Indoor vertical gardens, also known as green walls, offer significant practical benefits for homeowners aiming to enhance living spaces in terms of beauty, comfort, health, and sustainability.

Scientifically, green walls can reduce indoor pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide by about 40%, particulate matter (PM10) by 60%, and ozone by 30%.

They also lower fine particulate matter (PM2.5), contributing to cleaner indoor air.

These walls naturally regulate indoor temperature, which can reduce reliance on mechanical cooling and ultimately save energy while lowering carbon emissions.

The plant-driven filtration provided by green walls is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly .

Research shows that green walls enhance mental health by reducing stress, improving visual interest, and fostering a connection with nature.

Access to indoor greenery has been linked to improved well-being, increased relaxation, and, indirectly, lower risks related to pollution and stroke .

Maintenance requires attention to five areas: adequate light (sometimes requiring artificial lighting), temperature management (avoiding drafts and heat sources), proper watering and drainage, regular pest checks (using safe controllers like neem oil), and spatial arrangement.

Automated irrigation can minimize manual care needs.

Consulting professionals can help ensure the right plant choices and optimal system design .

For plant selection, adaptable and resilient species such as aloe vera, snake plant, pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, spider plant, philodendron, and jade plant are recommended due to their easy maintenance and suitability for various climates.

Plant choice should match local climate conditions; succulents thrive in drier areas, while ferns and hydrangeas are suited for more humid or cooler locations.

Using native plants increases sustainability and survival rates .

Indoor vertical gardens, also known as green walls, offer significant practical benefits for homeowners aiming to enhance living spaces in terms of beauty, comfort, health, and sustainability.

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Content: 6 Easy Ways to Build an Indoor Garden
CHITING CHANG – HOMIFY
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Indoor plants are not only beautiful, they bring natural greenery to your room, they also have the function of purifying toxins in the air.
If you don ’ t have a large garden or balcony space to grow flowers and plants, you can still work on creating a small garden indoors.
Today ’ s idea book will teach you 6 simple ways to build an indoor garden.
After reading these methods, you should no longer be able to use the space limit as an excuse!
1. Palm Trees
If you want to plant a tree indoors, you must choose plants that can survive in low light conditions.
An atmospheric, tropical palm tree is the perfect choice.
If you have concerns about the frequency of watering and the temperature in the room, ask a professional for more details.
2.
Glass bonsai
Terrarium Installations
The Urban Botanist
Easy to handle, small glass potted plants are ideal for small suites or work desks! You can choose large glass containers, such as old light bulbs, fish tanks, candy cans, etc., then put a small stone as the bottom, spread the moss, and then put the soil.
The next step is to put your plants in the soil and then spread the moss.
When finished, you can put on your favorite decorations again, so that the simple glass potted plant is finished.
3.
Fill the walls with plants.
Green walls can be the most natural decoration in the home, and can also remove toxins from the air and improve the quality of life.
Although the idea is simple, building a green wall can be a tricky task, and if you are not confident in your DIY skills, you can consult with homify experts.
4.
Hang the plants on the wall.
Hanging Vintage Garden Tap Planter
ELLA JAMES
If the above green wall is a bit too much, then you can choose to hang plants on the wall.
If you don ’ t like the general method, you can follow the above example and choose the potted plants made of water taps, so that your potted plants can also be used as decorations in your home.
5.
Kitchen Spices
The easiest way to create an indoor garden is to plant the herbs you need.
Put your favorite herbs in the kitchen, in addition to making the kitchen full of green surprises, you can also let the vanilla smell in the air.
6.
Make your living space green
We love the concept of an indoor garden!
Put a wooden table on the plant of the tree, it becomes a unique tree table.
When guests come to visit, do you have the feeling of playing chess and making tea in the old banyan tree?
More Inspiration for Interior Decoration: 17 Simple and Affordable Ways to Make Your Home Better
Do you need someone to help you design or build your home?
Find a professional now!
Find out more about home design!

Scientifically, green walls can reduce indoor pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide by about 40%, particulate matter (PM10) by 60%, and ozone by 30%.

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Content: In order to improve the environmental air quality and let children learn with peace of mind, the Taichung Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has continued to build a clean air green wall in the school. This year, 12 schools in Jianping Elementary School, Juren Elementary School and Chongde Elementary School have received subsidies from the Environmental Protection Department.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau, through the installation of clean air green walls, indoor air quality can be improved. At present, space such as classroom corridors and flower stands outside the daughter wall in Taichung City can be planted, which can achieve the benefits of dust retention, air pollution absorption and temperature regulation.
In order to strengthen the protection of the school environment for children, the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau expanded the subsidy for the construction of a clean air green wall on the campus, and the current subsidy amount to 1.76 million yuan, with an area of 358 square meters.
The Environmental Protection Bureau stressed that currently selected plants that can purify the air and do not need to spend too much money and time to maintain include the Dragon Tubeh, the Junzi and Wu Bamboo, the Turtle, the Cannonflower or the Honeysuckle.
How good is the effect of clean air green wall?
According to international research, vertical clean air green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) by about 40% and 60%. In addition, green walls can also reduce the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in classrooms by about 10% and the concentration of ozone (O3) by about 30%.
Green wall is the most natural and energy efficient air purification facilities, no need to plug in electricity, self-circulation, to achieve the purpose of air purification, can be called the "most environmentally friendly air purifier".
Chen Hongyi, director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, said that in addition to blocking outdoor pollutants and improving indoor air, the air green wall can also adjust the temperature and drive energy conservation and carbon reduction. Next year, Taichung City is expected to expand the subsidy target, including community activity centers, public kindergartens and environmental night markets.
# Green Wall # Air # Cleanliness # Campus # Environment

They also lower fine particulate matter (PM2.5), contributing to cleaner indoor air.

Title:

Content: Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Chiayi
The school received an environmental subsidy of NT $220,000 two years ago to plant large Dumbo flowers to form a green wall, which helps to cool down the temperature and purify the air, and also to install an automatic sprinkler system to maintain the ecology of the green wall.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau of Chiayi City Government, since 2019, the Environmental Protection Department has promoted the vertical air green wall project. Since 2019, three schools, including Xingjia, Jiabei Elementary School and Jiabei Elementary School, have installed climbing plants on the school's daughter wall and the balcony of the classroom.
The Environmental Protection Bureau of the Chiayi Municipal Government said that this year, the Environmental Protection Agency expanded the target of subsidies, in addition to the original subsidies of public middle school, public elementary school, public preschool institutions, public welfare groups, public facilities, environmental protection night market, civic activity center and other venues, air green wall subsidies of 3,000 to 6,000 yuan per square meter, single subsidy ceiling of 400,000 yuan.
According to the Municipal Environmental Protection Agency, according to the results of the study, vertical green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), suspended particulates (PM10) by about 40% and 60%, but also reduce the concentration of indoor fine suspended particulates (PM2.5) by about 10%, ozone by about 30%, and indoor temperature reduction by about 1.8 ℃.
According to the city's Environmental Protection Bureau, the appropriate plant types are lily bamboo, firecracker red, Yunnan yellow carnation, turtle, Boston kidney fern, hydrangea, African pansy or panthera, and can be selected according to the space planning and installation requirements, so that the space is more beautiful.
# Green Wall # Cooling # EPB # EPD # Planting

These walls naturally regulate indoor temperature, which can reduce reliance on mechanical cooling and ultimately save energy while lowering carbon emissions.

The plant-driven filtration provided by green walls is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly .

Research shows that green walls enhance mental health by reducing stress, improving visual interest, and fostering a connection with nature.

Title:

Content: Study reveals risk of living away from green spaces | Health | Essential information for better health | DW | 23.03.2022
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HEALTH
Study reveals risk of living away from green spaces
In a finding that is expected to change many of our perceptions about living in the city, a recent study has revealed just how much health damage people can do when they choose to live in urban areas and away from green spaces.
Green spaces promote human health in different ways, symbolically.
Living near green spaces and away from the noise of the city seems to have a lot of health benefits that unfold over time: a recent study found that living near green spaces can reduce the risk of a stroke by up to 16 percent.
The study, conducted by researchers from Spain, was based on the calculation of green spaces located within 300 meters of the house.
Data from Catalonia ’ s public healthcare system was collected in 2016 and 2017, according to Science Alert.
Spanish researchers analyzed some air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and soot particles, the source said, adding that exposure to these pollutants is increasingly associated with an increased risk of stroke.
watch video 26: 01
Your health in your hands - the impact of indoor air quality on health
Ecologist Kathryn Tone said: “It should be borne in mind that, unlike other air pollutants, which have different sources, nitrogen dioxide is mainly produced by road traffic. ”
According to the study, green spaces promote human health in different ways: reduce stress, provide people with places to engage in various sports activities, and also protect their mental health.
Green spaces may also reduce the likelihood of problems with brain blood vessels.
Spanish neurologist Carla Avellaneda said: "The study demonstrates the importance of environmental determinants in stroke risk," adding: "It is important to understand all risk factors and what they may involve."
Neurologist Jaume Roque said: “We must strive to transform into more sustainable towns and cities where living does not mean an increased risk of disease, ” according to Science Alert.
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Access to indoor greenery has been linked to improved well-being, increased relaxation, and, indirectly, lower risks related to pollution and stroke .

Maintenance requires attention to five areas: adequate light (sometimes requiring artificial lighting), temperature management (avoiding drafts and heat sources), proper watering and drainage, regular pest checks (using safe controllers like neem oil), and spatial arrangement.

Title:

Content: 5 Common Indoor Gardening Challenges And Their Solutions

Saloni Singh
Updated on Jan 22, 2024, 19:36 IST- 5 min read

Indoor gardening is a wonderful way to bring nature into your home and enjoy the benefits of growing plants all year round. However, it comes with its own set of challenges that can sometimes discourage even the most experienced gardeners. In this article, we will explore five common indoor gardening challenges and provide practical solutions to help you overcome them.

The Growing Trend of Indoor Gardening

In recent years, indoor gardening has gained immense popularity among plant enthusiasts. It allows individuals to create a green oasis within the comfort of their homes, regardless of the outdoor climate. However, indoor gardening comes with its own unique challenges that require careful attention and solutions to ensure the thriving growth of your plants.

Unsplash/Representational Image

Challenge 1: Insufficient Light

One of the most common challenges faced by indoor gardeners is the lack of sufficient light. Since natural sunlight is limited indoors, providing adequate light for your plants becomes crucial. Insufficient light can lead to weak growth, leggy stems, and poor flowering.

Solution: To overcome this challenge, you can consider the following solutions:

Place your plants near windows with the brightest light exposure.

Use artificial grow lights, such as fluorescent or LED lights, to supplement the natural light.

Rotate your plants regularly to ensure all sides receive equal light exposure.

Challenge 2: Temperature Control

Maintaining the right temperature for your indoor garden can be a tricky task. Fluctuations in temperature can affect plant growth and overall health. Extreme heat or cold can cause stress and even lead to plant damage.

Solution: Here are some solutions to help you maintain optimal temperature levels:

Identify the temperature requirements of your plants and adjust the indoor environment accordingly.

Use thermostats or temperature-controlled devices to regulate the temperature.

Place plants away from drafts and heating or cooling sources that may cause sudden temperature changes.

Unsplash/Representational Image

Challenge 3: Proper Watering Techniques

Watering plants is a fundamental aspect of gardening, but it can be challenging to strike the right balance. Overwatering or underwatering can have detrimental effects on plant health and growth.

Solution: Follow these guidelines for proper watering:

Learn the specific watering needs of each plant in your indoor garden.

Check the moisture level of the soil before watering.

Provide adequate drainage to prevent waterlogged roots.

Challenge 4: Pest Infestations

Indoor plants are not immune to pests. Common pests, such as aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites, can quickly infest your indoor garden if left unchecked. These pests can weaken your plants and hinder their growth.

Solution: Implement the following measures to tackle pest infestations:

Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pests.

Use organic pest control methods, such as neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Isolate affected plants to prevent the spread of pests.

Challenge 5: Limited Space

One of the significant challenges of indoor gardening is dealing with limited space. As your plant collection grows, finding suitable areas to accommodate them becomes increasingly difficult.

Solution: Here are some solutions for optimizing limited space:

Utilize vertical space by hanging plants or using wall-mounted planters.

Choose compact plant varieties or those that can be trained to grow vertically.

Group plants with similar needs together to make the most of available space.

Unsplash/Representational Image

Indoor gardening offers a rewarding experience, but it requires addressing common challenges effectively. By understanding the obstacles like insufficient light, temperature control, proper watering techniques, pest infestations, and limited space, you can create a thriving indoor garden. Implementing the suggested solutions will help you overcome these challenges and enjoy the beauty of nature within your home.

FAQs

1. How often should I water my indoor plants? The watering frequency depends on various factors such as plant type, size, and environmental conditions. It is best to check the moisture level of the soil before watering to ensure it is neither too dry nor waterlogged.

2. Can I use regular household lights for indoor gardening? Regular household lights are not sufficient for promoting healthy plant growth. It is recommended to use specialized grow lights, such as fluorescent or LED lights, to provide adequate light intensity and spectrum for your plants.

3. What are some natural remedies for pest control in indoor gardens? Several natural remedies can help control pests in indoor gardens. Neem oil, insecticidal soap, and homemade vinegar sprays are effective in combating common pests. However, always follow the instructions and test them on a small portion of the plant before widespread application.

4. How can I make the most of limited space in my indoor garden? To maximize limited space, consider utilizing vertical space by hanging plants or using wall-mounted planters. Choose compact plant varieties or those that can be trained to grow vertically. Grouping plants with similar needs together can also help optimize space.

5. Can I grow vegetables indoors? Yes, you can grow a variety of vegetables indoors. Leafy greens like lettuce and herbs like basil are well-suited for indoor cultivation. Tomatoes, peppers, and microgreens are also popular choices for indoor vegetable gardening.

In conclusion, indoor gardening comes with its own set of challenges, but with the right knowledge and strategies, you can overcome them. By addressing the issues of insufficient light, temperature control, proper watering, pest infestations, and limited space, you can create a thriving indoor garden that brings beauty and serenity to your home. Remember to adapt the solutions to suit your specific plant needs and enjoy the benefits of a flourishing indoor garden.

Automated irrigation can minimize manual care needs.

Title:

Content: How I Prepare for Summer in My Garden

Summer is near, and everything seems to be growing so abundantly that overnight, the garden changes and looks lusher and fuller. Summer brings many great things to a garden. But summer can also bring some challenges.

Preparation is key to making sure that things do not get out of control and that plants remain healthy. Each year, here are some of the things I do to prepare for summer in my garden:

Sowing for Summer in My Garden

A summer garden is where you can really begin to see the fruits of your labors as a gardener. But of course, having those crops growing well and beginning to harvest the edibles you have grown cannot happen overnight.

To reap the rewards in summer, we need to have sown and planted and tended in the spring.

To have a healthy and productive summer garden, I start sowing in January or February indoors and sow much more as spring arrives, which can then be transplanted and placed into my polytunnel or outside in my garden when warmer weather arrives.

To harvest in summer, I sow successionally over the earlier part of the year so that the harvests of summer crops can be enjoyed over as long a season as possible.

Preparing for Summer Heat

I am lucky to live in an area where excessive summer heat is not a common problem. However, since I grow in a polytunnel, as well as outdoors, I do need to think about keeping the undercover growing area cool over the warmest part of the year.

Whether managing summer heat outdoors or under cover in a greenhouse or polytunnel, we need to think about three key things: shade, airflow, and thermal mass.

Shade

When it is warm, we often need to reduce the air temperatures. But we should also think about reducing the temperatures of the soil. We do this by keeping the soil covered by vegetation and by creating shade with plants or with other structures.

I keep the soil cooler in my polytunnel garden by sowing groundcovers and living mulches, as well as by using other organic mulches throughout the space. I also sometimes think about growing taller plants to create shaded areas for lettuce and other plants prone to bolting in summer.

Airflow

However, I also think about airflow and make sure my growing areas and beds do not get congested so that air can pass through. And I have positioned my polytunnel so that summer breezes blow through to cool the space.

Thermal Mass

I also prepared my polytunnel for seasonal fluctuations in temperature by adding materials with good thermal mass (rocks along bed edges, for example).

These materials catch and store the heat energy from the sun during the day, and release that heat slowly when temperatures fall. This helps to keep temperatures more stable throughout the year—keeping things a little cooler in summer and a little warmer during the winter months.

Creating a Water-Wise Summer Garden

Another very important consideration in summer is water. Where I live, true drought is extremely uncommon. But we can have some fairly long dry spells in spring or summer. Since we are on a private water supply, thinking about how and where we use water is particularly important.

Some care and attention up front help me prepare for summer and make sure I can use water wisely throughout the year.

One key job before summer arrives is to make sure that my water barrels are working as they should and that I can harvest rainfall from the roofs on our property.

Another thing that I have to think about is the maintenance of our garden wildlife pond. It is not only our plants that need water but also the many creatures with whom we share our space.

I also need to think about how to reduce the amount of water I use, particularly in my polytunnel. Using soaker hose drip irrigation, mulches, and judiciously creating shaded areas with the plants I grow helps reduce water use within the structure.

Thinking about all of these things before summer arrives helps me to make sure my garden does not encounter any major issues during the warmest part of the year.

Consulting professionals can help ensure the right plant choices and optimal system design .

Title:

Content: Cities in which we live
0
Anastasia Schwartz
By 2050, the UN estimates that almost 70% of the world ’ s population will live in cities, making sustainable urbanization one of the priorities of global development.
collage by Pavel Tsedilin
Urbanization is still one of the main global trends of the 21st century and requires close attention.
In fact, how cities develop will determine the future of countries and societies, as well as the solution of many problems of global importance.
The fact is that most of the inhabitants of the Earth do not just live in cities.
Cities account for about 60% of global GDP.
Cities are the leaders in energy consumption (60-80%) and CO2 emissions (about 75%).
Cities are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and other global threats, but they can also make a significant contribution to combating them.
The high concentration of the population in cities critically exacerbates the problems of inequality, security, access to public and economic benefits.
Kazakhstan also faces all the challenges and threats of urbanization.
In our country, the share of the urban population already has more than 60%, and this figure will only grow.
According to the UN, in the coming decades, 95% of urbanization in principle will fall on developing countries.
Therefore, the question of how to make cities sustainable, safe, open, liveable, conducive to economic growth and even the formation of a new quality of the nation is not a question of some abstract future, but a problem whose solution should have begun, as they say, yesterday.
Diseases of growth
In the Sustainable Development Goals, the global agenda of the UN until 2030, a separate SDG is devoted to urban development: it goes under number 11 and is formulated as follows: “Sustainable cities and human settlements ”.
Sustainability is not just about the environment.
The economy and infrastructure of cities must also be sustainable, they must be safe and convenient for people, and they must ensure equal access to the benefits of urbanization for all.
They should contribute to the development of people and societies, the preservation of cultural heritage and so on.
In short, human settlements development should solve the problems of the people living there, not create new ones.
Cities should be drivers of development of countries and societies, not a source of “headaches ”.
The fact that sustainable urban development has become one of the key topics on the global agenda is more than justified.
According to experts, since 2007, more than half of the world ’ s population lives in cities.
And by the middle of the century, according to UN estimates, this figure will grow to almost 70%.
Cities occupy less than 5% of the Earth ’ s land area.
Rapid urbanization obviously carries great risks for which many countries were not prepared.
“Growth diseases ” in all cities, in principle, are similar: housing problems, chaotic growth, congestion of infrastructure (both transport and engineering, social), deterioration of air quality, and so on.
Many of these problems are familiar to the cities of Kazakhstan.
Take at least Astana, which, even being a completely new and relatively small city, is fully faced with the challenges of urbanization: ill-conceived and poor-quality development, interruptions in water supply, smog, traffic jams, environmental problems, lack of schools, underdevelopment of public spaces, uneven development of different areas of the city...
The burden on all urban systems will only increase, and at an even faster pace than before.
Recall: 25 years ago, there were a little more than 326 thousand inhabitants in the Kazakh capital.
Already in 2016, the city officially became a millionaire.
Forecasts made before the pandemic said that Astana will overcome the threshold of 2 million inhabitants by the middle of the 21st century, but according to recent estimates, the time to achieve such a population has shifted by 2030 (20 years earlier!).
If you do not take systematic and decisive measures to eliminate existing problems and imbalances, as well as do not pay due attention to planning the development of the capital, it is unlikely to make Astana a sustainable and comfortable city for life.
At the same time, it is important to understand that the principles of sustainability in urban planning are not another “fashionable topic ”, but things that are critically important for any state.
Inadequate urban planning (or lack thereof) leads to the emergence of slums and affluent areas, increases inequality, reduces security, and contributes to economic and social development.
All these factors directly affect urban residents, and given the fact that they are becoming more and more, this directly affects the nation and, accordingly, the country as a whole.
The low quality of life forms a negative attitude of people to their habitat (not only the city, but also the country), provokes social nihilism and a decrease in trust in the authorities.
The growth of creative and business activity in such conditions is also quite difficult to talk about.
An analogy can be drawn.
It is unlikely that someone will like to live in an apartment in which half of the rooms have no lighting, in the second half there are no electrical outlets, in the hallway there is no place to leave your shoes removed, a place for rest is not provided in principle, you need to go to the refrigerator through three neighboring corridors, and to the elevator - to the other end of the building.
In which drinking water did not have time to spend, but the bathroom turns into a smelly pond every time someone in the house flushed water in the toilet.
And there is always a chance that you on the balcony will begin work on the construction of another apartment.
Living in a city planned in a similar way is also not much fun.
“The main indicator of the success of megacities, in my opinion, should be the quality of life of their residents, ” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Astana.
It is difficult to disagree with this thesis, and it hardly makes sense to explain for a long time why human-centricity in urban studies is so important: cities are people, and how people feel, so will the city.
Space for people
But what exactly is meant when it comes to a “friendly ” urban environment?
Urbanism as a science of urban development planning has existed for more than a century, and during this time, trends in urban planning have changed more than once, influenced by technological progress, digitalization, social trends, global challenges, even ideologies.
Today, perhaps, the key trend is precisely the same sustainability.
In the context of urbanism, this means creating cities that contribute to the preservation of the environment, ensure economic prosperity, a high quality of life and the safety of all residents – for generations to come.
A few years ago, the OECD published a review of urban policy in Kazakhstan, which, among other things, pointed to the existing problems of urbanization.
In particular, there were such as an increase in the level of motorization, the decline of urban public transport, traffic jams; low satisfaction of citizens with housing conditions; outdated public infrastructure; air pollution.
Although measures have been taken in recent years to address these issues, these problems remain very relevant.
At the same time, in the already mentioned SDG No. 11, one of the tasks is to ensure that by 2030 everyone can use safe, inexpensive, affordable and environmentally sustainable transport systems by improving road safety, in particular, expanding the use of public transport.
Actually, one of the important modern trends in urban planning is the creation of an environment that will not require a person to frequently use a personal car.
Now in the cities of Kazakhstan, they prevail as the main means of transportation, which obviously affects the severity of such problems as traffic jams, parking, deterioration of air quality, safety.
To create an environment in which citizens can safely abandon their personal cars, it is necessary on several levels.
First of all, improve the public transport system and make the road infrastructure convenient for pedestrians (even the new and modern Astana cannot boast of this yet).
In addition, the development and improvement of urban areas should go in such a way that everything necessary for a person in everyday life is at a distance of a small walk: shops, kindergartens, schools, medical institutions, recreational areas and so on.
Low satisfaction of citizens with their living conditions, the authors of the OECD survey are mostly associated with the economic inaccessibility of “square meters ” for a significant part of the population, the quality of construction, problems with communal infrastructure.
At the same time, we can safely add such factors as the lack of social infrastructure, point development, lack of public spaces, low accessibility of the urban environment for people with disabilities, even the aesthetic unattractiveness of streets, courtyards and buildings...
All this significantly affects the quality of life of a person in the city.
“Victims ” of point construction, for example, are well aware that it is difficult to enjoy staying in their own apartment, when outside the window for two or three years in a row, seven days a week there is pile driving and other highly noisy construction activity.
And it is still very lucky if during the construction of a new residential complex, the load on the infrastructure of the district was provided, so as not to multiply the sadness associated with the shortage of water, parking spaces, places in kindergartens and schools.
It is very important to understand that high-quality and attractive public spaces are also not part of the “something on the rich ” series.
And this concept includes not only large city parks, squares, but also recreational areas within residential areas and neighborhoods.
Places where people can walk, socialize, relax, engage in physical activity are an integral part of the urban environment, and they should not be the prerogative of elite residential complexes, but a good that is available absolutely for all citizens.
In large cities, such public spaces should be created everywhere, in every microdistrict, because they play a very important function of building up “social capital ” – creating communities of local residents, connections between people, an atmosphere of good neighborliness.
All this creates a favorable environment for increasing civic engagement and people ’ s involvement in solving local problems.
As the territories of cities become more and more, polycentricity and multifunctionality of districts become especially important when planning megacities: their points of attraction, attractions, parks, large shopping and entertainment centers, places for quality leisure and even potential places of employment should be in every district of the city, including its geographical periphery.
The same goes for public transportation.
This approach not only solves the problem of concentration of people in one place (so as not to create an unbearable load on the urban infrastructure), but also contributes to the uniform and balanced development of the entire city, without “distortions ”, when sparkling skyscrapers and elegant squares coexist with crumbling houses and dull sleeping areas with giant budget“ men ”, the marginalization of which, especially on the outskirts It is a matter of time.
Greening and Adapting
In the context of urban studies, special attention is paid to the environmental sustainability of cities.
In particular, we are talking about such areas as reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, introducing green technologies, protecting biodiversity, improving waste management systems, and landscaping.
On the last and we will stop in more detail.
Competent landscape design, the right approach to gardening in cities can solve a whole set of problems.
So, green spaces (trees, shrubs, lawns, etc.) help in the thermoregulation of cities - a particularly popular quality, given the fact that heat waves are increasingly covering cities.
According to experts of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Programme of the United Nations), the strategic placement of trees in urban areas can lower the air temperature by 2-8 degrees Celsius.
Plus, the shadow of the trees in principle makes the city streets more comfortable for people.
According to the FAO, properly placed trees around a building can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and reduce energy consumption for heating by 20 – 50%.
Since school, we know that trees absorb CO2 (an adult tree can “eat ” up to 150 kg per year) and bind carbon, playing a role in mitigating climate change.
Green plantations play an important role in air purification: large trees are excellent filters for pollutants and fine particles.
They also regulate watercourses and improve water quality.
In addition, green areas promote water retention and reduce the risk of flooding by absorbing rainwater and slowing down runoff.
Greening cities contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and the creation of more viable ecosystems.
Plants provide shelter and food for various species of animals and insects, which helps maintain ecological balance in cities.
In the context of the concept of “cities for people ”, landscaping in megacities has another very important profit: green spaces contribute to improving the physical health and psychological well-being of citizens.
As experts emphasize, landscaping can and should be included literally in any urban projects, not only creating park areas, but also designing, for example, parking lots, roads, interior spaces and so on.
In 2020, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his Address, speaking about solving environmental issues, set the task to plant more than 2 billion trees in the forest fund in Kazakhstan and 15 million in settlements by 2025.
At a recent meeting on the development of Astana, the Head of State again raised the issue of landscaping – not only the capital, but also other cities of the country.
At the same time, he emphasized that landscaping should be carried out in accordance with the pace of construction, as well as using a scientific approach and new technologies both in planting and caring for trees.
As already noted, cities occupy less than 5% of the earth ’ s land mass.
But the United Nations estimates that they account for 60-80% of energy consumption, about 75% of the world ’ s carbon emissions, about 60% of all waste on the planet.
All this makes the solution of the issues of improving the environmental sustainability of cities crucial from the point of view of combating climate change and increasing adaptation to it on a global scale.
And the well-known principle of “think globally, act locally ” is very useful here.
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For plant selection, adaptable and resilient species such as aloe vera, snake plant, pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, spider plant, philodendron, and jade plant are recommended due to their easy maintenance and suitability for various climates.

