How do your indoor office plants grow?

Our plantscapes of N.E. clients within the sourounding Boston, MA and Rte 128 area are incubators for green plant growth.

Growth is certainly one of the most striking phenomena observable in any plant ecosystem or just in your office plants alone!

Meristems is the cell division, enlargement-elongation, and specialization of green plant cells of your indoor office plants, that is also called growth. But how does this work? Why do your plant cells divide, enlarge-elongate, and differentiate?

Genetics and growth hormones are what make your interior office plants grow and stay healthy.

At PDI Plants that is our job to keep these complicated biochemical processes functioning correctly within your office plants.

Plantscape Designs Inc. uses "Bio Pots"For our monthly orchid programs.

Why does Plantscape Designs Inc. use "Bio Pots" with its monthly orchid programs?

PDI uses "Bio Pots"with its monthly orchid programs because they look sleek, modern and are biodegradable.

"Bio Pots" are made with renewable bamboo fibers and are biodegradable . Once damaged or disposed of, they are easily decomposed , environmentally friendly.

These containers come in all colors of the rainbow useful in many of our Boston cityscapes.

Plantscape Designs Inc. uses these pots in all of our N.E. Plantscape locations.

Why use terra cotta or plastic grow pots in Woburn ,MA?

Why use terra cotta or plastic grow pots with your indoor office plants?

The difference between terra cotta and plastic grow pots for your indoor office green plants is the rate of evaporation of water from either of your terra cotta or plastic pots.

If your office plants are grown in terra cotta pots, your rate of evaporation will be much greater than if your potted green plants were potted in plastic. The reason is terra cotta pots are porous for water to evaporate threw, plastic pots are not.

Plastc pots tend to keep the water in the soil of the potted plants in longer, requiring you to water your office green plants less frequently.

Plantscape Designs Inc services the New England foliage of the 128RTE and Woburn, MA areas.

Why use Starbucks coffee grounds in your indoor office plants soil?

Many consumers are unaware of the fact that by-products from the kitchen make excellent additions to compost,” said Ginny Black, communications chairperson of the United States Composting Council. “Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients and beneficial for any backyard compost effort. The U.S. Composting council applauds Starbucks for their environmentally responsible donation and encourages consumers to take advantage of this generous opportunity.”

PDI plants is currently mixing used starbucks coffee grounds in our customers office plant soils.

By doing this coffee mixture, organic nutrients (alot of nitogen, magnesium potassium, some phosphorous , Calcium and Micronutrients) are added to the potted soils as well. Naturally normalizing the ph of the plant's soil.

At Plantscape Designs Inc. we are encouraging all interior landscapers and business office personnel to blend sparingly coffee grounds into their indoor office plant soils. Too much might chemically burn your indoor office plants.

To begin composting at home, Black recommends gardeners fill a wooden or plastic bin with a mixture of leaves and other yard trimmings and then mix in coffee grounds and kitchen scraps (no animal products). To help the pile decompose faster, it is important to make sure that the materials are moist (like a wrung-out sponge) but not soggy. Aerating the pile by mixing and turning also encourages the composting process. Compost is ready for the garden when it has fully decomposed into a dark rich soil-like material. A half-inch to an inch of compost on top of the soil feeds plants, prevents plant diseases, suppresses weeds and conserves water.

The proper amount of coffee grounds to be used depends on soil condition and what is being grown in a garden. Contact a local gardening expert to learn what is best for your region. Or call us at PDI for indoor office plant soil testing.

Plantscape Designs Inc. service the Boston, Ma and 128 RTE, Ma. business communities.

Gas exchange between your indoor plant's leafs and your office environment.

The leaf , exposed to the open air, exchanges not only gases with this air but also heat by molecular collisions on its surface.

The carbon dioxide taken up in photosynthesis and released by respiration, the oxygen moving in a opposite direction out of the leaves; water vapor, volatile organic and other materials moving in and out and energy being exchanged in various forms is what is going on inside your office tropical plants.

These gases such as water vapor, oxygen and fragrances are emitted into your offices as a health benefit to you and your staff. PDI currently services Cambridge, MA officescapes.

Why go vertical with your indoor office plants and containers?

Why go vertical with your indoor office plants and containers?

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.

Spring is here!

Spring is here! Your N.E. interior officescapes can now have spring flowers early right through the winter. PDI interior landscapers in the Boston area have dozens of species and colors of those flowering plants for your reception desk now. Delivery is always included as well as a designer container framing your bright and festive live flowering accents . Call us for your weekly, bi-monthly or monthly flowering programs needed in your receptions and conference room. Add some color add some life! Yes we do office plant care service in the Boston MA area.

What is the difference between Hardi cacti and tropical cacti?

Are your indoor office plants hardi cacti or tropical cacti?

There is a big difference between the two if you want to water them correctly.

Hardi cacti like the opuntia species humifusa (-45 degrees F) is native to the eastern United States; its pads ( upper photo) are bright green and its flowers are vivid yellow.

Similarly widespread but found in the West is Opuntia polyacantha ( plains prickly pear, hardy to - 25 F) . Opuntia fragilis ( to -35 F) grows throughout Canada and the West into Mexico.

You must water their sandy soil lightly.

Tropical cacti ( lower photo) are native to the rain forest regions. These prefer high humidity, warmth and rich soil. Most are epiphytes ( air plants that use trees for support but do not derive nourishment from them). You must water these foliage office plants more frequently.

Epiphyllums ( orchid cacti) produce impressive flowers in late spring.

Flowers of popular Schlumbergera truncata, from Brazil, appear in mid winter, hence the common name Christmas ( or holiday) cactus.

PDI uses both these species of cacti in our interior and exterior green foliage designs in the Andover, MA office buildings.

Why use Crassulas in your N.E.plantscapes Andover, MA?

What are Crassulas? Crassulas are succulents. There are numerous species and cultivars of Crassulas. The two main forms are jadelike and stacked. Crassulas are semi arid plants , not cacti but close to it.

The plant to left is a representive of stacked species and he plant to the right a cultivar of the jadelike type.

Crassulas ,like jade plants love the sun and high light south exposure office windows.

The texture of these indoor plants is thick and hard unlike your typical tropical indoor office plants.

Jades have thick stems and form mounding, branching shrubs that can be pruned into small trees and used for bonsai.

Flowers appear midwinter through spring, borne in clusters that may be massed so profusely the plant appears blanketed with snow. The common jade ( Crassula ovata) has thumbsized, oval green leaves edged in red. Siver dollar jade (Crassula arborescens) has red edged silvery gray leaves .

PDI currently uses these foliage indoor plants at our Andover, Ma locations.

Why use river rocks in your interior landscape designs?

Why use river rocks in your interior landscape designs, because river rocks give your indoor office plants a more contemporary finished look. Gray dried spanish moss or wood chips gives your office foliage a natural softer look design .

River rocks are certainly more expensive for your Boston cityscape office designs, however, in the long run it is less expensive to use because there is no need to constantly replace these once live plant dressings of spanish moss or wood chips that need to be replace over a period of time. PDI is currently using river rock dressings in Waltham, MA Lexington, Ma and Woburn, Ma.

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.

Speaking of Light and your indoor office plants.

As the days grow longer and your interior office plants produce new growth, they can become unruly and miss shaped. This is the perfect time for Plantscape Designs of N.E. to prune and shape your plants. In the spring giving them a heavy pruning, they have a summer of long days to recover and push out lots of new foliage. This will make your plants more shapely and beautiful. Many of our clients' ficus trees are perfect candidates for such pruning and shaping in the Cambridge - Boston areas. This is just another green plant solution by PDIPlants Boston.

It's Not Always About Flowers With Interior Office Plant Design

When we think of adding a colorful accent to our indoor office plants we often think about cut flowers or a flowering potted plant. Actually there is another option. Tropical foliage plants that have beautiful colored leaves. If your office has the right conditions, bright light and warm temperature, there is an unlimited selection of plants that have colorful foliage and variegated leaves. Crotons, Cordyline, Rex begonias, Stromanthe are just a few that can brighten your office with some color. We use many of these on locations in the Boston metro area. Colored leafy botanicals have unlimited plant possiblities.

