By Ava Green
Usually, by the time February or March rolls around, I’m pretty tired of the health crazes like extreme diets and exercise plans I’ve been trying for the fifth year in a row. This year, let’s take a look at something that naturally supports our good health, both mental and physical. It’s time to stop and “smell the flowers,” so to speak.
Mental and Physical Health
Many gardeners already realize this, but studies are showing that simply seeing greenery can benefit our mental health. Whether it's a walk in the woods or a handful of houseplants, seeing green leaves makes a difference for humans! Research shows that it helps boost our mood and improve how we get along with people. Who doesn’t need a mood booster during cold, dark days? And getting along with people, well, the world just needs more of that, too, doesn’t it?
You may also already know that tending to plants reduces stress, but did you know that science is proving it? PubMed published a study stating:
"Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study."
This isn’t the common thinking about working outside in the garden increasing physical strength and stamina. It’s a study that examines our autonomic nervous system, the one responsible for automatic and essential bodily functions we don’t even think about, like breathing. The study compared participants performing two tasks: one on a computer and the other doing plant transplanting. The results suggest that interaction with plants indeed reduce stress without us even thinking about it! No task that requires willpower, just daily tending to plants like transplanting, watering, dusting, pruning, or turning the pots to get sun on the flipside.
So plants boost our mood, improve interactions with others and physically reduce our stress levels without us even trying. It’s no wonder we just feel better when we’re around plants.
Air Quality
Research also shows that indoor air pollution is often worse than outdoor air pollution. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from washing detergents, paint, furnishings, and building materials, as well as bacteria, fungal spores, and dust, negatively affect human health.
Fresh air can counter the impact of indoor pollutants, but often it’s too cold to open the windows in the middle of winter. When you can’t let fresh air into the house, indoor plants will help. We know that growing trees outdoors has a massive impact on air quality and the health of the planet, and inside our home, tropical plants contribute in the same way. The contribution of each type of plant varies, so having a variety is a very good idea.
What to Grow
Here’s a list of easy-to-grow, green indoor plants that Eising’s resident tropical plant expert, Courtney, and the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommend:
Aglaonema ‘Silver Queen’ (Chinese evergreen ‘Silver Queen’)
Aspidistra elatior (common Aspidistra, Cast Iron plant)
Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm)
Chamaedorea seifrizii (Bamboo Palm)
Chlorophytum comosum (Spider Plant)
Crassula ovata (syn. Crassula portulacea) (Jade plant, Jade tree)
Dracaena fragrans ‘Janet Craig’ (Dragon Plant)
Dieffenbachia ‘Tropic Snow’ (v) (Dumb Cane)
Dracaena marginata (v) (Madagascar dragon tree)
Epipremnum aureum and ‘Marble Queen’
Ferns - many types
Ficus elastica (Rubber tree, Rubber plant)
Hedera helix (English ivy, common ivy)
Howea forsteriana (Flat Palm, Kentia palm)
Rhapis excelsa (Bamboo Palm, Lady Palm)
Sansevieria (Snake Plant) - many types
Spathiphyllum sp. (Peace Lily)
Syngonium podophyllum (Nephthytis)
Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ plant, fern arum)
Is there a downside to having houseplants? Yes, if you have small children or pets, be mindful of the plants that can be toxic if ingested (see resources listed below).
While many of us in Ontario focus on “nice” weather and getting outside to garden, it’s pretty clear that our indoor plants do much of the heavy lifting to improve our health through the cooler seasons. Even if you don’t have a “green thumb”, it’s worth giving tropical, indoor houseplants their well-deserved space in our homes, hospitals, offices, nursing homes, classrooms, restaurants…or any indoor space!
Resources:
PubMed study on indoor plants and their impact on human stress - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4419447/
Sally Augustin, PhD, Environmental Psychologist - https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/people-places-and-things/201802/benefits-of-the-indoor-plant
RHS - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/houseplants/for-human-health
For a list of indoor plants and the VOCs they have the potential to reduce, PubMed review article by Dela Cruz et al., 2014 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25056742/
PETAs list of plants that are safe for pets: https://www.peta.org/living/humane-home/animal-friendly-houseplants/?utm_source=PETA::Google&utm_medium=Ad&utm_campaign=0422::veg::PETA::Google::SEA-Vegan-Grant::::searchad&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=96533821&gbraid=0AAAAADu2DAt3SGF9vPRkHJqkNw-eZ6kEH&gclid=CjwKCAiAvaLLBhBFEiwAYCNTf9nyavbUnefHx0FaUekq4HZyXPrIwYhnJqgnu_g_TPea3nExhT-jOhoCqLUQAvD_BwE
RHS list of safest plants for children: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/houseplants/houseplants-for-children
How to Stay Warm and Stylish
By Ava Green
Colder temperatures are around the corner, and some of us are not looking forward to it! Whether you love winter or not, Sassyfras Boutique inside Eising Greenhouse and Garden Centre has the cozy, stylish clothes you need to look your best and stay warm all season long.
