PAGE 18 — Addison Independent
| ARTS+LEISURE | Thursday, February 9, 2017
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In with the green, out with the blue HOUSEPLANTS CAN HELP YOUR WINTER BLUES
R
eal talk: “JanuFeb” can be grim. The holidays are a distant memory, and now you have to slog through a barrage of dark, frigid days until spring makes its glorious appearance.
To escape that persistent winter funk, shake off that heated Snuggie and take a trip to the garden center. Studies suggest that stocking your home full of humble houseplants can boost your mood, big time — not to mention make your space feel cleaner, brighter, and healthier.
THE POWER OF A FLOWER Scientists agree that houseplants likely improve your outlook. Research suggests that plants have a positive effect on stress reduction, pain tolerance and physical discomfort — but environmental psychologists aren’t exactly sure why this happens. It could be that plants simply make a room more colorful and attractive. Or, an indoor brush with nature may provide the same natural high and stress relief people feel in the great outdoors. There’s even a name for the phenomenon — biophilia (a love for nature) — and entire buildings have been designed to recreate it. Keeping all those green guys alive is good for you, too. Research has shown taking care of plants can increase a sense of well-being and reduce stress.
NATURE’S AIR FRESHENER All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or persons receiving public assistance, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD Toll-free at 1-800-424-8590. For the Washington, DC area please call HUD at 426-3500.
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Winter means tightly closed windows and stuffy quarters. Plants reduce stale air by producing oxygen. But also, according to research done by NASA back in the late 1980s, certain plants will even filter harmful pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia from the air. Some folks get headaches, asthma or have chronic health issues from these VOCs (volatile organic compounds) — which could be off-gassing right this minute from your furniture,
cleansers and flooring. To combat stale air, try some of these air-scrubbing horticultural heroes: Boston fern, English ivy, spider plant, bamboo palm, weeping fig, flamingo lily, peace lily and cornstalk dracaena. For more info visit www.houselogic.com
black thumb? Don’t worry. Try these hardy plants:
ANTHURIUMS Beautiful flowering plants that are super easy to care for. Needs a decent amount of light.
KIMBERLY QUEEN AND BOSTON FERNS These plants put a lot of humidity back in the air and will help make your space comfortable. Need a bit more water and a decent amount of light.
CHINESE EVERGREEN AND GOLDEN POTHOS These are hardy plants can handle even the blackest of thumbs. OK in the low light of winter.
MOTHER-IN-LAW’S TONGUE Lots of varieties with different shapes and colors. Drought-resistant and grows in high or low light.