Indoor Garden Planter

January blahs.....we all get them!

One way to combat the dreariness of a long Minnesota winter is with house plants!

Big houseplants can get expensive.....but you can get the same impact by grouping a bunch of smaller plants together in a big container!

This good looking metal container was a Goodwill bargain.
I lined the bottom with plastic (just in case the seams aren't completely water tight) .
Then I placed  a variety of plants in smaller pots into the big container.
I was lucky to have a taller plant and one that trails a bit....

Take out containers were used to raise some the shorter plants up to the top of the container.

Then some Spanish Moss tucked all around the base of the planter hides the edges of the pots.

I was at a wonderful garden store yesterday.  I splurged on some poppy pods and dried mushrooms on sticks....$20....but I knew they would take the planter from basic to pretty special!

 Guess What!  There are actual scientific studies that show some actual health benefits that house plants can provide!

 In my never ending quest to educate you all....I found some great articles about those benefits.

This article from The Mother Nature Network has a beautiful slideshow of plants that improve your indoor environment.



"Houseplants will keep you healthier and happier. Multiple studies have found that indoor plants can offer psychological and physical health benefits,* including:

1. improving your mood
2. reducing fatigue
3. lowering stress and anxiety
4. improving performance and focus
5. boosting healing and pain tolerance
6. minimizing the occurrence of headaches by improving air quality
7. easing dry skin and respiratory ailments due to dry air

Many houseplants absorb toxic substances such as formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, found in man-made materials that are known to “off-gas” pollutants into the air in your home, school, and office. In addition, a study done at Virginia Tech led researchers to conclude that houseplants can reduce indoor dust by up to 20%.
Indoor plants release water vapor into the air, which increases humidity. This can help improve respiratory and skin health by offsetting the drying effects of heating systems.
They also increase oxygen levels in the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen during photosynthesis."  (http://swansonsnurseryblog.com/2014/10/10/health-benefits-of-houseplants/)

SO NOW YOU KNOW!

I know that this orchid certainly improves my mood  and lowers my stress!

The light in our house seems to be just what orchids need to thrive!

This orchid is the Valentine Mr. S gave me almost a year ago!

It has been blooming ever since!

 

It is sitting on a mirror on the big ottoman in the living room.

The mirror reflects the orchid....

a nice effect I think!

I plan to spend some time making sure that there are some green plants in every room!

Very Feng Shui don't you think!

Have A Wonderful Day!

 

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