[katonca]

Originally Posted by MightyQueenC

*perk*


*uses the common names, so as not to dazzle, Kat too much*

In my North East window ... Norther than you, I might add , I grow miniature, trailing and common African Violets, solid green and the regular striped Spider Plant, Philodendron (3 varieties ), Stag Horn Fern, Snake Plant (or Monther-In-Law's Tongue) .... um ... *looks up and behind her* Purple Passion Vine (velvety smooooth), Cast Iron Plant (apparently no one can kill this plant, although mine could just be petrified and I don't know it. Odd plant), Rosary Vine (a succulent), Golden Pothos or Devil's Ivy , Button Fern, Dracena, Wandering Jew, and Pony Tail Palm. I've grown many other plants quite well at this exposure.

You could also install pot lights or direct spot lighting using plant lights to add more "sun". Spider Plants and Pothos are the only two I'm fairly certain "clean the air" but I wouldn't reply on plants too heavily for that, so some sort of air filtration should be used.

I'm too lazy tonight to provide links , so just Google some of the names above to see a photo and get a description and requirements. To look for other plants that may suit your light limitations, Google, Low light houseplants and see what looks appealing.

I'm a little strapped for time this week, but will have a look into this, when I get a chance.

Thanks MQC, I use to grow pothos and spiders and did very well with them. I may have to try them again.

I'm trying to clean the air cheaply, I know...... but it's a start and appreciate your input and help

Air filtration is next

[Tuppence2]

Hello katonca.

I found an article which suggests looking to see what's grown in town and city parks, or on roundabouts, etc., as the more hardy plants will be chosen for that purpose. I know plane trees are grown in London as they are one of the few trees that do well in polluted air. I expect you will find that tender plants won't do well. You'll need the real "toughies". Any of the wild flowers and plants that grow in your area should be of interest, too.
Check out some of the gardening threads on-line as I'm sure many people have the same problem as you.

(This site took some time to load and, in case it doesn't, I post an extract mentioning plants

http://www.cababstractsplus.org/goog...No=20053036177

"English Title: Choice of pollution-resistant garden plants.
Personal Authors: Zhu MeiYing, Zhang Pin, Lian FangQin, Xiong MeiLan
Author Affiliation: College of Land Resources and Environment, JAU, Nanchang 330045, China.
Document Title: Acta Agriculturae Universitatis Jiangxiensis, 2004 (Vol. 26) (No. 6) 941-943

Abstract:

The response of Dianthus superbus, Iris tectorum, Zephyranthes candida, Reineckea carnea and Sedum sarmentosum to Cu, Cd and Pb was evaluated in pot experiments. D. superbus showed the best repairing effect on soil polluted by Cd. R. carnea showed the best repairing effect on Cu-polluted oil, while S. sarmentosum showed the best repairing effect on Pb-polluted soil. In heavy metal-polluted soil, D. superbus showed the highest repairing effect, while Z. candida produced the least.

Publisher: Jiangxi Agricultural University

About CAB Abstracts
CAB Abstracts is a unique and informative resource covering everything from Agriculture to Entomology to Public Health. In April 2006 we published our 5 millionth abstract, making it the largest and most comprehensive abstracts database in its field.

There are numerous records and resources related to this abstract in the CAB Abstracts database. At this time, your institution does not subscribe to CAB Direct so you cannot access them. To find out more about this exciting resource, and how to subscribe, please click here.

CAB Abstracts contains a wealth of information on the following items that are related to the abstract above:
cadmium, copper, heavy metals, lead, metal tolerance, phytotoxicity, pollutants, pollution, tolerance, Iris tectorum, Reineckea, Reineckea carnea, Saxifragales, Sedum sarmentosum, Zephyranthes candida, Dianthus superbus, Iris, Liliaceae, Sedum, Zephyranthes."

Take a look at these, too:

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/to...icle622203.ece

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/essays/2005fa_urban.html

And there's a "pollution resistant" plant mentioned here:

http://www.gardenplansireland.com/ar...article19.html

Let us know if you come across anything of interest.

Penny

[Tuppence2]

A sunny, breezy day, here. Makes a change from the damp!

Hope you're drying out, Bob. Any sign of webbed-feet?

After a nice walk with the dogs, I got all the grass cut. Couldn't do it yesterday in the rain.
I've moved some of the roof tiles I used to line borders, ready for the builder. No sign of him, yet, so more grass cutting looms in my future. Didn't get any more of the hedge cut down.

I watered the tubs which are always dry, even after heavy rain, and dead-headed some roses.

The dogs have had their tea and I'm thinking of mine, now. (5.10 p.m.)

[katonca]

Originally Posted by Tuppence2

Hello katonca.