Begin with Layers
Fall, winter, and spring can all bring unpredictable weather to our corner of southern Ontario, so layering is key. Winter is an especially good time to follow the 3-layer rule:
- A base layer keeps you dry
- A mid-layer adds warmth
- An outer layer protects from the elements
Build Your Cold-Weather Capsule Wardrobe
Creating a winter capsule wardrobe makes dressing warm and stylish easy and stress-free. Here are a few ideas to get started:
Base Layer:
Start with a basic tee, a long-sleeve mock neck, or a long-sleeve crew neck top. Choose natural fabrics that wick moisture and keep you dry.
Tights or leggings make a great foundation under dresses or pants for added warmth.
Mid Layer:
For warmth, add a sweatshirt, a crewneck sweater, a v-neck sweater, or a turtleneck.
If you’re stopping at two layers, choose a chunky knit or oversized sweater for a cozy statement look.
On top of your tights or leggings, try a faux-suede skirt, faux-leather pants, wide-leg trousers, jeans, or a dress, maybe even a comfy sweater dress.
Outer Layer:
Top it all off with an eye-catching outer layer! Try a bomber jacket, blazer, faux-fur jacket, puffer vest or jacket, or a trendy coatigan for warmth and style.
Accessorize to Elevate Your Look
What makes an outfit really stand out? The accessories! At Sassyfras, you’ll find everything you need to complete your winter look.
From belts (perfect for cinching a blazer or dress) to trendy handbags, classic tote bags, sunglasses, and a wide selection of everyday jewellery, including locally made, one-of-a-kind pieces. You’ll find the perfect finishing touches that reflect your personal style.
Mix, Match and Stay Cozy
Once you’ve built your base, mid, and outer layers, the fun begins! Mix and match your pieces to create new combinations that make winter dressing simple, cozy, and chic.
With just a few well-chosen items from Sassyfras, you’ll be ready to step out in style, no matter how cold it gets! ❄️
By: Dave Zeldon and Ely Schweyer
Let’s get in depth about planting trees too deeply!
Sometimes homeowners find that their newly planted trees start showing signs of stress and become unthrifty a little while after planting, and soon their investment is altogether lost when the plant just dies. Often when we’re asked to inspect a tree in poor health, we know what to suspect.
Although not readily apparent at the time of installation, the long-term effects of improperly placing the root system in the planting hole are substantial. The poor tree health that results manifests itself as reduced growth rate, atypical leaf size and colour, and increased disease susceptibility. Trees in really poor condition exhibit decay, cracks, and excessive deadwood. Sometimes trees show signs of stress within the first year of planting, but it usually takes several years for the problem to rear its ugly head.
The most common reason? Many trees are simply buried too deeply causing the tree roots to decline in health, as they cannot get the vital oxygen from the air that they require to live.
Putting Down Roots
The width of the hole your tree will call home should be at least two times the diameter of the root ball, container, or in the case of bare root trees, the spread of the roots. This will provide the tree with enough worked earth for its root structure to establish itself.
For tree roots to grow vigorously, they require water, oxygen, and warmth. An oxygen level of 25% of the soil volume is considered good for root development.
At a 5% oxygen level, growth stops, and at 2%, roots decline and die.
Since tree roots naturally grow quite shallowly in the soil profile, buried root systems are unable to obtain adequate soil oxygen and water. As a survival response, trees work to get roots closer to the soil surface where there is a more reliable source of both. The energy that a newly transplanted tree should use to overcome normal transplant stress is instead used just to survive.
The tree expends its energy either by forcing its roots to grow upward or by creating totally new roots from dormant buds on the buried trunk, wasting all its prior growth. Some plants can survive being buried too deeply and live normal lives after developing a functional root system, others begin a long, slow decline of health resulting in either premature death or sudden failure during wind or ice storms. Let’s not risk it!
How Do I Know How Deep to Plant?
If you want your new tree to not only survive, but thrive, it needs the best start possible; it is very important that the root collar flare be visible after planting. The root collar is the part of a plant where the stem and root system meet, "flaring" where it transitions between the stem wood and the roots. Always make sure that the root collar flare is visible after planting. If settling occurs, reset the tree to the proper depth.
👉 Note: The backfilling soil should be a mixture of the original soil with composted manure or topsoil and bone meal.
