February is Houseplant Month at The Great Big Greenhouse

ENHANCE YOUR LIFE WITH PLANTS

TROPICAL PLANTS ARE MORE THAN JUST DECORATIVE ACCENTS IN OUR HOME OR OFFICE

This is our 15th year with highlighting houseplants during the month of February. Let our Professional Staff assist you. We pride ourselves with carrying the best and largest selection of tropical plants in the Richmond area.

Have you ever considered going indoors to, “get a breath of fresh air?” It’s not as crazy as it sounds, considering the level of air pollution we experience daily from automobile engines, factories, asphalt plants, and pesticide use. A few well-placed houseplants can make you indoor air safer to breathe.

NASA research has shown that tropical plants “scrub” the air, removing toxins commonly found in homes and office buildings. 90% of people spend nearly 22 hours a day inside without enough sunlight or fresh air. Children spend on average less than one hour per day outside. 52% of people in the U.S. are using houseplants to clean the air, according to a market research. Since getting outdoors more often is not always an option, bring the outside in with houseplants. This trend is very active with millennials. Millennials are collecting houseplants more than ever and sharing photos of the “loves” on social media.

HOW DO PLANTS CLEAN THE AIR?

Plants naturally “breathe in” carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. As a result of this process, oxygen is released by the plants’ leaves. Plants also breathe in pollution in the air around them through microscopic openings in the leaves, and the toxins then move through the plant to the root zone. Interior air is also drawn into the soil of a potted plant as the plant begins to dry. Microorganisms living around the roots “eat” any of these air-borne pollutants with which they come into contact, breaking down their chemical structures into molecules that can be taken up the plant as nutrients or that remain harmless in the soil.

As a general rule of thumb, the larger the leaves, the more efficient that plant is at cleaning the air, but most plants are doing some good. Tests have shown that, while one plant is better at eliminating one chemical or another, an assortment of plants placed throughout an indoor space should make homes and offices healthier.

As I mentioned earlier, FEBRUARY IS HOUSEPLANT MONTH at The Great Big Greenhouse. Visit our event page for more information. We have free educational seminars each Saturday throughout February. We hope to see you!!!!

HAPPY “INDOOR” GARDENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To read more posts from Doug, visit our blog

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