Our Loving Houseplants

They are oxygen for lung and Soul

In the heart of a seed, Buried deep, so deep, A dear little plant Lay fast asleep.

‘Wake’, said the sunshine, ‘And creep to the light’. ‘Wake’ said the voice Of the rain drops bright.

The little plant heard, And it rose to see What the wonderful Outside world might be… — -Kate L.Brown

And when the seeds rose to see this wonderful world outside, it came with an agenda — to gift us humans with pleasure unmeasurable.And who can describe better an onlooker’s emotion to see new greens and hues donning a pot than a poet’s words!

But let’s not digress because we are talking about Indoor Greens, a subject I adhere to deeply.

NASA Study on indoor plants suggest, contrary to our belief, indoor air is often 30 times more polluted than outdoor air and ‘bringing some outside in’ can be a good remedy to handle the challenge. They listed a good number of plants which is conducive to keeping indoors relatively pollution free and breathable and I decided to acquire some of them, not only because they were recommended, but also because I enjoy those greens around me for various reasons.

Syngonium Podophyllum:

They are not only good oxygen releasers but also beautiful looking non-flowering plants, which lends a distinct character to a room when placed skillfully. What attracted me to this variety is their easy ways of nurturing which can withstand a temperature range of 1–2 Deg Centigrade to 45 deg Centigrade. They can thrive in poor water conditions but thrive best during rainy season. Little to no fertiliser can work for this plant, surprisingly!

Dieffenbachia:

Originating from Mexico, this plant is another low maintenance indoor beauty, but thrives better with indirect sunlight. They can grow like trees, and needs to be manicured on a regular basis, in case of indoor placement.

Golden Pothos:

“In the dim room of my house they won’t thrive, but I'll give them enough love to ensure their survival — Tony Connor (Bringing in the House Plant)

It is difficult not to fall for these creepers. You learn resilience, patience and adaptability without being taught, just by nurturing these plants.They grow in wonderful vines which I shape to spruce up a dull corner of my house.

Sansevieria Trifasciata(Dracaena trifasciata):

Also known as snake plant are an rare variety of indoor plant which thrives in desert conditions as well as inside, when the conditions are simulated.

The plant exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide using the crassulacean acid metabolism process, which allows them to withstand drought. The microscopic pores on the plant’s leaves, called the stomata, used to exchange gases, are opened only at night to prevent water from escaping via evaporation in the hot sun. It is a weed in some parts of northern Australia. The NASA Clean Air Study found Sensiviera has the potential to filter indoor air, removing 4 of the 5 main toxins involved in the effects of sick building syndrome. However, its rate of filtration is too slow for practical indoor use.

Aloe Vera:

“Mistake me as a girl, Enough, and I will become myself Green, something with cells Rooting out of me, something that will last well after your voice leaves you, well after my voice dissipates into the sun — Watch me as I create myself again every year Something that blooms over and over again….” — Aeon Ginsberg ( Poem in which I translate into succulent)

It is almost impossible to find a house plant with so much therapeutic quality, which does not need any care to grow but suffices for your ultimate skin care recipe along with gut cleansing and anti septic solutions.

I got a small plant about 10 years back, which has grown big enough to supply me my skin allergy recipe (with the gel, specially during summer)and flower this👆🏻beautifully thrice a year!

All the plants shown in the article are with me for more than 10 years now which with their variegated variety lend colour, cool and aesthetics to my house and help me with green breaks when life sighs. Victor Hugo wrote,”To love or have loved, that is enough.Ask nothing further. There is no other pearl to be found in the dark fold of life. (Les Miserables) — which pretty much sums up my relation with my greens.

Thank you Dr. Preeti Singh for such amazing Nature Prompts in Reciprocal. Also a big thank you to Yana Bostongirl and of course Sahil Patel for this place of reciprocity.

I enjoyed reading this article on house plants by William J Spirdione. His photos beaded with poetics are not to be missed.

I also enjoyed this piece by Mani Goel where she discusses her relationship with her house plants.

Thank you every one for engaging and encouraging!

Leaving you all with lilies that adorn my centre table often: