The Roots of Indoor Greening
Author: Sarah Pounders
As you and your students approach the idea of greening your
classroom to lift your winter spirits, take a moment to think about
and discuss
what life was like during the cool seasons before the advent of
modern conveniences – like glass-paned windows, indoor plumbing,
and electricity!
In ancient days, people relied on candles and fireplaces for light
during short winter days. Since water had to be hauled from outdoors
and heated over a fire or stove, baths were few and far between.
Deodorants and perfumes were in limited use. Ask students to imagine
being there, stuck inside small houses and buildings for long periods
of time. How do you think they reminded themselves of the beauty
of spring and summer to bring joy to the winter days? They turned
to evergreen plants for relief.
Ancient Greeks and Romans decorated their houses with boughs
and wreaths of evergreens such as holly to symbolize nature and
a promise of the spring to come. The practice became part of a winter
festival
called Saturnalia, which honored Saturn, the god of agriculture. The
tradition continued through the centuries, and over time became associated
with the Christmas holiday. Starting in Germany during the 1500's,
whole evergreen trees were placed indoors as a symbol of protection
and immortality.
Regardless of the symbolism attached to the trees' placement, there was
a more practical side to greening. The evergreen swags brought life
into dull winter households.
Decorative items like paintings and mirrors
were rare and expensive, but greens were provided by nature for free
for everyone's delight. Greens also added a fresh fragrance to
stuffy indoor air. A precursor to scented candles and air fresheners,
herbs such as rosemary were strewn on the floor
so that a room would be filled with a pleasant aroma with every step.
Although technological advances have greatly reduced the unpleasantness
associated with winter months, there’s nothing to replace the feelings
evoked by plants, so we continue greening the indoors
to enhance our quality of life.
Decorating with Plants
Decorating with indoor plants also gives you a way to continue the
gardening experience in your classroom and at home through winter
months. Two main categories of greens are cut greens and potted plants.
Cut plants, such as evergreen branches, have been detached from their
roots. Some deciduous branches like forsythia and pussy willows are
also fun to bring in, as the move to the indoor climate will force
spring buds to open early. Although branches can be placed in water to
extend their freshness, as soon as you cut them from a tree, the clock begins
to tick on their lifespan. As they dry, the cuttings begin to loose their
leaves and needles along with their pleasant aroma.
Potted plants, on the other hand, continue to draw nutrients and water
from the soil in their pots and provide more lasting benefits. A challenge
with potted plants is finding varieties that thrive in the lower
light
indoors. During much of history, potted plants were reserved
for the very rich, who could afford to build glasshouses or conservatories.
But the discovery and propagation of tropical plants that thrive in
the shady understory of rainforests, the invention of electricity and
artificial lighting, and the addition of more windows to buildings
have made potted plants an affordable option for all.
Benefits of Indoor Plants
While our ancestors knew it was nice to have greenery indoors, these
days we can do scientific research that actually quantifies what
having plants around does for us.
Plants brighten the decor and create a nurturing environment. Whether we recognize it or not, we respond positively to green. Being
surrounded by the green of nature helps to relax us, inspires peaceful
thoughts, and decreases feelings of stress. Studies also show that
plants can help in the healing process, with faster recovery rates
for patients who have views of nature. Check out these research findings:
Plants clean the air. It’s
not just that plants absorb the carbon
dioxide we exhale and give us
fresh
air to breathe in return; they’re also extremely
effective at removing environmental toxins,
like formaldehyde and benzene, from the atmosphere.
The ability of houseplants to clean the
air has been recognized for decades.
How do they do it? As part of their normal life processes, plants
draw air
in through their leaves. The plants themselves break down some pollutants
during their normal physiological processes,
but soil-dwelling microbes around plant
roots do much of the work, too.
What plants absorb makes them great companions, but what they give
off is helpful, too. Plants transpire water vapor, making them natural
room humidifiers, and even though they grow in soil, they can reduce
the amount of interior dust by up to 20 percent, according to research
from Virginia Tech. Dr. B.C. Wolverton discovered that they emit
substances that suppress airborne bacteria and mold spores, reducing
these hazards
by 50 to 60 percent.
In the 1970s and ‘80s, NASA research aimed at designing a livable
moon base using plants to clean the air yielded results that are applicable
right here at home. Some of the best living air purifiers are areca
palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), English ivy (Hedera
helix), rubber
plant (Ficus robusta), Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), schefflera
(Brassaia actinophylla), and bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii).
Caring for hardy houseplants is easy -- we explain how
in our article Basic
Indoor Plant Care.
For our top plant picks for schools, see Easy
Classroom Houseplants.
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© 2009
National Gardening Association