What are tiny tillandsias? Why use them in your indoor corporate offices Waltham, MA

1. Tillandsias are: epiphytes and need no soil because water and nutrients are absorbed through the leaves. 

2.The roots are used as anchors only. Reproduction is by seeds or by offsets called "pups". A single plant could have up to a dozen pups.

3. Indoor arrangement of six Tillandsiaplants mounted on a log section.

4. Although not normally cultivated for their flowers, some Tillandsia will bloom on a regular basis. In addition, it is quite common for some species to take on a different leaf colour (usually changing from green to red) when about to flower. This is an indication that the plant is monocarpic (flowers once before dying) but offsets around the flowering plant will continue to thrive.

5. Temperature is not critical, the range being from 32°C down to 10°C. They are sensitive to frost, except for the hardiest species, T. usneoides, which can tolerate night-time frosts down to about -10°C.

6. Tillandsia is a primary ingredient in an herbal supplement to treat pollen allergies.

7. The plant genus Tillandsia, a member of the Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), is found in thedeserts, forests and mountains of Central and South America, and Mexico and the southernUnited States in North America.

8. The thinner-leafed varieties grow in rainy areas and the thick-leafed varieties in areas more subject to drought. Moisture and nutrients are gathered from the air (dust, decaying leaves and insect matter) through structures on the leaves called trichomes.

9. Tillandsia species are epiphytes (also called aerophytes or air plants) – ie they normally grow without soil while attached to other plants). Epiphytes are not parasitic, depending on the host only for support.

10.The genus Tillandsia was named by Carolus Linnaeus after the Swedish physician and botanist Dr. Elias Tillandz (originally Tillander) (1640-1693).

Plantscape Designs Inc. currently uses these tiny bromeliads to enhance the monthly orchid gardens that we create and deliver for our hundreds of corporate interiorscape clients in Waltham, MA

Using Robellini palms in your office interiorscapes Waltham, MA

Some fun facts about Robellini Palms before you attempt to use them in your Waltham plant interior landscape.

They are a palm and not a Cycad.

1. Height: 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)

2. Hardiness:

USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)

USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)

USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)

USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)

USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

3. Sun Exposure:Sun to Partial Shade

4. Danger: Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling

4. Bloom Color: Cream/Tan

5. Bloom Time: Mid Spring

6. Foliage:Grown for foliage, Evergreen

7. Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

8. Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)

9. Propagation Methods: From seed; germinate in vitro in gelatin, agar or other medium

10. Pests: spider mites are a real problem with your indoor use of this Waltham, MA office plant. Spraying and wiping with canola oil and a clean cloth that must be washed later, can keep your Phoenix robellini healthy and flourishing. Visit our PDIPLANTSBlog.com for more info.

Above is example of an underwatered Phoenix Robellini.

At Plantscape Designs Inc. we always inspect for spider mites on our indoor office plants. PDI never applies insecticides to your indoor office plants. We always use safe biological predators or parasites.

Plantscape Designs Inc of Stoneham, MA services the following area cities and towns in Massachusetts:

Boston, MA Cambridge, MA Wakefield, MA Woburn, MA Peabody, MA Wilmington, MA Tewksbury, MA Methuen, MA Needham, MA Andover, MA Dedham, MA

Andover, MA Westboro, MA Acton, MA Westford, MA Chelmsford, MA Billerica, MA Burlington,MA Bedford, MA Lexington, MA Wellesley, MA Watertown, MA

Lynnfield, MA Danvers, MA Saugus, MA Beverly, MA Salem, MA Reading, MA North Reading, MA Marlboro, MA Southboro, MA Northboro, MA Stoneham, MA

Why use arrow head indoor office plants in your officescapes?

The arrowhead plant goes by numerous names including arrowhead vine, American evergreen, five fingers, and nephthitis. Although it may be grown outdoors in some regions, the arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum) is typically grown as a houseplant.

Overall, arrowhead plant care is quite easy. The arrowhead plant should be allowed to dry out between waterings. Although the plant enjoys some moisture, it should not be kept too wet, which may lead to root rot. It prefers temperatures between 60 ºF and 75 ºF but can tolerate a wider range, if necessary. Proper arrowhead plant care requires humid conditions, especially during dry winter months. Mist the plant daily or place its container on a tray filled with pebbles and water for optimal growth. The arrowhead plant can be fertilized monthly with a balanced fertilizer.

The leaves change shape as the plant matures, beginning as an “arrowhead” shape, and then changing into three to five finger-like sections. Leaves are generally green in color but there are many varieties that include variegated leaves of differing shades. The heavily variegated varieties require bright, filtered light. Average light is the norm for solid green varieties or those with less variegation. Keep them away from direct sunlight, as this will cause the arrowhead plant to burn or bleach. The arrowhead plant will tolerate low light levels on occasion.

Arrowhead Plant Root Structure

The arrowhead plant root structure is quite extensive, spreading and growing to the point of becoming invasive in the wild. Even within a contained environment, because of arrowhead plant root structure, the plant should be repotted every second spring. This plant can also be propagated through division, cuttings (which can be rooted easily in water), and air layering. Gloves should be worn when working with the arrowhead plant, as its sap can be irritating to sensitive individuals.

If the arrowhead-shaped foliage is preferred, simply cut off the climbing stems as they develop. The plant will take on a bushier appearance, with less climbing, and the leaves will remain more arrow shaped.

Plantscape Designs Inc of New England has been applying these colorful indoor office plants in our clients interiorlandscape designs for over 38 years.

Coffee grounds can help your indoor office plants.

Coffee grounds have long been used as fertilizer for plants. They can be added to existing or new garden beds. The grounds will run off and keep out ants, garden snails and slugs from your gardening beds.

How grounds benefit plants

Coffee grounds provide plants with many of essential nutrients including magnesium, calcium and nitrogen. Theses nutrients are very beneficial to plants and are often found in fertilizers. The grounds can add a significant amount of acidity to the soil. Blueberries, roses, and gardenias are a few plants known to love acidic soil. Using coffee grounds for other plants may prove to be harmful. Before adding the grounds to any plant research it and learn if acidic soil is preferred.

Other benefits included making the soil easier to till, which is good news if you're no longer a teenager with a strong back. Worms eat coffee grounds and are quite beneficial to have in your garden. The worms spread the nutrients as they travel through the dirt. This aerates the soil, which means more oxygen is provided to the roots. The more oxygen that reaches a plants root the better its health and growth.

How to use

There are different ways of putting the grounds to work in your garden. For example, they may be sprinkled around the base of existing plants. With this method the plant receives a small dose of nitrogen each time it is watered. Piles of coffee grounds can be harmful to the plant, depriving it of oxygen as the grounds clump together.

You may also use them by digging them into the ground around plants. Avoid going deeper than one inch, mixing the soil and coffee carefully than watering the plant.

If you are preparing new beds for planting, use the grounds by tilling them well into the soil. Before planting, water the soil thoroughly, so the nutrients are properly released into the soil.

Plantscape designs Inc. is currentlly using the coffee grounds in our clients office plants as a greenplant solution to the above problems presented to us in your office design locations.

Why go vertical with your interior officescapes?

First, vertical is the "in" design look for modern contemporary offices today. Vertical takes up less office space in smaller workplaces.

Second, sleeker, trimmer linear design has a different eye appeal then past 80', 90's and early 2000's jungle look.

Third, architecturally the new narrow containers are more suitable for your newer constructed offices today, focusing on the shape and finishes of the planters as part of the office furniture design.

A nicer neater look with fewer more stately presented office plants. PDI uses this design in Waltham , MA cityscapes.

why use orthigalums in your interior office work place?

What are orthigalums (star of bethlehems)?

The chincherinchee is also known as Ornithogalum. The Greeks used the term "bird's milk" ornithos (bird) and gala (milk) to describe something incredible, hence one of their common names is “Wonder Flower” or "Star of Bethlehem". The South Africans know them as "tjenkenrientjee" which is where the odd English name chincherinchee comes from. Sometimes are called a "florist's nightmare" because they have such a long vase life. They can easily last a whole month, and it will be a while before anyone has a need to return to the florist.Their flowers, bell and star-shaped, are showy and sometimes very fragrant . They bloom individually in circles carried at the top of leafless stems, and usually white but also yellow and orange.The best known is Ornithogalum thyrsoides. Ornithogalum umbellatum has larger star-shaped white flowers and narrow leaves. This variety's most eye-catching feature is the beautiful green stripe on each flower.

Ornithogalum thyrsoides is native to South Africa and the Ornithogalum umbellatum is native to the Mediterranean, and all varieties are available all year round. They belong to the Liliaceae (lily) family and grow from bulbs. PDI uses these flowers in our weekly flower programs in our N.E plantscapes.