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Content: ContributorsPublishersAdvertisers

35 Easiest Houseplants To Care For

24/7 Wall St.
 7 days ago

Perhaps you’re an aspiring indoor gardener - or one who’s tried to nurture houseplants but killed dozens in the past, despite your best efforts. In either case, don’t fear. Raising healthy, vibrant houseplants doesn’t have to be a mystery - and with the right plant, it may only require a few minutes of your time each month.

The key to successful indoor gardening is choosing a plant that can survive in the lighting conditions of your home, and then learning its watering requirements.

To compile a list of  the 35 easiest houseplants to care for, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous gardening sites and encyclopedia articles, paying particular attention to the basic lighting and watering needs of each plant.

Some plants require bright, direct sunlight for at least six to eight hours per day and will not thrive in a dark room no matter what. These plants will most likely need to be placed near a window with southern exposure. Other plants will suffer from direct sunlight, and should be kept away from windows. Once you’ve determined the lighting conditions of your home, you’re halfway there.

The next step is proper watering. Virtually no houseplant wants soggy roots, so be sure to pick a pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Additionally, the soil in the pot may hold too much moisture - which will cause a plant’s roots to rot - so pick the right soil for the plant. Succulents and other drought tolerant species will thrive in a sandy, cactus soil blend.

The key to watering any houseplant is to avoid overwatering. Pour in just enough water so that it begins to run out of the bottom of the pot. In general, plants either need consistent water (meaning never let the soil dry out), moderate water (meaning only water once the top inch of soil is dry), or are drought tolerant and prefer only to be watered once their soil is halfway or mostly dried out. If you tend to be forgetful, be sure to choose a drought tolerant variety.

Most indoor plants go through a dormant period in the winter, when they need much less water, so a good rule of thumb is to cut waterings in half in the cooler months. Other factors that can affect plant health are temperature and humidity. The plants we chose can generally thrive in average house temperatures and humidity.

Click here to see the 35 easiest houseplants to care for

Certain tropical plants that need very high humidity were eliminated from our list, as it can be difficult to maintain a humid environment indoors. (And we certainly don’t recommend that you try growing any of these - 35 of the weirdest plants on earth.)

We also eliminated air plants. Anyone who tells you that air plants are easy to care for is probably trying to sell you an air plant.

If you’re just beginning to raise houseplants, start slow, with one or two plants and learn their needs before acquiring more. Some plants can be toxic if ingested, so be sure to do research if you have a young child or a pet. (Here are the most common reasons people take their dog to the vet.)

Aloe
>Latin Name: Aloe vera
>Light Conditions: bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

This attractive, spiky succulent - whose gel and latex are used to make a variety of topical medications - is popular for another reason: It's incredibly resilient and low-maintenance. It can grow for years in the same container without needing repotting, and prefers to dry out between scant waterings.

Amagris
>Latin Name: Ctenanthe burle-marxii 'Amagris'
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate

The Amagris variety of the fishbone prayer plant is not to be confused with the prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura), which is a complicated beauty that needs attentive care and high humidity. Amagris is a great substitute, as its delicate herringbone stripes and purple undersides are a handsome addition to any collection, and it can handle most lighting situations. Its leaves will indicate when it is getting too dry, as they curl slightly inward.

ALSO READ: 50 Best Cities for Urban Gardening

Angel wing begonia
>Latin Name: Begonia x coralline
>Light Conditions: low to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: consistent

The most upright of the indoor begonias, angel wings are robust growers and can thrive without the high humidity needed by Rex begonias. Because of their vigorous cane growth - which can reach six feet tall in some varieties - they may require consistent pruning or stabilization.

Arrowhead vine
>Latin Name: Syngonium podophyllum
>Light Conditions: low to medium light
>Watering Needs: consistent

Arrowhead vines are notable for their tolerance of low lighting conditions, and can even thrive in artificial light. Their intricately variegated, arrow-shaped leaves will retain their color no matter how little light they get; just don't place them in direct sunlight.

Baby rubber plant
>Latin Name: Peperomia obtusifolia
>Light Conditions: low to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate/drought tolerant

There are a wide variety of colorful and attractive houseplants in the Peperomia genus. The baby rubber plant is one of the easiest Peperomias to care for, as this succulent variety stores water in its glossy leaves, making it relatively drought tolerant. Native to tropical areas as an understory plant, it can handle low lighting conditions.

Beefsteak begonia
>Latin Name: Begonia erythrophylla
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: consistent

The easiest of all indoor begonias, this wax variety has shiny, dark green leaves with contrasting veins and iridescent burgundy undersides. Beefsteaks grow quickly and heartily in the right conditions. They are simple to propagate and a smart choice for novice indoor gardeners, as they are hard to kill. Fans of frequent watering and humidity, their leaves will start to droop if they're drying out, but will bounce back up after being watered.

Burro's tail
>Latin Name: Sedum morganianum
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

This trailing succulent loves bright direct light and is a top choice for hanging window baskets and high shelves, where its branches can drape down freely and out of the way. The key to a successful burro's tail is to handle it as little as possible, as its leaves have a tendency to fall when jostled.

ALSO READ: Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens in the World

Cast iron plant
>Latin Name: Aspidistra elatior
>Light Conditions: low light
>Watering Needs: moderate

This nearly indestructible plant can handle low light, low humidity, and temperatures down to 50 degrees, which makes it great for offices as well as dark corners. It prefers to be underwatered rather than overwatered, and its green leaves stay deeply colored as long as it is never placed in direct sunlight. Although the cast iron plant can reach one to two feet high, it is a slow grower, so start with a large plant rather than a cutting.

Chinese evergreen
>Latin Name: Aglaonema commutatum
>Light Conditions: low to medium light
>Watering Needs: moderate

The deeply variegated, lance-shaped leaves of the Chinese evergreen can range from dark green to seafoam to frosty silver. These hardy plants will tolerate low light, low humidity, and drought, although higher temperatures and humidity will keep them happier. When they become overgrown, trimmed leaves can be easily rooted in water to start new plants.

Chinese money plant
>Latin Name: Pilea Peperomioides
>Light Conditions: low to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate

This compact cutie is native to southern China and grows along the foothills of the Himalayas, but has been popular in Scandinavia since it was brought there by a missionary. It prefers indirect light and weekly waterings with time to dry out in between. This Pilea often produces shoots which are easy to cut off and root in water or soil to start new plants.

Christmas cactus
>Latin Name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

This tropical cactus is known for flowering in December, with blooms that can come in shades of white, peach, fuschia, red, or purple, depending on the variety. It makes a great hanging basket or windowsill plant, where its long branches have room to drape. While Christmas cacti need more consistent watering than desert cacti, they still prefer for their soil to dry out between waterings.

Dragon tree
>Latin Name: Dracaena marginata
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

With tall, skinny trunks and leaves edged in red, dragon trees are ideal for adding interest and depth to plant arrangements. They also stand alone well in corners and behind sofas, as they can reach a height of as much as seven feet. Low maintenance and drought tolerant, dragon trees don't require regular fertilization. They do prefer warm, humid environments but can survive in a variety of settings.

ALSO READ: 30 Easy Ways to Be More Environmentally Friendly

Dumbcane
>Latin Name: Dieffenbachia amoena
>Light Conditions: low to medium light
>Watering Needs: consistent

This lush, tropical houseplant can grow from one to six feet high and can handle lower light and artificial light conditions. It gets its name from its poisonous sap, which can cause tongue swelling and temporary speechlessness if ingested. Dumbcane likes consistently wet, but not soggy, soil.

