Plants = Happiness

Everyone has a dream. A goal that they are aspiring to. A change they want to make in their life. College students especially have dreams about what they want to do with their lives and how they can change other people's lives. I am no different than the rest of them. My dream is to share with others my love of plants. Plants are my passion and have been a part of my whole life. I always find my way back to plants and the beauty they bring to this world. My parents taught me to enjoy the living world around me.  Ever since I was little, I gardened with my parents. We planted peas, carrots, corn, and other vegetables.  Meticulously, we would plant our garden and clean up the backyard, ripping out sod, pruning shrubs, and other various landscaping. I have fond memories of being outside and beautifying our backyard. As time went on and I grew up, I needed to pick a career path. Three options intrigued me:  culinary, medicine, and horticulture. I quickly ruled out culi...

A first impression can make or break someone. No one likes walking into a messy room, let along a messy store. That sends the wrong message. On the other hand, a clean, presentable storefront encourages people to return to a store again and again. Creating a presentable store can become a crucial part of a store's success. Atmosphere The atmosphere of the store is a very important factor in the success of a business. If the atmosphere is poor and unkept, then the business will do poorly. If the atmosphere is clean, warm, and friendly, then the business will do extremely well. The ambiance of the store affects the customer to the point that the customer is more likely to spend more money and return at a later time. The Basics Some of the basics of a positive ambiance is keeping the sales area clean and organized. Eliminating clutter around important areas of the store like the cash register, displays, and entrances. Another tip to enhance the ambiance is keeping merchan...

No one likes the thoughts of putting harmful chemicals near children or pets. Pesticides can be toxic but are necessary to protect the plant just like we receive vaccines. Thankfully, there are better pesticides that are naturally occurring so that there is little to no risk of harming children or pets. Prevention Starting off, the best way to get rid of pests is to not have them at all. How is that accomplished? Keeping plants healthy is the best way. This is done with proper watering, fertilizing, and cleaning of the foliage. Of course it will not prevent every little pest. When this happens, there are options to help take care of those little buggers. Insecticidal Soaps Insecticidal soaps are a more natural way of removing pests. They are considered a safer and more popular way to remove insects. This soap is sprayed directly on the plant but only functions if it directly touches the insects. So remember when spraying insecticidal soaps, you must coat the plant completel...

Back in the olden days, when people were sick with a blood disease, blood was sucked out by leaches. With the advancement of medical science, that is no longer needed. Plants are similar to humans where sometimes they need to be leeched once in a while to clean the soil. There is a proper way to do this to help the plant grow healthy. Why should I do it? The reason why plants have to be leached is because salts (minerals) in the water build up on the surface of the soil and make it difficult for plants to uptake the water. The salts fill in the little gaps between the particles of soils. It is like when you have a milkshake with cookie pieces. As you suck, the pieces slowly gather around the base of the straw, making it difficult for the milkshake to move through the straw. How do I recognize that my plant needs to be leeched? The plant will start to wither and show signs of not getting enough water (limp leaves). On the surface of the soil, there will be a white residue ...

Plants are amazing. They can do so much with so little. Just like the title of this blog, plants can affect emotions, health, and overall atmosphere of an indoor space. Memory and Concentration Studies show that plants work miracles. Their calming effects help increase concentration and retention of information. Having plants in work spaces and desks help invite nature into your every day environment. This causes the brain to relax and makes it easier to retain information. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/urban-mindfulness/200903/plants-make-you-feel-better Flowers bring joy What could be more happy than bright, colorful, unique plants? Flowers are such a happy way to bring plants into a building. They enhance your mood almost instantly. Flowers can reduce work stress and lower the risk of depression. They can bring in a positive, calming energy. The best part is that flowers can send messages through the colors. Cleaner air It is well known that plants give us...

Plants are different, just like you and me. They have different needs. One of the most common needs that are different among plants are the light requirements. Some need more light than others. Here are some tips of  a list of plants that have different light requirements to help you pick the best plant for your indoor space. What type of light? Sun light is typically the best light for plants because it is a lot stronger. Bright, indirect light is usually what most plants need. Of course, that is not always the easiest thing to give plants whether it be in a home or an office building or a hospital. If you space for the plant does not have natural light, have no fear, the plant can still grow. Fluorescent light still makes it possible for the plant to grow, it just requires a longer exposure to the light. Where should I place my plant? The best place for a plant is near the window but not in direct sunlight. This protects the plants from getting burned (yes, plants can...

Color, just like plants, can effect people, their emotions, and their responses. Color can be added to an interior not just in the paint on the walls. Plants are an excellent way of bringing color into the room whether it be the color of the foliage, the flowers, the pot it is in, or accessories with the plants. Black Black technically is not a color but a shade that can deepen the hue of a color. It is believed to make an item or a room look classier depending on the use. It defines the form of an object making it more desirable. Blue Blue has a calming effect on people and can even help with focusing. It is the most popular color in the world. If over used, blue can make people feel "blue" or low. A splash of blue in a room can make things pop. Brown Brown is a great neutralizer and a softer tone than black. When people think of brown in a room, they think of a very naturalistic feeling room. It can make an interior feel inviting and homey. Brown can also comb...