And a HUGE Congratulations
to Katie for receiving the first ever Emergent Communicator award. Well
deserved! And congratulations to Garden Writersfor a hugely successful event!
Here's to many more!
National Indoor Plant Week is just around the corner - and New researchfrom 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.
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.
It’s back-to-school time -- that means learning new things and brushing up on what you already know. What better subject to get a refresher on than nature? From classrooms to dorm rooms,houseplants bring the beauty of nature indoors and brighten any space.
Justin Hancock, garden expert from Costa Farms, says plants are perfect companions for students.
Hancock shares his Houseplants 101 lessons for indoor gardening success
Perennials are a great investment and the foundation of an attractive, long-lasting landscape. Year after year, these plants come back adding bold color and texture to the yard. Celebrate Perennial Gardening Month this June by planting these beauties in the heart of your garden.
With this in mind, Costa Farms’ has introduced a new free email course on perennial gardening hosted by gardening guruJustin Hancock.
In just four emails, Costa Farms’ gives gardeners the knowledge they need to becomeperennial gardeningpros — from planning and designing tips to information on selecting long-living plants and caring for them.
Their free "Grow a Perfect Perennial Garden" eCourse is easy to navigate and filled with expert advice to help gardeners create perennial gardens that fit their lifestyle and needs.
Get started with these four simple tips from the new eCourse’s lesson on “How to Select the Perfect Perennials for Your Yard."
Mother Nature isn’t the only mom that loves the garden.
Mothers everywhere love pretty things that grow – flowers, plants, fruits and
vegetables.
Celebrate these women
with more than just a bouquet of flowers. Give mom, or any special lady in your
life, an unexpected gift with these five garden-themed options.
We all know it - teachers are truly unsung heroes. They work tirelessly to
make sure that their students are inspired by new ideas every day. A teacher’s
impact extends far beyond the classroom and often across lifetimes. These
educators support their students and inspire them through their everyday work.
Say thanks by gifting a beautiful houseplant from Costa Farms
in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday, May 3. Live houseplants
are a wonderful addition to any classroom or office — they’re decorative, boost
well-being and purify indoor air.
Every day, teachers challenge students to learn, to explore and to grow. Reward the teachers in your life with a stunning houseplant — the gift that keeps on growing — to show gratitude.
We love nothing more than a beautiful container overflowing with colorful plants. It serves as the perfect decor for porches, patios and balconies. Costa Farms makes coordinating plants for containers simple and fun.
The new “Grow Gorgeous Container Gardens”ebook from Costa Farmscovers all of the basics. It helps gardeners and outdoor decorators learn how to choose, plant and care for potted gardens for every season.
Celebrate Houseplant Appreciation Day with Costa Farms on January
10th by recognizing 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,” says Justin Hancock, garden expert at Costa Farms. “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.”
First introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first Ambassador from the United States to Mexico, the poinsettia has played a starring role in Christmas celebrations ever since.
The poinsettia's main attraction is not its flowers, but its leaves. The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center. The colored leafy parts are actually bracts or modified leaves that turn color when the plant flowers. When buying a poinsettia, make sure it has buds, preferably not yet open.
Add a supernatural touch to your Halloween festivities. Decorate this season with spooky indoor plants that have creepy names, devilish shapes and weird colors. While everything else this season goes bump in the night, these ‘living decorations’ add a fun, eerie twist to traditional Halloween décor. These spooky plants all have great names and fun stories that give children, party guests and trick-or- treaters something fun to talk about. Plus they are easy to grow year round.
African Mask. The dark, shield-shaped foliage of an African Mask is an eerie addition to any Halloween table. Also called Alocasia Poly, this plant has haunting white veins that run throughout its giant leaves. It's perfect for brightly lit, high-humidity areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Devil’s Backbone. Devil’s Backbone earned its hair-raising name because of the interesting pattern of the leaves. As the stems grow, the leaves form a zigzag pattern that looks like a spine. It’s an extremely easy-to-grow houseplant that works double duty to purify the indoor air of toxins. Devil’s backbone holds up in dry conditions and in low light. Use this devilish plant in a creepy tablescape, hang ghosts and goblins from it and use it as a houseplant or plant it outside as a perennial in frost-free climates.
Rope Plant. Rope plant, also known as Hoya carnosa, is a winding houseplant with exotic flair. The shadows made from these vines create a spell-binding look after the sun goes down. Flowers from the rope plant last up to a month.
Earth Star. Oddly marked leaves and a star-like spread make this plant the perfect out-of-this-world decoration. A low-water succulent, earth star is a cinch to grow in bright light.
Spider Plant.Like its namesake, spider plant is known to creep. The spider legs, or plantlets, trail down this easy-to-grow plant and form little “babies” at the ends. Place it in a hanging basket and decorate with a synthetic web filled with spiders (fake, of course). Make the plant look even more sinister by placing it in a creepy container on mantles, windowsills and tabletops. Although it thrives in bright light, spider plants will also tolerate low-light, too, so it will grow anywhere.
With these tips it’s easy to liven up your Halloween décor this year with fun houseplants. Miniature varieties of many spooky plants are available and would make great treats. Looking for more? Check out our Pinterest board for ideas!
Sunday, Oct.
26 marks Mother-in-Law Day, a special
day to honor the woman who gave birth to your spouse and the grandmother
of your children. This unofficial holiday offers a chance to get to know “mom” and
show her the appreciation she deserves.
“Whether
you’ve known her for years or you’re new to the family, every mother-in-law
deserves recognition and thanks,” says Katie Dubow of Garden Media Group, a public
relations firm specializing in the gardening and outdoor lifestyle industry.
Before
choosing a gift, think about her interests and hobbies. Everyone loves a present
that shows some thoughtfulness.
Not sure
what her interests are? Surprise her with one of these sure-to-please gardening
and houseplant ideas:
Costa Farms® Sansevieria Houseplant ($9.99-$24.99)
If “mom” doesn’t have much of a green thumb, look no
further than this durable houseplant. Coined Mother-in-Law’s
Tongue, this Plant of Steel from Costa Farms has stiff, upright
leaves rimmed in yellow or gold. Its striking appearance makes it perfect for both
modern and contemporary styles – and anyone can keep it alive.
As an added bonus, it keeps “mom” healthy by naturally
filtering the air and adding much needed moisture to a room. Visit www.costafarms.com
to learn more.
Amaryllis bulb kit, Longfield
Gardens ($16.95-$64.95)
These easy-to-grow flowers
are a great surprise for any mother-in-law.No
bulbsbloom with greater color or beauty throughout
the dark winter months than amaryllis and paperwhites.
Longfield
Gardens’ customizable gift sets, from vintage wooden wine crates
filled with amaryllis to birch wrapped containers overflowing with paper whites,
can be mixed and matched to suit “mom’s” style.
Amaryllis
bloom six to eight weeks after planting.Flowers will open wide to show off their striking coloration. Visitwww.longfield-gardens.comto
learn more.
NEW
NativeCast’s DIY Container Kit ($20) Mothers-in-law will
love this DIY planter kit, especially since it’s a project she can do with grandkids.
And with NativeCasts’
NEW Hypertufa
DIY kit, DIYers can mimic the texture, drainage and color of rock without
any of the weight or fragility. All NativeCast DIY kits come with everything
needed to cast a container that will be cherished for years to come. Everything
needed to create a tabletop hypertufa planter is included.
Visit www.nativecast.com
for more DIY shapes, décor accents or planters.
BrazelBerries® Raspberry Shortcake™
Shrub ($29.95)
The health
conscious mother-in-law will love this thornless dwarf raspberry
plant with full-size berries. The compact shape means a big garden space isn’t
required. It grows great in containers so “mom” can harvest delicious sweet
berries right from her patio. Plus, there are no thorns to get in the way.
For more details on locating an
online retailer, visit www.Brazelberries.com.
Remembering
“mom” on Mother-in-Law Day this October 26 is a sure way to keep her happy and
help you grow in her love.
Labor Day marks the end of summer and time to prepare the yard and garden for Old Man Winter.
“Spending time outside in your garden this Labor Day weekend while the
weather is nice is the perfect time to get a jumpstart on spring,” says
Suzi McCoy, president of Garden Media Group, a public relations and
marketing firm specializing in the garden industry.
Put gardens on the fast track to success this fall with these Labor Day gardening projects from Garden Media Group:
Home gardeners looking for bold, easy-care yards have a new option for landscaping—the Desert Escape collection from Costa Farms.
The new Desert Escape collection includes a variety of bold, no-fuss
cacti and succulents ideal for consumers who seek attractive,
low-maintenance landscapes. Desert Escape cacti and succulents, once established, are extremely drought tolerant and typically don’t require pruning or other maintenance.
It can be three months (or more!) from the unveiling of a moth orchid’s first flower bud to the final flower closing. But the experts at Costa Farms® have tips to make orchids last longer.
“The primary thing is to ensure the conditions are good for your plant,” says Justin Hancock, garden expert from grower Costa Farms. “If your orchid is stressed, it won’t last as long as if it was in a better setting.”
Click read more to see Hancock's tips for keeping moth orchids alive and thriving:
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.
When it comes to all things home,
Zillow Porchlight knows the best tips, tricks and ideas. 
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. 
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.
It’s back-to-school time -- that means learning new things and brushing up on what you already know. What better subject to get a refresher on than nature? From classrooms to dorm rooms,houseplants bring the beauty of nature indoors and brighten any space.
We all know it - teachers are truly unsung heroes. They work tirelessly to
make sure that their students are inspired by new ideas every day. A teacher’s
impact extends far beyond the classroom and often across lifetimes. These
educators support their students and inspire them through their everyday work. 
We love nothing more than a beautiful container overflowing with colorful plants. It serves as the perfect decor for porches, patios and balconies. Costa Farms makes coordinating plants for containers simple and fun. 
Labor Day marks the end of summer and time to prepare the yard and garden for Old Man Winter.
Home gardeners looking for bold, easy-care yards have a new option for landscaping—the Desert Escape collection from Costa Farms.
