National Indoor Plant Week: Why Plants?

Humans have an innate connection to nature. In fact, it’s science. Biophilia is the word used to identify this relationship – that our connection to the natural world is an important part of what makes us humans. We want to take a moment and celebrate National Indoor Plant Week by exploring why having plants in our spaces speaks to our intrinsic biophilic instincts.

Throughout human history, we have continually spent more and more time indoors inside built environments. These usually consist of concrete, steel, plaster and other cold materials that are far from natural. We lack the warmth, softness and greenery that humans have lived and worked around for centuries.

Something changes in people when we reintroduce plants and greenery into our living and working spaces. Researchers in a recent study from Harvard concluded that employees in green-certified offices (spaces with plants) get a 26 percent boost in cognition and 30 percent fewer sickness-related absences. Respondents also reported a 6 percent rise in their sleep quality, perhaps due to lower stress levels.

An Exeter University study found that employees were 15 percent more productive if they were working in a ‘green’ office than peers in more spartan environments. Bringing plants into our offices can actually improve our businesses, from the bottom line to employee well-being. That’s some serious green – in more ways than one! Our Green Team sees these benefits every day and we would love to share our plants with you. Celebrate National Indoor Plant Week with us and give our greens a try. Call us today at 501-821-5770 and let our plant care professionals design the perfect biophilic space for you. You can also submit this form online for a free quote today!

As the days grow shorter, it is important to pay attention to the amount of light your indoor plants receive. Our Green Team at PLANTation Services is here to help with a quick list of our top 5 low-light-loving plants!   In order to determine a low light plant, you first have to identify what “low light” is. Light levels are measured in foot-candles, how bright the light is one foot away from the source. The average light indoors ranges from 50 fc to 500 fc, so make sure your plants can survive within this range for indoor spaces with low light.

1. English Ivy (100 – 200 fc) 

Photo courtesy of CostaFarms.com

Ivy plants bring a bit of the outdoors in with bright green, white or yellow colors. There are many varieties of ivy, but the English ivy cultivars are the most common type of ivy grown in homes. English ivy grows well in low light and cool temperatures. The solid green leaf will tolerate low light while the varieties with variegated leaves will require medium light conditions to keep their variegation. The way ivy falls along the sides of furniture gives indoor spaces a delicate and refined look.

2. Chinese Evergreens (50 – 250 fc)

Image courtesy of Pinterest.com

Chinese evergreens are a very popular houseplant because of their low-maintenance care. Moderate or low-light placement suits these plants just fine as they enjoy being in indirect sunlight. A warmer, humid environment is ideal for these indoor plants. Make sure you don’t overwater these plants or you’ll risk root rot. Keep all conditions moderate, and the Chinese evergreen will be an easy addition to your space.

3. Dracaena species (50 – 250 fc) 

Image courtesy of Pinterest.com

Sometimes called a Dragon Tree, this plant species is large and in charge. These plants do well in medium and low light. They thrive indoors with warmer temperatures and constant moisture. But if you want to keep these plants vibrantly colored, move them into brightly lit areas and watch them flourish.

4. Peace Lily (50 – 250 fc)

 

These versatile plants come in many shapes and sizes. Different types such as the ‘Power Petite’ and ‘Sweet Chico’ will stay small on a table top, but certain peace lilies in a large pot can grow up to six feet tall. They prefer indirect light, so as long as your room has a window, this plant will continue to grow. They are constantly producing bloom after bloom of beautiful, white, flag-like petals. This flexible plant would be a perfect addition to any indoor space.

5. Parlor Palm (50 – 250 fc) 

Image courtesy of Plantscape.com

The parlor palm also known as neanthe bella palm or Chamaedorea elegans, is slow-growing and low-light-loving. This palm can reach up to four feet tall and makes an elegant statement. If it is put in the lower end of its light spectrum, the parlor palm will begin to thin. Generally, this palm only needs its soil watered when it is dry to the touch. But in winter months like these, an occasional mist will keep this plant thriving. These low-light-loving plants are the picture-perfect addition to your wintertime décor.

Unsure which plant is the perfect fit? Our Green Team can help! Our indoor plant experts will design the perfect plantscape for your indoor space. Whether it is an office, a retail space, or your home, PLANTation Services can find the ideal plant and help keep them thriving all year long. Give us a call today and find out why we were voted Arkansas’ Best Interior Plant Service 13 years in a row!

BOO-tiful Plants for Halloween
Looking for a new way to decorate for Halloween? Check out these spooky looking indoor plants from PLANTation Services. We can help design the perfect indoor landscape or centerpiece to complement your Halloween décor and keep those plants healthy through All Hallow’s Eve.

Corkscrew Rush

Image courtesy of AustralianPlantsOnline.com

Electrify your Halloween décor with the corkscrew rush! This plant’s long, spiraled tendrils give off a creepy aesthetic, almost as if the plant can come to life before your eyes. The spiraling habit of the grass-like plant has the botanical name Juncus Effusus Spiralis. The corkscrew rush is a very versatile plant. It thrives equally in well-drained soil or slightly marshy areas. In fact, the corkscrew rush is an excellent plant to use in or near water features, since it flourishes in watery soil.

