Published: December 06, 2006 10:49 am      

Get Houseplants and Get Happy

Houseplants look great and can make you feel great, too. Stacks of research support claims that indoor plants can have a calming effect, reduce headaches, boost learning, improve productivity and even help us recover more quickly from illness.

You may recall learning in elementary school science (hopefully you were listening that day) that plants clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Houseplants also rid the air of common indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde - byproducts of the slow molecular breakdown of household items such as carpets, plastics and synthetic fibers. The humble houseplant decreases dust and noise levels, too.

Plants easily brighten a room, and they lift your spirits when you see them. Maybe this is why they are popular gifts for special occasions.

Gardeners inherently understand the benefits of plants. Even during winter months, die-hard gardeners refuse to let their green thumbs go brown. They extend their gardening pleasure by tending to indoor plants. You don't have to be an experienced gardener to take care of houseplants, though. Anyone can care for them.

Some of the most popular low-maintenance houseplants include Mother-in-Law's Tongue (sanservieria trifasciatia), Spider plant (chlorophytum comosum), Prayer plant (maranta leuconeura), African violet (saintpaulia), rubber tree (ficus elastica decora) and cactus.

Even though the above mentioned plants are easy-to-care-for, do not be deceived. Houses are not natural environments for plants. You must water and feed them regularly.

Thanks to new Jobe's Drip Feeders, nourishing houseplants is easier than ever. The self-feeding bottles are filled with liquid fertilizer, specially formulated for flowering plants or foliage plants. There is also a formula for poinsettias and Christmas cacti.

All you have to do to use them is twist off the cap and stick the neck of the bottle into the soil. Jobe's Drip Feeders release nutrients into the soil for an average of 15 days. They sell for a suggested retail price of $1.29 per feeder or $5.99 for a five-pack and can be found at retail stores and local garden centers.

So go ahead, run out and purchase some botanical friends (and don't forget the fertilizer) to brighten up your home or work space. They'll work hard and you'll breathe easier.