The Plant Indoors
By Andrea Peck
Let's just say this: houseplants aren't what they used to be.
I had a neighbor back in 1975. I was seven. She was probably in her twenties. She had one son whose existence I cannot recall. But, I do remember visiting her house one time and I don't think I'll ever forget it. The mid-70's, as the oldsters call them, were an interesting era full of random craziness and iconic coolness. I remember that neighbor as being long and thin and brown. Her hair was the same. She had particularly long ankles and feet. I'm not sure if she owned shoes – I think she preferred running around on her own blackened soles. She was uber-calm, expressionless, maybe dazed. She was all macramé and denim - a hippy through and through, just not the sunshiny, happy type who brings back fond memories. Even at seven I looked upon her warily.
Though we lived on that street for over a year, we did not visit often. In fact, I only remember passing into the dark interior once. The home had impressive wall-to-ceiling brown-splotched mirrors and unfinished, splintery wood on the ceilings. She and my mom talked briefly about something that may have been urgent. At that age I was all ears, but you know, when you catch sight of a pothos plant that walks the walls, it's difficult to keep track of conversation. She had lots of ferns and dense overgrowth, but it was that trailing, ratty-in-spots pothos that lodged itself in my memory. It seemed to crawl right by and whisper in an unfiltered, smoldering voice, “houseplant.”
It made a lifelong impression. Burdened with descriptions like “traditional” and “backbone of indoor plants,” the pathos is the quintessential indoor plant. It does its job well, growing, using little water and cleaning the air, but it's a bit uninspired isn't it?
Though indoor plants have been around for centuries, the 1970's began a boon that is a now a multi-billion dollar industry. Many misconceptions have followed the indoor plant – including the idea that indoor plants “suck” the oxygen from the environment. While it is true that plants use oxygen, the amount per plant is minor. Allergies related to pollen have been another concern, yet the actuality of these causing significant problems is unlikely. On the other hand, numerous studies have shown a positive correlation between indoor plants and sense of well-being, increased productivity and attention span. NASA is well known for its extensive studies on plants; their findings show that many indoor plants filter potentially noxious gases and impurities from the air. During my internet reading, I found this list:
TOP 10 Plants most effective in removing: Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Carbon Monoxide from the air:
Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea Seifritzii)
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema Modestum)
English Ivy (Hedera Helix)
Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii)
Janet Craig (Janet Craig Dracaena)
Dracaena Marginata (Dracaena Marginata)
Mass cane/Corn Plant (Dracaena Massangeana)
Mother-in-Law's Tongue (Sansevieria Laurentii)
Pot Mum (Chrysantheium morifolium)
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa")
Warneckii (Dracaena "Warneckii" )
But, let's face it: That's not all there is. In fact, the indoor plant business has moved from a predictable assortment of 50 shades of green to a large repertoire that includes almost all plant species. It gets down to this: if your home environment will support it, it will live. There are a multitude of books out there at the moment just ready to inspire you to “grow it inside.” From citrus trees to succulents, from flowers to vines, from cacti to water gardens, the world is your oyster - just as long as you can supply the plant with the correct water, light, temperature and nutrients.
Two books worth pondering:
The Unexpected Houseplant by Tovah Martin
Tabletop Gardens by Rosemary McCreary