I found an article which suggests looking to see what's grown in town and city parks, or on roundabouts, etc., as the more hardy plants will be chosen for that purpose. I know plane trees are grown in London as they are one of the few trees that do well in polluted air. I expect you will find that tender plants won't do well. You'll need the real "toughies". Any of the wild flowers and plants that grow in your area should be of interest, too.
Check out some of the gardening threads on-line as I'm sure many people have the same problem as you.

(This site took some time to load and, in case it doesn't, I post an extract mentioning plants

http://www.cababstractsplus.org/goog...No=20053036177

"English Title: Choice of pollution-resistant garden plants.
Personal Authors: Zhu MeiYing, Zhang Pin, Lian FangQin, Xiong MeiLan
Author Affiliation: College of Land Resources and Environment, JAU, Nanchang 330045, China.
Document Title: Acta Agriculturae Universitatis Jiangxiensis, 2004 (Vol. 26) (No. 6) 941-943

Abstract:

The response of Dianthus superbus, Iris tectorum, Zephyranthes candida, Reineckea carnea and Sedum sarmentosum to Cu, Cd and Pb was evaluated in pot experiments. D. superbus showed the best repairing effect on soil polluted by Cd. R. carnea showed the best repairing effect on Cu-polluted oil, while S. sarmentosum showed the best repairing effect on Pb-polluted soil. In heavy metal-polluted soil, D. superbus showed the highest repairing effect, while Z. candida produced the least.

Publisher: Jiangxi Agricultural University

About CAB Abstracts
CAB Abstracts is a unique and informative resource covering everything from Agriculture to Entomology to Public Health. In April 2006 we published our 5 millionth abstract, making it the largest and most comprehensive abstracts database in its field.

There are numerous records and resources related to this abstract in the CAB Abstracts database. At this time, your institution does not subscribe to CAB Direct so you cannot access them. To find out more about this exciting resource, and how to subscribe, please click here.

CAB Abstracts contains a wealth of information on the following items that are related to the abstract above:
cadmium, copper, heavy metals, lead, metal tolerance, phytotoxicity, pollutants, pollution, tolerance, Iris tectorum, Reineckea, Reineckea carnea, Saxifragales, Sedum sarmentosum, Zephyranthes candida, Dianthus superbus, Iris, Liliaceae, Sedum, Zephyranthes."

Take a look at these, too:

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/to...icle622203.ece

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/essays/2005fa_urban.html

And there's a "pollution resistant" plant mentioned here:

http://www.gardenplansireland.com/ar...article19.html

Let us know if you come across anything of interest.

Penny

Great info Penny......thanks

[eggplant43]

I have a fair amount of knowledge about indoor environments, having spent nearly 30 years dealing with maintaining and improving them. I have some thoughts about how to proceed, which I think I'll do in the order I think you should proceed.

1. Physically inspect your environment to make sure it is sealed from the outside. Most likely candidates, doors and windows. I can't tell you how many times I've found windows that were not latched, and were leaking air, a lot of it. Same with doors, physically inspect the seal, make sure they are flush (even), rather than being crooked.

In the heat of the day, feel around them, see if heat is leaking in, a sure sign there is a problem. You'll actually feel a flow or stream of hot air if there is a problem.

This is the most important thing you can do, prevention will make more difference than anything else.

2. Look for "filtration lines". These will be darkened areas on the wall or flooring where a stream of air, carrying dirt over a long period of time, and depositing it in minute amounts has developed. These are commonly seen over heat ducts, wall heaters, radiators on walls, which is normal, but other places are not, so look for them.

3. Next, outside. Are there plantings outside between the roadway and the house such as shrubs and trees?
These can act as active filters, scrubbing the dirt from the air on the way to the house, they can make a BIG difference. They also assist in reducing noise pollution. Many sources are now recommending planting bamboo, it apparently scrubs the air twice as effectively as trees. Be careful and research first, as many bamboos are highly invasive

4. Energy Audit - Many utilities, like the gas company will do a free inspection of your house to identify places where you're losing heat or cooling. If your house is more efficient, and loses less energy, it is less expensive for you, and reduces the amount of energy requirements they need to supply, allowing them to not have to develop more capacity, which is becoming increasingly difficult, and expensive.

All of these are more important than the plants inside, because the real issue here is parts per million. That is the ratio of gas, or particles to clean air. By prevention first, you reduce the ppm (parts per million), thus making it reasonable for the plants to do their job, because they simply have less to do.

I hope you'll find this little tutorial useful, and not too technical.

[katonca]

Originally Posted by eggplant43

I have a fair amount of knowledge about indoor environments, having spent nearly 30 years dealing with maintaining and improving them. I have some thoughts about how to proceed, which I think I'll do in the order I think you should proceed.

