News — Plants

s Space is a hot commodity. Floor, counter and especially private outdoor space can be hard to come by, particularly if you’re in an apartment. Luckily, gardening is no longer a hobby restricted to suburbia. All homes have walls, and that’s all you need to become a successful plant parent.  Since house plants have proven to be a lasting trend, there are now wall planters to meet all of your vertical gardening needs. You can grow a mounted herb garden in your kitchen or propped up on your tiny balcony. You can build terrariums along living room walls to help...

Lead image, clockwise from top left: © Sprout Home; © The Sill; © Chelsea Garden Center; © The Sill At long last, it appears springtime’s on its way to New York, transforming streets of sad, wilted grey and brown into, er, slightly less sad-looking grey and brown. If the little buds starting to sprout on tree branches in the parks and on the streets aren’t enough green for you, there are plenty of plant shops in the city that’ll help introduce some oxygenating goodness into your own apartment, no matter how small, dark, or pet-filled it may be. Note that...

ss Dear EarthTalk: Besides generating seasonal allergens, do any plants actually reduce air quality or cause air pollution? —Mike T., San Juan, PR While many of us thought Ronald Reagan sounded crazy back in 1981 when he told America that “trees cause more pollution than automobiles do,” the then-President may have been on to something. Researchers from the University of California at Berkeley recently unveiled the results of a study in which they determined that certain trees and plants common in Southern California off-gas natural yet nevertheless harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—to attract pollinators, protect against environmental stressors, and repel...

s Space is a hot commodity. Floor, counter and especially private outdoor space can be hard to come by, particularly if you’re in an apartment. Luckily, gardening is no longer a hobby restricted to suburbia. All homes have walls, and that’s all you need to become a successful plant parent.  Since house plants have proven to be a lasting trend, there are now wall planters to meet all of your vertical gardening needs. You can grow a mounted herb garden in your kitchen or propped up on your tiny balcony. You can build terrariums along living room walls to help...

Collaborative feature If you’re spending more time in the garden at the moment, you’ll probably want to allocate some space to growing fruit, veg and plants, as well as enjoying a little relaxation. Here’s how to combine the two to get the most out of your garden this summer… First and foremost, it’s important to get outside and get some fresh air at the moment – and where better to do that than in the safety of your own garden. You can feel relaxed, knowing that you are safe at home, while still enjoying the benefit of the lovely weather...