Green spaces

4 Reasons Why Plants are Valuable

FOOD The sun is provider of all energy. We eat plants to gather the energy stored in their cells. And we are here because our ancestors foraged plants for food. They learned the ways of agriculture to make it easier and grew plants that produced products such as wheat and corn to eat. Approximately 7,000 different plant species have been cultivated and used as food for people.Though humans can live on the consumption of animal products, it is just a step away from plants since cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, rabbits and other animals eat plants to live.

AIR The air we breath mainly consists of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. But it is oxygen that is vital for our cells to produce energy, energy that originated with the sun. When the sun shines down, plants absorb the sunlight to produce energy and end up releasing oxygen into the air as a by-product of their metabolism. We in turn inhale the oxygen for our survival and exhale the carbon dioxides plants require. Breath deeply and drink in the oxygen-laden air and realize it’s because of plants we are alive.

WATER Where there is water, there is life. Plants regulate the water cycle by distributing and purifying the planet’s water supply. Through the act of transpiration, plants move the water from the soil up their roots and out into the atmosphere. Moisture accumulates into clouds and eventually the water droplets are returned back down as rain to revitalize life on earth.

CLIMATE Excessive carbon released into the environment has been blamed for the current climate change we are experiencing. But rarely is it explained that plants store carbon by pulling it from the air. Plants help keep much of the carbon dioxide produced from our burning of fossils fuels out of the atmosphere. We owe our temperate climate to the perpetual landscape of green that blankets our world.

Here are five fool-proof plants to start or further greenify your home:

Scindapsus Silvery Ann

The Scindapsus Silvery Ann is a strong plant, making it extremely suitable to be used in a green plant wall as creeper. This Scindapsus type has an additional quality that is beneficial to its surroundings: its air-filtering qualities. The plant produces oxygen, improves air humidity, neutralises harmful gases and in doing so cleanses the air. Harmful gases that are present in any space, are therefore removed and this makes him such a much-loved plant.

Growth and Care guide

Neon pothos

These bright pothos are low-maintenance and easy to care for. They can adapt to a range of lighting conditions, and while they appreciate regular watering, they bounce back easily if you forget to water them every once in awhile. When grown indoors, neon pothos can grow vines up to 10 feet long, so while pruning isn’t necessary for these tropical vines, you may wish to prune the vines every once and a while to keep their size under control.

Growth and Care guide

String of Hearts

This evergreen, succulent, trailing vine is perfect for planting in hanging baskets or in pots on shelves or window sills. It is a long-lived and fast-growing plant, and the sprawling vines can hang down several feet once they are mature.The heart-shaped, fleshy, gray-green foliage has an eye-catching marbled pattern and the thin, string-like vines have a distinctive purple shade.

Growth and Care guide

Peperomia Hope

Peperomia ‘Hope’ is a delightful cultivar resulting from a cross between Peperomia deppeana and Peperomia quadrifolia. A member of the Piperaceae family (pepper family of plants), this perennial epiphyte has beautiful trailing stems with small, semi-succulent round leaves. Since Peperomia ‘Hope’ will remain a relatively small plant, it is great for small spaces if you don’t have room for larger houseplants.

Growth and Care guide

Monstera deliciosa

Native to the rainforests of Central America, the big, bold Monstera deliciosa plant is also known as the "split-leaf philodendron." This eye-catching climbing evergreen is a popular, easy-to-grow houseplant, and a favorite of many interior designers for both residential and commercial spaces. Plant outdoors in the right zone at any time during the year and it will also produce tannish-cream flowers pollinated by bees and edible juicy fruit with the combined flavor of pineapple and banana. However, fruiting is not common in houseplants. This beautiful plant can be toxic to pets.

Growth and Care guide

Coded by Cheri Aguilar

🌱Green spaces

4 Reasons Why Plants are Valuable