about an inch below the surface, add water. If the plant does not seem too dry, check it again in a few days. Be sure not to overwater: It’s the number one reason houseplants die.

To find the best houseplant for your home or office and how to care for it, visit http://www.costafarms.com.

About Costa Farms
Costa Farms is the largest producer of indoor house plants in the world. Founded in 1961 by Jose Costa, Costa Farms is a third-generation, family-owned business that globally stretches over 4,200 acres and employs approximately 3,400 people. Along with thriving indoor houseplant, annual, and perennial plant divisions, Costa Farms operates merchandising and transportation companies as part of its infrastructure, with operations domestically in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and abroad in the Dominican Republic and Far East. 

3 Free Apps To Help You Enhance Your Garden Skills

Guest post by Wendy Dessler

They say that some people are just born with a green thumb. These are folks who can grow anything, anywhere. Then there are the rest of us.

If you want to have a beautiful flower garden, plant fall veggies, or grow an herb garden, you can. The following apps make it easy. These apps will tell you what to do, or more importantly, what not to do for a successful crop.

The first thing you need is a professional supplier. The seed shop you choose is very important. You want pros that know what they are doing and seeds that are hearty. You will need to build a relationship with your seed store because you will return again and again as the seasons and the planting needs change.

They will need information in order to help you. Be ready to answer these questions.

• Do you want flowers that bloom late in the year and come back next year, or do you want plants that produce all year?
• Is your garden going to be inside or outdoors?
• How much space you have to work with.
• What plants grow well together and which will not get along?

Once you have determined where your garden will be and what materials you need to gather, you are ready to begin.

There are tons of free apps online for the new and the experienced gardeners. These apps walk you through every step, making your project fail proof. You can try them one at a time and then select the one that works the best for your life.

The top 3 apps (in my humble opinion)

Gardening Know How

This app is the mac daddy of all gardeners apps. If you need to know something, it is in there. Regardless of your gardening skill level, this app will take you from planting to harvest. Get tips on everything from soil to pests control. If you have a question, chances are, they have the answer.

Garden Squared

This free app has it all. It has step-by-step instructions on how to plant just about anything. If you don’t know what it is, the app can help you identify it. It has a place for you to add notes and it can remind you when something is going to need something. Garden Squared is available at Google Play.

Forest

You can do everything right when you plant, but if you do not care for your plants properly they will not thrive. That is where this app comes into play.

This free app help keeps you on target. It reminds you of the needs of your plants are. Luckily, plants are pretty resilient, but they still need to be cared for and this app will help. As a matter of fact, it may help with other duties too. 

So, now you are ready to start your garden. There are always answers to your questions in the groups and from planting to blooms and even how to deal with pests. Be brave, you can do this. Everything you need is at your fingertips. If you make a mistake, nature is pretty kind and you will recover.

New Study Highlights Reasons to Celebrate Indoor Plant Week with Costa Farms

National Indoor Plant Week is just around the corner - and New research from the State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego) gives us more of a reason to celebrate on September 18. 

Research shows how effectively houseplants remove multiple toxins, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that contribute to the buildup of indoor air pollution.

Five Fab Reasons to Grow House Plants for National Indoor Plant Week

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.

GMG's Friday Find: Tips to Protect Plants In a Cold Snap

Photo Credit: examiner.com

The extreme cold temperatures of this winter have some people wondering how to care for their outside and inside plants.  Many are finding that Jack Frost is an unwelcome visitor, especially in locales that rarely see freezing temperatures.

Why the worry?  Because frost can not only damage but kill plants.  Ice crystals form in plant cells making water unavailable to plant tissues and the movement of fluids. You can identify frost damage if you see leaves that look water-soaked, have shriveled or appear dark brown or black.

Here are some tips on how to protect your plants from succumbing to harsh, cold temperatures.