January 10: Houseplant Appreciation Day

Houseplants are good for you. Not only do they look nice, but they have some surprising benefits if you have them at home or in the office. They are said to reduce stress - getting out in nature does that, but for the times you can't, a green plant on your desk can help. Studies in workplaces have shown that people who work in offices with plants benefit from cleaner air, lower noise levels, higher productivity and creativity (an evolutionary thing, apparently - people are less stressed if they can see plants, which to ancient man would mean there's a source of food nearby so they can concentrate on something other than looking for their next meal). One of the most popular and easiest to grow houseplants is the Spider plant - so here are ten facts about spider plants.

1. The Latin name for the spider plant is Chlorophytum comosum.
2. Other common names for the plant are airplane plant, St. Bernard's lily, spider ivy, ribbon plant, and hen and Chickens.
3. They come in several varieties. Some have plain Green leaves while others have White stripes down the middle of the leaves (C. comosum 'Vittatum'), or along the edges (C. comosum 'Variegatum'). The variegated types are the most common.
4. The plant is native to southern Africa, but has spread throughout the world.
5. Spider plants reproduce by sending out long stems with tiny plants on the end, which look like little spiders dangling from a web, hence the common name. They do flower - the flowers are small and white.
6. A spider plant can grow to a size of up to 60 centimetres (24 in) high. Its roots are about 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long, the leaves are 20–45 cm (8–18 in) long and 6–25 millimetres (0.2–1.0 in) wide.
7. Your spider plant isn't just sitting on your desk looking pretty. It's actually hard at work neutralising air pollution. Like most plants, it will be turning carbon dioxide into breathable Oxygen as part of the photosynthesis process but it will also be hard at work neutralising harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, and xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries. 70 plants would neutralize the formaldehyde production of a 160 m2 [1,700 sq ft] energy-efficient house. Research by NASA has shown that a single spider plant was able to reduce dangerous levels of carbon dioxide in a room by 96 per cent in 24 hours.
8. Cats seem to like to eat spider plants. They are thought to have a mild hallucinogenic effect on the animals, similar to catnip. While it is probably not pleasant for the plant to be eaten by a cat, it won't kill your pet. It's not toxic to either Dogs or cats, but if your cat eats too much of it it might get a tummy upset.
9. Spider plants are also one of the easiest house plants to grow. They will tolerate temperatures down to 2 °C (35 °F), but grow best at temperatures between 18 °C (65 °F) and 32 °C (90 °F), and can tolerate it if you forget to water them. They'll let you know when they're really thirsty as their green colour starts to fade. Give them a good soaking and they perk up quickly!
10. A tip if you want to transplant baby spider plants into new pots. Spray the young plant's roots with a spray bottle before you separate them to lessen the shock of being taken away from its mother.

New!

Secrets and Skies

Jack Ward, President of Innovia, owes his life twice over to the enigmatic superhero, dubbed Power Blaster by the press. No-one knows who Power Blaster is or where he comes from - and he wants it to stay that way.

Scientist Desi Troyes has developed a nuclear bomb to counter the ever present threat of an asteroid hitting the planet. When Ward signs the order giving the go ahead for a nuclear test on the remote Bird Island, he has no inkling of Troyes' real agenda, and that he has signed the death warrants of millions of people.

Although the island should have been evacuated, there are people still there: some from the distant continent of Classica; protesters opposed to the bomb test; and Innovians who will not, or cannot, use their communication devices.

Power Blaster knows he must stop the bomb from hitting the island. He also knows it may be the last thing he ever does.

Meanwhile in Innovia, Ward and his staff gather to watch the broadcast of the test. Nobody, not even Troyes himself, has any idea what is about to happen.

Part One of The Raiders Trilogy.

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle