You Don't Need a Green Thumb

Even I have managed to keep some of my plants alive, much to my surprise. Green and flowering live plants not only add beauty to any home or office, they also are good for your health. That's because common house plants are powerful, natural air purifiers. This is a fact determined by the National Aeronatutics and Space Administration (NASA) after a study they did. A good reason to keep your plants healthy by giving them proper care.

You can get guidelines on green house plants and how to keep them thriving from The Society of American Florists.  Care instructions often come with the plants which you purchase from a nursery or florist.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

We would all agree than natural sunlight is best, but some plants can also thrive in office fluorescent light. I've discussed lighting at length on another page in this newsletter, so I'm not going to go into it here. Suffice it to say, flowering plants need a lot of light; foliage plants can do with less light.

Keep the Soil Moist

Try not to let your plants dry out completely or wilt. But be careful not to overwater them. Finding that balance can be tricky. Don't allow plants to stand in water and avoid wetting the plant leaves if you can.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

65 - 72 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for most plants. You don't want them to dehydrate, so avoid hot points, vents, furnaces, electrical equipment, incandescent lights.