Photo: National Houseplant Appreciation Day
Yes, today, January 10, is Houseplant Appreciation Day! And it’s about time!
By mid-January, most of our various holiday decorations and Christmas trees have made their way out of our homes. National Houseplant Appreciation Day is on January 10 every year and it reminds us that we don’t have to lose the freshness and vibrancy that plants bring to our homes just because the holidays have drawn to a close. If you have the post-holiday blues, this is the perfect chance for you to brighten up your house with a lovely plant that you can enjoy all year long.
But houseplants do more than just bring a splash of green into our homes, and National Houseplant Appreciation Day is all about raising awareness of the numerous benefits of tending an indoor plant.
• Houseplants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for us to breathe, improving the air quality in your home.
• Plants also release moisture into the air, conditioning it with refreshing humidity that can actually make your house feel cooler!
• What’s more, many houseplants are easy to care for and have an array of household uses that help you save money.
Whether your green thumb has driven you to amass an impressive indoor garden or you’re just kicking around the idea of a low-maintenance cactus for your desk, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and join us in bringing the outdoors inside on National Houseplant Appreciation Day.
NATIONAL HOUSEPLANT APPRECIATION DAY ACTIVITIES
- Get a Houseplant—and Appreciate It!
After the wreaths and holly of the holidays, our wintertime houses can seem a little dreary. National Houseplant Appreciation Day is the perfect opportunity to pick up some greenery that will brighten up your home year-round. If you already have a houseplant, try moving it to a new place in your home. The change will refresh your attention so you can appreciate your plant more. Just make sure the plant’s new position gets the same amount of light!
- Give Your Plants a “Spa Day”
Yes, most houseplants will do just fine if all you ever do is water them regularly and repot them very occasionally. But why not give them an extra special day when they get spa treatment?
- Give them a shower or rinse them with soapy water to remove dust and grime from their leaves.
- Leach their soil of contaminants by taking them to the sink and pouring tepid water through, letting the excess drain away.
- Give a little nip and tuck. Remove yellowing and brown leaves and faded flowers, plus pinch or prune back stems that are overgrown.
- Move them to a slightly sunnier place. Most plants find winter, with its short, gray days, a bit difficult, and it never hurts to give them a bit more light at this time of year.
- Take them for a spin. Give your plants a quarter turn clockwise. In fact, learn to do this each time you water. That will give them light from all around and keep them from bending towards the source of light.
- Visit a Plant Nursery
You deserve a plant today! There are plenty of baby plants in grocery stores that are looking for a good home, but the folks at a nursery will be able to help you pick a houseplant that is right for you. All plants need sunlight, water, and nutrients; however, the amount of each differs between plants. A sunny window ledge with watering every few days is perfect for certain plants, while others prefer more dappled sunlight and water about once a week or 10 days. With an idea of where you’d like to put your plant and how often you’d like to care for it, the experts at your local nursery will be able to match you up with the perfect houseplant.
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National Houseplant Appreciation Day takes place every year on January 10. Mark it on your calendar!
Article adapted from the National Houseplant Appreciation Day website.
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