But I Did Leave the Root Collar Visible… When I First Planted It
It has been observed that many times after a perfect tree planting, the homeowner then decides to build a raised-bed garden around the tree (thus burying the root collar flare – we’ve found root collar flares buried to 24 inches in mulch!) only to find that within a year or two, their young tree is dead or dying.
A common practice, often referred to as ‘volcano mulching,’ also contributes to this problem. In addition to subjecting trees to the problems associated with planting too deeply, heat from the composting mulch can literally cook a tree's trunk.
So, What is ‘Planting Proud’ Then?
The transplanting rules are amended if planting in the heavier clay soils where the practice of planting your new trees "proud" is advised. Planting proud essentially means that the root ball is left higher out of the ground level, producing a hilled effect. The soil that is normally used for back-filling is used to help to create a mound. Planting your trees this way in poorly draining clay soils prevents the ground water from collecting in an otherwise deep hole and drowning the roots of your new planting.
But, as a general rule, trees should be transplanted no deeper than the soil in which they were originally grown, and the soil level shouldn’t rise after planting. Two to three inches of wood chips is the optimum depth to mulch - and keep it an inch or two away from the trunk. If it is really desired to have the tree as a focal point in this newly built garden, then possibly a 3 foot well could be made around the tree to keep the root collar flare open to the air.
So, remember to give your tree a strong start and long life by not planting too deeply, but by leaving that root collar flare exposed! We hope these tips can help you encourage the longevity of your new tree. For more information - and trees - visit our Trees & Shrubs section at Eising Greenhouse and Garden Centre. We hope to see you soon!
By: Ava Green
Spring is the time of year known for new beginnings, and it’s also a very busy season in the garden as we hurry to get everything planted for the summer growing season here in Southern Ontario. But, did you know that fall is also an ideal time to get planting?
Similar to spring conditions, the cooler temperatures and more frequent rainfall make it easier for new plants to transition. This also decreases transplant stress. There’s time for roots to become established, and by springtime, you’ll be enjoying your plants instead of being busy planting them!
Don’t wait too long, though! At Eising Greenhouses, we recommend planting perennials, trees and shrubs before Thanksgiving weekend to give your new plants a little time to settle in before a hard frost arrives. A hard frost, or freeze, is when the temperature dips below zero for an extended period of time, killing tender plants.
What to Plant in Fall
Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocus, Fritillaria and Alliums are just some of the bulbs that need to be planted in the fall in order to enjoy their flowers in the spring. Tulips especially appreciate being planted in cooler weather, but all of these bulbs require a cold period of about 12 weeks in order to grow in the spring. Many bulbs can be planted right up until the ground freezes. But why wait?!
👉 TIPS: While Tulips can be tasty and tempting for squirrels, rabbits and deer, many bulbs like Alliums, Frittilaria and Daffodils are not so delectable. Tamping down the soil after planting your bulbs makes it more difficult for critters to sniff them out. Laying some chicken wire over the area can also help deter from your bulbs becoming a meal for a critter.
Be sure to choose an area to plant your bulbs in that does not stay wet so the bulbs don’t rot.
Garlic
While some folks choose to plant garlic in the early spring, many people choose to plant it in the fall. Why not get started now? When you plant your garlic in autumn, you will have a crop that’s ready for harvest next summer.
Plant, Divide, and Transplant Perennials
Yes, you can still plant perennial flowers in the fall! Whether you’re purchasing new plants or moving plants around, autumn is a great time of year to do it.
It’s also a great time to divide and transplant spring and summer blooming perennials. Why divide your plants? It’s a great way to revitalize the plant and also to create new plants.
Whether you’re planting, dividing or transplanting perennials, it’s best to do it 4-6 weeks before the first hard frost so that they have time to become established in the soil. Perennial plants will be available for sale at Eising Greenhouses until Thanksgiving weekend, so don’t delay too much!
Trees and Shrubs
Container-grown or burlap-wrapped trees and shrubs can be planted as long as you can get a shovel in the ground! However, it’s a good idea to give them a few weeks in your garden before it freezes if you can.
It’s especially nice to see what a tree or shrub will look like in the fall before you plant it.
Peonies
Autumn is the best time to plant and establish roots so your peony is ready to bloom in spring! Planting them 4-6 weeks before the first hard frost will help your plant become established before cold weather descends.
👉 TIP: Be sure to add mulch to trees, shrubs and perennials after planting. But keep the mulch away from the trunks or stems. It’s never a good idea to put decaying plant material right up against a living plant!
Come in and take a look at what’s available, then enjoy the cool fall weather for planting!
Resources: If you’re new to dividing perennials, here’s a handy helper - A Guide to Dividing Perennials by the Toronto Master Gardeners