The home interiors shown in décor magazines and movie settings are usually beautifully decorated with lush plants. These houseplants are actually strategically planted (pardon the pun) props. In reality, they wouldn’t last if kept indoors for prolonged periods—the happiest houseplants live near windows.
Practical Tips When Adding Common Houseplants to a Room’s Décor:
- Use hardy, low-maintenance houseplants as the foundation of the arrangement.
- Buy houseplants that are already grown to the size you want.
- Take the scale of the room into consideration. In small spaces, add a few large houseplants to a collection of potted ones. These serve as focal points or backdrops, and help add structure to the area. Tall plants and hanging baskets will make a high ceiling look lower.
- Place small- to medium-size houseplants on tables, pedestals, shelves or anywhere else below eye-level. Put large plants on the floor or elevate them slightly. For areas above eye-level, use cascading houseplants.
- Create visual impact by using ornamental containers or combing plants with attributes that complement or contrast with one another in a pleasing manner. Select the container that best displays the distinctive form of the plant. Different houseplants create different decorative effects. For example, airy and feathery common houseplants like palms and ferns soften the setting.
There are many reasons to focus our attention on energy conservation. First and foremost, the rising cost of energy gives us a great financial rationale to decrease energy use. Also the growing concern over the role our use of energy resources may play in significant existing and potential future environmental problems which gives us more reason to re-examine our use of energy.
There are many easy and relatively inexpensive steps most people can take in order to decrease their energy use. There are three simple household gadgets, for example, that can result in impressive energy savings.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Fluorescent lights were once considered only for office and large building settings due to their size. Relatively recent innovations, however, have resulted in the mass production of compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs provide a great alternative to the usual incandescent bulb we often use.
[click to continue…]
Compared with foliage plants, flowering plants require more skill and effort to grow. They usually need more light, more water, higher humidity, and more fertilizer to thrive and bloom, as flowering consumes much of the plant’s energy resources.
How To Encourage Your Indoor Flowering Plants To Bloom
- Increase the light level
- Check whether the plants require long-day or short-day schedules to bloom.
- If necessary, place them under artificial lighting at least 14 to 16 hours a day (to simulate continuous daylight) and stimulate them to bloom year-round.
- Increase the humidity—dry air can cause flowers to dry up.
- Check the plants’ temperature needs.
- Check the roots for sign of pest infestation or disease.
For most developed countries, water from the tap is good enough for life-long consumption without the need for any treatment devices.
However, there are still some people who are willing to fork out a considerable amount of money for water purification devices for peace of mind. These home water systems work through a few different methods, filtration and distillation being two of the processes.
Filtration: In a filtration unit, water passes through a porous filter, leaves behind impurities and comes out cleaner. There are carbon filter devices and reverse osmosis units.
Carbon filters adsorb organic contaminants that are responsible for odors and unpleasant tastes.
In a reverse osmosis unit, pressure is applied to water to force it through a membrane. With its exceptionally small pores, the membrane only allows water molecules to pass through, leaving behind contaminants.
Some filtration units have an ultra-violet system which gives out rays to eliminate bacteria in the water after it has been filtered.
Distillation: In distillation units, water is heated to form steam, leaving the impurities. The steam cools and condenses to form purified water. A typical distillation unit comprises a boiling chamber, a condensing chamber and a storage tank to store purified water.
Plants are literally a breath of fresh air. Lush green or cheerfully colorful, they are a source of living and changing beauty. However, you choose to bring plants into your home, they will brighten up your life.
Common Houseplants
Most houseplants originate in the tropical or subtropical regions, and grow under the full shade of other plants. These shade-loving plants make relatively easy-care container houseplants, and most of the common houseplants are suitable for keeping in the home and office environments.
Categories of Common Houseplants:
- Trees and shrubs
- Perennials, biennials and annuals
- Bulbs
- Cacti and succulents
- Climbing and trailing plants
- Aquatic and semi-aquatic plants
General Characteristics on Common Houseplants:
- Can be planted and grown in a container
- Relatively easy to grow indoors or outdoors
- Relatively easy to maintain
When Choosing Your Ideal Houseplants, They Should Be Able To:
- Tolerate dry indoor air
- Live indoors for a prolong period
- Grow and multiply easily
- Do without much pruning
- Resist insects and disease
- Tolerate occasional abuse or neglect
- Thrive, if not survive, without any special conditions for its survival
Besides the kitchen, the bathroom is another area where accidents are prone to occur. Keep your bathrooms safe with these tips:
- Always keep the floor dry. Place non-skid slip-mats next to bathtubs and showers. The curb separating the bathroom and the bedroom or kitchen should also be kept dry at all times.
- If you have shower curtains, make sure that the bar holding it is firmly installed. Most people tend to grab the nearest thing to stop a fall, and in this case a secured shower curtain may help prevent a slip.
- If you prefer shower scenes, install shatterproof glass.
- Do not leave hair dryers or shavers plugged in if they are not in use.
- Keep the bathroom floor free from towels, clothes, and extension cords as these are also potential safety hazards.
- Avoid having glass containers like toothbrush holders or perfume bottles in the bathroom.
- Make sure the bathroom is adequately lighted.
Bathroom Safety For Children
- If you have young children in the house, place a step stool near the bathtub to help them climb in and out, and never leave your child unattended.
- Have lower drawers for storage of their towels and toys, and keep edges of counter-tops rounded. Also exercise caution when you dispose razors, medications, and old cleaning supplies in the trash bin.
All home kitchens should have a fire extinguisher whether it is an auto fire extinguisher or a kidde kitchen fire extinguisher. Here are some basic tips on kitchen fire safety:
Prevent Kitchen Fire:
- Never step away when something is cooking on the stove. Most fires in the kitchen are caused by unattended cooking.
- Pot holders, towels, and other combustibles should be placed away from the cooking areas.
- Clean your oven and hob regularly. Built-up grease and food remnants catch fire easily.
- Avoid wearing loose clothing when you are cooking.
Contain Kitchen Fire:
- To extinguish a small pan fire, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not move the pan until the fire is completely extinguished and the pan is cool.
- For fire contained in a pan, you can also use baking soda. Sprinkle a generous amount on your palm and toss it on the fire. Never use water on a grease fire as water will cause the fire to spread and make it worse.
- If the fire is large or appears to be growing, do not attempt to extinguish it. Quickly leave your home and call the fire station.
