House plants and their importance explained to Garden Club
People do not always know that some house plants can be toxic to pets according to Assistant Manager at Greener Tidings Garden Centre, Gladys Gaffane
POLOKWANE – During the most recent Gardening Club meeting, Assistant Manager at Greener Tidings Garden Centre, Gladys Gaffane educated the members on the various purifying house plants.
“Phytoremediation is the ability of the plants to reduce toxins in the air. These plants absorb the gasses and remove the harmful compounds in the air.”
As part of her talk, she brought along some plants to show members what they look like.
“The Barberton daisy can be kept in a room with natural light and should be allowed to drain well. It is a plant that removes toxins from the air. The snake plant is a succulent type of plant and should not be over watered. At night, the plants take in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen which helps you to breath better.”
People do not always know that some house plants can be toxic to pets. Gladys explains the spider plant is one of the plants that are not toxic to pets and it can also be re-potted.
“The Monstera deliciosa is highly toxic to cats and a bit to dogs. Aloe Vera is good for kitchen windows and will help soothe burns and purify the air.”
She goes on to say you should check if your plant is healthy. “When you find your plant is sick, it is better to isolate it. When a plant changes colour, you can be sure that something is wrong. Some plants have two colours on their leaves and when you notice just one colour, it might be that the plant gets too little sun. If a plant has holes on the leaves, there is most likely a pest. Your plant uses little signs to communicate with you and if there is powder on the leaves or the leaves are brown, there might be a fungus on the plant.”
Indoor plants do not need a lot of water and should receive fertiliser once a month.
“Ferns die when placed in direct sunlight and require an area with high humidity such as a bathroom. It should not be placed against a window and the soil should be kept moist.”
The best medium to plant houseplants in, is potting soil and the soil should not be changed frequently. You can use fertiliser and supplements to keep the soil healthy.