Spider Plants

Image courtesy of TheSpruce.com

The name alone might give you a clue as to why we chose this creepy plant for your Halloween décor. It is named for its spider-like leaves, or spiderettes, which dangle down from the root plant like spiders on a web Spider plants are adaptable houseplants but perform best in high light situations. You may encounter brown tips on the spiderettes, which are usually caused by fluoride in tap water.

Cockscomb

Image courtesy of ASPCA.com

This blood-red, brain-like flower can give your guests a spooky feeling as they walk in your door this Halloween! You might also hear it called Wool Flower or Brain Celosia. Although originally named for its resemblance to the red comb on a rooster’s head, this plant comes in cat-eye yellow, paranormal pink, ominous orange and ghostly white. They make excellent cut flowers and last a long time in a vase, yet another way they are perfect for seasonal decorating. They also dry well and can be used next year.

Alocasia

Image courtesy of www.lifri.com

These gargantuan leaves could leave you a bit startled with their size! There are many words to describe the Alocasia genus — stunning, architectural, jewel-like, skeletal — and all of them are appropriate. Native to Asia, the Alocasia is also called an Elephant Ear or African Mask Plant. Some varieties of this plant can grow as tall as a tree while others are perfect additions to color bowls for your inside décor, either way they bring quite a statement to your space!

Feeling spooked by these plants? Let PLANTation Services face your fears by designing and maintaining your indoor Halloween landscape or your entrance combo pots. Whether it’s a creative centerpiece or a statement-making design, our Green Team will help create the perfectly ghoulish look! Give us a call today!

Just like all living things, plants rely on water for survival. But before filling up that watering can, take a minute to think about the quality of the water coming out of your spout! Here are a few tips for understanding water quality and how to prevent plant illness and issues stemming from it:
   

Fluoride is a chemical added to water to prevent tooth decay; however, some indoor plants are sensitive to it. Palms, spider plants and dracaenas are just a sampling of plants that can be adversely impacted by fluoride. Although acceptable and safe for human consumption, the levels of fluoride in tap water are far too much for these plants to handle, resulting in toxicity and strong hindrance of photosynthesis and other processes.

Tap water can also contain salts for softening the water; salt is a nutrient most plants do not like. The amount of sodium that a water softener adds depends on the “hardness” of the water, or how much calcium and magnesium exists in the water. The root systems absorb the sodium and a salt accumulation builds up on the soil, creating a white crust. The absorption of the sodium in the root system creates plant injury, in turn yellowing the leaves and stems.
   

Levels of pH can also have damaging effects on indoor plants. Water pH is the measure of acidity (sourness) or alkalinity (sweetness). The mineral aluminum can be dissolved at pH levels below 5.0, creating a toxic level for plant growth. To be safe, nutrients are most available to plants at a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 range.

Simply put, using the cleanest water possible, such as rainwater or filtered water, will keep your plants on a healthy growth curve. By using PLANTation Services for your indoor plant maintenance, you can avoid water issues that could harm your plants. The Green Team at PLANTation Services makes sure your indoor landscaping stays healthy. It is no surprise our clientele vote us Arkansas Business’ Best of the Best Interior Plant Service year after year!

There’s something about glass buildings and restaurant hot spots that draws movers and shakers to the city. At PLANTation Services, we help create a more dynamic downtown experience by providing plant rentals and plant maintenance for businesses across Arkansas. Our Green Team has years of experience in using plants to completely transform lobbies, hallways and offices. Office spaces and lobbies are known for their interesting indoor plants. With plants, the sky is the limit. Whether you need a small plant to help the look of your personal office or an exotic tree to create a grand entrance, we have done it all. Just think of all the possibilities! Add Decorative Accents As potential clients or customers are waiting to speak with you, they will most likely they’ll have time to notice your lobby waiting area. You can only make a first impression once, so you want a space designed to make guests feel comfortable. Our Green Team has the resources to add important accents to your lobby. Potential clients or customers will quickly see that your business pays attention to small details. Create an Interesting Entrance There are countless possibilities when it comes to using plants to glam-up an entrance. If you’re looking for big and bold, ornate elegance or rustic charm, trees could give you the upgrade you’re looking for. Both employees and guests will appreciate the natural elegance of your entrance and what it says about the culture of your business. Fill Blank Spaces You set the stage for what your guests see when they are walking through your office. Blank walls and counters don’t add to the ambiance. A shallow bowl with an intricate display is great for a hallway table. Whether big or small, plants are a great way to add a modern flair to any office space. Just like your office, our PLANTation Services Green Team is dynamic as well. Our well-trained staff is enthusiastic about meeting your plant needs. After all decisions are final, you can leave the set up and maintenance to us. From the moment you call us to get started, we are pleasant and professional. You can trust us to think outside the box to design the perfect plant presentation for you.