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Green Living Walls Are Perfect For Any Space

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A Green Living Wall is a great enhancement to any space, in both commercial and residential applications.  Whether you have limited space to add floor plants or a large area to fill, a Green Living Wall can fulfill just about any need and will offer many positive “side-effects”. Here are just a few:

 

  • Aesthetically pleasing
  • Can be used in place of costly art work
  • A natural air filter
  • Adds oxygen to the air
  • Can help to increase employee productivity

 

Once you’ve made the decision to invest in a Green Living Wall, it’s best to consult a professional who can design the wall and recommend the plants best suited to your space. An experienced and knowledgeable plant professional will make the appropriate plant recommendations, which are less likely to become unsightly and quickly outgrow your new wall . This approach will minimizing costly replacements. With the right plants and care, your new Green Living Wall will provide many benefits for years to come.

 

Fungus gnats?

Photo Credit: iStock

Controlling fungus gnats in your houseplants can be difficult, but with some simple knowledge you can be successful.  Fungus gnats are attracted to moist potting soil, the kitchen trash can or drain, and at times, even the basket of your coffee pot when moist grounds are left sitting without being cleaned.

 

Aside from being annoying as they fly around the room landing in your morning coffee, and flying around your face, adults don’t directly harm your plants.  It’s the larvae that will do it! Being attracted to the moist soil, adults flock to overwatered plants to lay their eggs. The larvae feast on the roots of the plants, damaging them, and guess what?  They then develop into adults to start the whole process again!

 

The best place to start to combat these annoying pests is to stop overwatering your plants.  Many plants “thrive on neglect” and watering every week or two is enough.  As a general rule, allow plants to thoroughly dry out between waterings.  This will help to avoid having an issue with fungus gnats and will definitely keep your plants looking better. If you already have a fungus gnat infestation, allow the plants to dry out thoroughly, almost to the point of becoming limp and then begin watering  again, but lightly!  Use yellow sticky traps to trap any adults lingering in the area to avoid re-infestation.

Tip: Mark your calendar, set an alert on your phone or water only on pay day.  Keeping a watering schedule will help you water properly and help to keep your plants pest free!

Tips to keep your orchids healthy & happy!

Phalaenopsis Orchids are the most common orchids in our area.  They can be purchased at local supermarkets, large chain stores and garden centers. When choosing your orchid, be sure to choose a plant that is not fully in flower, but one that has several healthy buds on their stems. Buds that appear dull or loose will probably never open, leaving you with a flowerless plant. Choose orchids with tight buds that appear to have a slight sheen to them. These buds will mostly likely open and produce beautiful flowers, with proper care.

 

The majority of our customers seem to have a fear of orchids, saying,  “I kill them”, when actually, the plant has just gone out of flower, leaving the green leaves and an empty stem. Continuing to properly  water the remaining plant after cutting back the stem to just below the last bloom, can possibly produce additional flowers in a few months, so you must have patience!  Yes, you can “kill” an orchid by overwatering, under watering or leaving them in direct sunlight or draft. This will cause the flowers to drop prematurely, leaves to fall off or shrivel. Consistently watering correctly, once per week, until the growing medium is just moist and allowing the plant to dry out between waterings will help to ensure your plant’s health. Never water to the point of allowing the plant to sit in water! 

 

Orchids like a bright room with filtered sunlight and a humid environment of about 68 degrees fahrenheit.  Misting the plants periodically in the mornings will allow the plants to absorb moisture throughout the day. Moisture left on the flowers could cause them to rot so be sure to spray during the day, and not at night to give the plants time to properly absorb the water.

 

We hope these tips help rid you of your “fear” of orchids. Follow these simple steps to help your precious orchids stay happy and even bloom multiple times throughout their lifetime!

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