Tropicana Jul-Aug 2018 #119 Hot Stuff

THE HOME
your best efforts. Moreover, replacing a
plant repeatedly can add up financially.
It helps to understand that not all plants
are suited to living indoors. Indoor plants are
generally those that are able to grow in low
light conditions or away from direct sunlight.
With apps like PlantSnap, you can identify
a plant and with some research determine
what kind of care is needed. This applies to
watering and feeding the plant. It is possible
to over- or under-water a plant, and like us
plants require sustenance. Soil also needs
to be aerated and fortified with nutrients
particularly when depleted. This can happen
if a plant has been in a pot for a long time. A
prescribed amount of fertiliser or composting
is usually the answer. A certain amount of
experimentation may be also required to find
the perfect spot for a plant – one that works
for both plant and homeowner.
PLANTS FOR DUMMIES
Sadly not all of us are gifted with green
fingers, and sometimes the amount of
effort we put in is conversely related to the
outcome. Fortunately,
there are some plants that
are next to foolproof.
The go-to plant for
any novice, succulents are
small, self-sufficient and
aren’t going out of style
anytime soon. They require
little water and work best
by a window for heat and
light. They also come in a
variety of colours, shapes
and textures, making them
brilliant architectural
plants that can be
displayed as a collection
or, like the burro’s tail
or lamb’s tail, fly solo
by a window.
Virtually indestructible,
the snake plant, or motherin
law’s tongue (Sansevieria
trifasciata) as it is also
cheekily known, looks
fantastic and cohabitates
best with jet-setting parents
who are only occasionally
around to water it. Besides
its amazing ability to clean
up the surrounding air,
unlike most plants it also
produces oxygen at
night making it ideal for
the bedroom.
Conversely you will also need to consider
the compatibility of your plant with your other
roommates or family members. Some plants
are toxic to pets and children when eaten and
can cause anything from a belly ache to acute
poisoning and even death. So choose wisely or
consider placing these well out of the way
of curious kids and climbing cats.
Finally, one final piece of advice when
purchasing plants. Buy from a reputable
nursery or swap plants with green-fingered
friends. You should avoid purchasing plants
from a roadside seller that also flogs birds’
nests, as these are usually harvested from
the jungle and do not survive well outside
of it. Additionally, removing these plants
can degrade its natural ecosystem.
When deciding on which plant to take
home out of many similar ones, check its
health. It is possible to inherit a sickly
plant so watch out for mealybugs – these
appear as fluffy white clumps along stalks
– and spider mites, which appear as a thin
white web underneath leaves. Good luck
and green speed.
CLEAN AIR MOVEMENT
During the hot and dry season when the
effects of open burning on a large scale are
felt and haze begins to engulf the country,
expensive air purifiers sell themselves.
However, there’s a cheaper and more natural
way of cleaning the air of harmful pollutants
– plants. The NASA Clean Air Study revealed
plants with these special abilities and
recommends at least one of these plants
per 100 square feet of space to rid the air of
toxic elements effectively.
Removes benzene, formaldehyde,
trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene
and ammonia
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’)
Removes benzene, formaldehyde,
trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Florist’s chrysanthemum
(Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
* Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Variegated snake plant
(Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’)
Removes benzene, formaldehyde,
xylene and toluene
Devil’s ivy/pothos plant (Epipremnum aureum)
Removes formaldehyde, xylene,
toluene and ammonia
Flamingo lily (Anthurium andraeanum)
Removes formaldeyde, xylene and toluene
* Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
* Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens)
* Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata
“Bostoniensis”)
* Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
* Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
Removes benzene, formaldehyde and
trichloroethylene
* Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Corn stalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans
‘Massangeana’)
Removes xylene and toluene
Dendrobium orchids (Dendrobium spp.)
Dumb canes (Dieffenbachia spp.)
King of hearts (Homalomena wallisii)
* Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)
Removes benzene, formaldehyde and
trichloroethylene
Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis
“Janet Craig”)
Warneckei (Dracaena deremensis
“Warneckei”)
Removes benzene and formaldehyde
Aloe vera (Aloe vera)
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
Removes formaldehyde
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
* Banana (Musa oriana)
Heartleaf philodendron
(Philodendron cordatum)
Selloum philodendron
(Philodendron bipinnatifidum)
Elephant ear philodendron
(Philodendron domesticum)
* Denotes that the plant is non-toxic and safe
around dogs, cats and young children.
37 JULY/AUGUST 2018 | TM