Watering Plants in Absentia

Have some plants in your home? Wonderful! But what to do when you go out of town for a bit around the holidays?

First of all, most plants are happiest getting periodic infusions of lots of water, rather than daily spritzings. So, for most plants, if you're only going to be gone a week or less, watering them right before you leave should be all they need! (Of course, Google your own plants to find out about their specific needs.)

To set up a slow release watering method, consider leaving some ice cubes around in the dirt (but not touching the plant itself). As the ice melts, it will slowly water your plant. This is especially useful in the winter when the ice will melt less quickly.

What about plants that do, in fact, need more water? Green is Sexy recommends this time-tested trick: "To keep plants moist without drowning them, fill your tub, sink or large pot with 2 inches of water and add a towel. Place your well-watered plant in the tub/sink/pot and trust that it will suck up the moisture it needs while you’re away."

The Nose Knows

Our sense of smell is a wonderful thing. It's no wonder some people like to surround themselves with nice scents all the time. If you are among them, however, make sure you are aware of the health and environmental effects of your methods. That commercial stuff you spray or plug in or hang from your rear view mirror doesn't list any ingredients -- don't trust it! The manufactures haven't had to disclose that information. Is that really what you want to breathe?

Instead, try natural scent producers. Green Is Sexy suggests using "pine needles, lavender, green tea leaves or fresh flowers." Consider dried mint leaves, too. Soy or beeswax candles can be good choices, just be sure to avoid other types of candles!!

Many of us just seek to eliminate bad odors from our homes and cars. Again, think natural and simple. Opening a window and increasing air circulation works the best of anything. Remember to fill your home with those air purifying plants we've talked about in previous posts. And you know that thing about baking soda soaking up odors? It works outside of your refrigerator as well. Just set out a plate of it or sprinkle some at the bottom of your trashcan, and let it do its thing.

Indoor plants: get on it!

A few months ago, I wrote a post about how indoor plants help clean the air inside your house. And the information just keeps pouring in. Lots more confirmation that specific plants help purify indoor air and lots more confirmation that the average American household NEEDS said purification. If you have paint, furniture, or wood in your house, you probably also have some nasty stuff floating around that plants can help you get rid of.

But some new information expands the benefits of indoor plants. For example, this recent TreeHugger article discusses how indoor plants can help hospital patients heal faster and better. Something many people have known intuitively, now with scientific proof.

Do you want in on this clean air extravaganza? This little ditty lists the top five air-cleaning indoor plants. And this article lists ten easy-to-grow choices proven to help purify indoor air. Perfect for those of you who are convinced you have a "black thumb"!

How many plants do you need for maximum benefits? HealthMad tells us, "The NASA study suggests a minimum of 15-20 plants in 6 inch diameter pots for an 1800 square foot area." That is honestly a ton of plants. But an effort of any size can help your health and that of your family tremendously.

Pick a plant or two from one of the links above and give it a try. Many of them are easy to find at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. If you're nervous about keeping things alive, try the easy-to-grow list (most of them are desert plants...very hard to kill).

NOTE: If you have a pet, cross reference these lists with lists of plants that are dangerous for your particular pet. Ivy and aloe, for example, are toxic to kitties but are also two of the best air-purifiers. We have one of each, but we made sure to put them in places our cat can't reach. [Here's a list of toxic plants for cats and dogs.]