1. Physically inspect your environment to make sure it is sealed from the outside. Most likely candidates, doors and windows. I can't tell you how many times I've found windows that were not latched, and were leaking air, a lot of it. Same with doors, physically inspect the seal, make sure they are flush (even), rather than being crooked.

In the heat of the day, feel around them, see if heat is leaking in, a sure sign there is a problem. You'll actually feel a flow or stream of hot air if there is a problem.

This is the most important thing you can do, prevention will make more difference than anything else.

2. Look for "filtration lines". These will be darkened areas on the wall or flooring where a stream of air, carrying dirt over a long period of time, and depositing it in minute amounts has developed. These are commonly seen over heat ducts, wall heaters, radiators on walls, which is normal, but other places are not, so look for them.

3. Next, outside. Are there plantings outside between the roadway and the house such as shrubs and trees?
These can act as active filters, scrubbing the dirt from the air on the way to the house, they can make a BIG difference. They also assist in reducing noise pollution. Many sources are now recommending planting bamboo, it apparently scrubs the air twice as effectively as trees. Be careful and research first, as many bamboos are highly invasive

4. Energy Audit - Many utilities, like the gas company will do a free inspection of your house to identify places where you're losing heat or cooling. If your house is more efficient, and loses less energy, it is less expensive for you, and reduces the amount of energy requirements they need to supply, allowing them to not have to develop more capacity, which is becoming increasingly difficult, and expensive.

All of these are more important than the plants inside, because the real issue here is parts per million. That is the ratio of gas, or particles to clean air. By prevention first, you reduce the ppm (parts per million), thus making it reasonable for the plants to do their job, because they simply have less to do.

I hope you'll find this little tutorial useful, and not too technical.

Hi Bruce

My only prob is that I don't have AC and I live so close to the road. I would have to plant a forrest in that 12' buffer zone to get an air quality break

My hope, is to grow plants indoors that would merely improve the quality. If not, AC and filtration will have to occur.

Thanks for the input

[Bush Lady]

I have a problem with my cucumber plants this year. It is something that I have never seen, maybe it could be because of global warming. It he plants as the are growing. The leaves seem as if something is eating then. I tried putting pesticide on them, but I do not want to use so much of the stuff. I do want to eat cucumber, that aren't filled with pesticide.

Some of the plants are doing better than the others, but I think they should look better for the time of year. And they are starting to flower.

Sorry but I can't provide a picture. Have a camera, but need to take it in so it will work properly.

[eggplant43]

Katonca, you don't have to plant the entire area, just a "barrier" area that will catch stuff through airflow before it reaches the house.

BushLady, have you looked under the leaves to see if you can spot a specific insect, or gone out at night with a flashlight?

[Bush Lady]

I went out side after I read the post. There is one big leaf that has large brown spots on it. The other plants are being eaten from the outside in. It seems to be confined to two plants though now. The leave that were eaten are brown on the ends. Hope this helps to find out what it is.

[Tuppence2]

Very interesting, Eggy. Thank you.

I've just planted 35 little leek seedlings given to me by my American neighbour. Only hope they decide our "strange" weather is good enough for them. Was given carrot seeds as well, which can be planted in July, so I might put some in and see how they go.

[eggplant43]

I think they'll do well. I can't think of leeks without thinking of cockie leekie soup, one of my favorites.

Bush Lady, if it's just two plants, I wouldn't worry. Think of them as the catch crop. All the badies go to these two, the rest are safe. For some reason, those two plants are weakened. I hope that makes sense to you.

[Tuppence2]

That's a good idea, to make soup when I harvest the leeks! Hope you are able to contain the problem, Bushlady. Hopefully, as Eggy says, the trouble with stay on the affected plants and not spread.

I was given, yesterday, five or six well grown plants of what I think are Brussel Sprouts, but she thinks are runner beans. Will just have to wait and see what happens.

I spent two hours this morning cutting back a flower hedge I have in the back garden. Unfortunately, it branches wherever it's cut and grows like mad. It has brambles in it, too. Managed to squeeze the cuttings into the recycling bin, due for collection tomorrow.

It's not raining, with periods of sunshine and big white clouds. I'm watching cricket and waiting for the last stage of the Tour d' France.

Good gardening, everyone.
(Sunday)

[Steppinstone]

What happened to my blackberries????

Right in front of my very eyes even.......


Hubby and I were sitting on the backyard swing listening to the birds..When.... Suddenly I spot the offender, hopping low to the ground.. then springing up quickly snatching one, then another and another.......

The american Robin, thats who has been stealing my blackberries

I did manage to get about 3/4 cup full

Take care and happy gardening everyone!
Chari

[eggplant43]

The secret is to plant enough so you both get some

[franca]

Some more of my Dahlias....