Now Let's Talk About What New England Interior Landscapers Can Do Outside

Spring is getting closer and no doubt our attention starts to look to the outdoors. We can brighten your entrance with beautiful seasonal arrangements. Whether it's a pot of pansies and pussy willows in the spring or a summer splash of color of coleus, celosia and sweet potato vine these arrangements greet your corporate guests with style. Fall pots of kale, cabbage, asters and mums blend well when the fall foliage is at its peek, then the unlimited combinations of evergreens, berries and branches soften even the hardest winter landscape. Our Waltham officescapes have used the above-pictured designs.

PDI Plants recycling programs.

PDI Plants reuses plants where possible in the Waltham, MA cityscapes.

We donate our tired plants from our clients interior offices to local nursing homes on the RTE 128 area. These not so perfect plants that PDI takes out of our office locations are cared for by the nursing home residents and made whole once again for their personal enjoyment.

PDI's unconditional free replacement guarentee policy is attached to all our clients green plant service contracts in the Burligton MA. area.

Many of our older colored container finishes have been resprayed or refinished to a powdered steel. Currently this is a more popular finish for our office plant customers as well as a lower cost to their budgets.

Where can I use this plant in my office work place?

Just in! Four foot to five foot mass appeals with and with out character lines. Great for those narrow spaces within your office work place wether it be downtown Boston MA or Burlington and Bedford MA office locations. These new botanicals are designed for low light areas in and around your office interiorscape. Originally, straight tri-cane massangeannas, the mass appeals are the same plant species with added character bends to their stems. Hence, making these green plants more interesting within your office greenscape. This photo illustrates a mix of the original and the newer character bend plant, creating unlimited green plant design possibilities in your office.

Why Are Your Office Green Plants Turning Yellow, Dropping Leaves or Have Browning Tips?

Although such symptoms like the ones above may be serious and easily detected, hundreds of things can go wrong. The root systems of your office plants, infectious diseases or inadequate plant care from your current provider may be the cause of your "sad" looking plants. For example the photo illustrares an insect trip infection . PDIPlants.com can help. Just log on. We can help. Boston, MA is where we care for your office plants.

Why have interior landscapers water your indoor office plants?

The reason for having interior landscapers water your office plants is because most office personal do not have the time to do it.

Office plants need to be watered properly because they are so costly if they decay and die.

If your interior office plants are not watered correctly, they can become unsightly.

Root structures such as fine delicate root hairs can become soft, non functional and even decompose.

Without the correct watering procedure the roots can not function properly.

Water, nutrients and minerals will not be absorbed from the soil into the plant. Transpiration up and through the root hairs, roots stem and then finally through and out of the leaves , will not occur.

The result is wilting then death of your indoor plants.

How Can You Eliminate Your "New Office" Odor?

Okay, it looks great! New rugs, new paint, new furniture and cubicles, but it smells of chemicals. A great way to help eliminate that smell in your office space is to put in some foliage plants. It has been proven by NASA that foliage plants have the ability to filter carcinogens out of the air. All those new surfaces named above have toxic compounds. Chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, ammonia, trichloroethylene and other harmful molecules. Add office plants so you have a cleaner place to breath and a more ambient atmosphere to work in, a win, win situation. N.E. plantscapers should all be using more spathophiliums, philodendrons and warnakii plants in their green plant office designs.

Need inexpensive interior landscaping botanicals?

Many office plant interiors need inexpensive interior landscaping because of todays restricted budgets. Plantscape Designs Inc. can solve this problem with a minimalist design solution using cacti, succulents, aloes and flowering kalanchoes in your planters. Using rocks of varing sizes helps give this design solution a cleaner simpler look and feel. By using the above botanicals, less labor and maintenance is required therefore lower monthly fees charged. Please remember desert like botanicals such as listed above require high light sun exposure. PDI Plants currently services a cactus garden in Andover, MA.

acura Installation by PDI Plants

The interior green plant care and installation of The Acura Showroom by Plantscape Designs Inc. has softened and enhanced the architectural beauty of that building. Customers are attracted and drawn in to the products as well as the environment

Why have flowering programs in your interior offices?

Our boston cityscapes clients are accented with either monthly or bi-weekly flowering programs.

PDI plants are strategically located through out many down town offices with our tropical green plants.

The flowering programs give both unlimited color and variety to our clients reception areas.

Low cost living potted plants last longer then cut flowers.

It All Starts With a Balanced Environment, Boston Area

Your plants need a holostic approach to plant health care. Your green plants should be one with your office workplace. The basic environmental elements that promote plant health care are simple: soil, a proper balance of nutrients, balanced soil acidity, enough root and crown space, ample water, optimum temperature and light, pure air, and freedom from pests and diseases. When just one of these above elements are out of the healthful range stress develops for your office plants, resulting in unsightly greenery, that is when you log on to our website www.pdiplants.com. We can help solve your green plant problems. PDI services the Waltham, Burlington, Lexington, Woburn, MA areas.

How can my interior plant care service improve?

Your plant care service can improve the appearance of your office plants by doing the following :

- weekly service by your plant technician is crucial, not bimonthly or once a month visits

-the use of higher quality shade adapted office plants grown under screens and not under open farms

-better paid and educated staff

-rapid customer response to customers concerns

These are just some of what PDI does for its clients.

Why interior landscape a fitness center?

Plantscape Designs Inc. has just been awarded a green plant service contract for a Woburn Rte 128 fitness center. Why, because tropical plants help clean the air in their facility, lowering the Co2 levels increasing the 02 levels within the fitness center. Green plants soften the hard glass and metal design of the fitness equipment and workout rooms. Finally, PDI green plants help soften the noise levels of the working machines the clients are using.

Why Should Office Work Places Use Mass Appeals in Their Interior Design?

For the last 40 years the vertical straight up Tri Dracena Marginatas have dominated the office work places of Downtown Boston, Cambridge, Waltham and the Route 128 business communities. No more. This new arrival has differing growth lines and character that the older cultivar does not. Shapely and more fluid lines accompany this new plant species giving it unlimited office plant options to enhance your office space and reception area.

Why Use Potted Flowering Plants and Not Cut Flowers?

These colorful assorted 6" violets will brighten up any office reception area. Lasting weeks, the African violet retains its value and is within every CEO's budget. Potted flowering violets can last up to 4 weeks versus 3 to 4 days for cut flowers. Violets can give your office work place unlimited plant color possibilities.

Diversity in the Workplace?

Well, I'm not talking the "PC" kind, but the diverse plant genus, Ficus. This genus of plant has an almost unlimited range of sizes, forms and textures which make it an excellent choice for the office. From the ubiquitous Ficus benjamina (pictured here), in the standard tree form, to the bold leaves of the Ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig) down to the tiny leaved Ficus pumila, there is a member of this family to suit every office environment. Ficus, in general, are native to India and parts of Asia. They exude a white milky substance, or latex, when cut. Ficus elastica, also commonly known as the rubber plant, was the basis for rubber products but has been replaced with a species of another plant genus, Hevea.

Office plants, whats in a name?

The split leaf philodendron is a common foliage plant that has some points of interest. These plants can provide a beautiful accent to your office space whether your have low to medium light conditions or wonderful natural light. Botanically named, Monstera deliciosa, aptly describes its attributes.
The genus Monstera refers to the monstrous green leaves it produces in its native habitat of Mexico and Central America. The plant climbs to a height of more than eighty feet producing leaves that are three feet long and almost as wide. The leaves are deeply incised on the margins and dotted with holes in the center. This allows the plant to withstand storms and hurricanes by allowing the wind to blow through the leaves minimizing damage to the plant.
Monteras for the most part are poisonous. Except for the fruit, hence the species, deliciosa. After flowering, the arum of the flower develops into a delicious scaled fruit that is fragrant and has a flavor of pineapple and pear.
Who said Latin was difficult?

Little flies flying around your computer monitor?

Little flies flying around your computer monitor? These insects are most likely Fungus gnats. These little critters are annoying, however, they do not bite or sting in any way. If you are getting bit or stung you have another insect in your workplace office. Fungus gnats can be eliminated in a number of safe easy ways.

One, the flies eggs reside on the upper top inch of soil in your office plants. You can scrape this upper top layer of soil with a latex glove or paper towel and discard it off your property. Please do not use insecticides, because this could be harmful to everyone in your office, particularly to pregnant women and employees with allergies.

Two, we at PDI use biological controls such as predatory nematodes, microscopic "wormlike " animals that feed on the fungus gnat eggs. By using biological controls such as live nematodes you break the cycle of life for the fungus gnats, and begin a most pleasant life in your office workplace. We started using these safe techniques 20 years ago in the Boston, MA.