English ivy
>Latin Name: Hedera helix
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: consistent

The key to growing this trailing vine is simply light. Ivy needs medium or bright light to thrive, and to keep its leaves bright and vibrant. It is perfect for sunny window sills and hanging baskets, and its long tendrils can be trained around windows or pruned to maintain a bushier shape.

Flamingo flower
>Latin Name: Anthurium andraeanum
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate

Also known as laceleaf or painter's palette, the flamingo flower plant has extremely long lasting red flowers, while hybrid varieties can bear blooms in pink, white, purple, and green. A great air purifier, this plant is known to remove ammonia and formaldehyde from indoor spaces.

Golden pothos
>Latin Name: Epipremnum aureum
>Light Conditions: any light
>Watering Needs: moderate/drought tolerant

Nearly impossible to kill, golden pothos, or Devil's ivy, can survive in extremely low light conditions and is drought tolerant. It will, however, thrive with more frequent waterings and will drop its oldest leaves if underwatered. A quick-growing vine, pothos is ideal for training over doorways or along bookshelves.

Heartleaf philodendron
>Latin Name: Philodendron hederaceum
>Light Conditions: low to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate

This low maintenance vining plant adapts well to low light conditions and loves humidity, making it a great choice for bathrooms. The more indirect light it receives, however, the faster it will grow. It can be trained to climb up a trellis or allowed to cascade down over shelves or from hanging baskets.

ALSO READ: 35 of the Weirdest Plants on Earth

Inch plant
>Latin Name: Tradescantia zebrina
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: moderate

Also known as spiderwort, this vigorous vining plant has silver and green variegated leaves with deep purple undersides. Well suited for windows, spiderwort needs bright light to maintain its color, and moderate watering to stay full and bushy. When treated right, it will grow quickly and need occasional pruning. Luckily, the cuttings root easily in water and are perfect for sharing with friends.

Jade plant
>Latin Name: Crassula ovata
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: moderate

Popular for their ease of care, jade plants need only a sunny room and the right amount of water to stay happy. While soggy soil will rot their roots, extended dry conditions will harm the leaves. Allow their soil to dry out about halfway before rewatering, and they will stay plump and verdant.

Lucky bamboo
>Latin Name: Dracaena sanderiana
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: consistent

Not actually related to bamboo, this cane plant, native to Africa, is in the asparagus family. It can grow in water without soil and is commonly grown in clear glass containers with or without pebbles in the bottom. Use filtered or distilled water to keep the leaves from browning, and clean the container once a week, refilling it with fresh water to keep algae at bay.

Parlor palm
>Latin Name: Chamaedorea elegans
>Light Conditions: low to medium light
>Watering Needs: moderate

This popular, stand-alone house plant has been cultivated since the Victorian era. It thrives in indirect light and is able to survive in lower light conditions than most palms. Parlor palms only need repotting every two to three years, and can reach heights of 10 to 12 feet.

Peace lily
>Latin Name: Spathiphyllum wallisii
>Light Conditions: low to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate/drought tolerant

Tolerant of low humidity and low light, the peace lily is an exceptionally easy indoor plant to care for. Peace lilies prefer to be underwatered, so rather than watering on a schedule, check on them once a week and only water if the top of the soil feels dry. The leaves will also droop if the plant is getting too dry, but will perk up after a watering. In order to generate blooms, ensure that the plant is in a bright room.

ALSO READ: US Cities With the Most Dog Parks

Purple shamrock
>Latin Name: Oxalis triangularis
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: consistent

This dramatic and lively plant features variegated purple leaves on tender stems that grow from bulbs. The three-lobed leaves open wide during the day and close up at night. Although the leaves may wilt and die back if the plant dries out, the bulbs will sprout new leaves to replace them, making oxalis a particularly forgiving plant for inexperienced owners.

Rubber tree
>Latin Name: Ficus elastica
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: moderate

Rubber trees aren't fussy but they do need medium or bright indirect light, and may grow spindly and leggy in low light rooms. With large, waxy leaves in deep shades of green and red, these showy plants are hearty growers and can reach the ceiling if not pruned. To keep the leaves glossy, wipe them down with a wet cloth if you notice dust accumulating.

Silver dollar vine
>Latin Name: Xerosicyos danguyi
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

This climbing succulent shrub is a native desert plant and loves bright, direct light. Placing it on a sunny patio in the summer is a great way to keep it healthy and growing. Giving it a trellis or support to climb on will encourage its upward growth, but it will also grow well in a hanging basket.

Snake plant
>Latin Name: Dracaena trifasciata
>Light Conditions: any light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

One of the most popular plants in homes, offices, and businesses, snake plants are virtually indestructible. They can thrive in bright light as well as in dark corners, and appreciate very scant watering. With upright, lance-shaped leaves in shades of green, yellow, and white, these hardy house plants can grow up to four feet high.

Spider plant
>Latin Name: Chlorophytum comosum
>Light Conditions: low to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate

These prolific growers are especially suited for hanging baskets, where their "babies'' will have space to trail down around the pot. Considered incredibly adaptable, spider plants can live in a wide range of conditions with few problems, and enjoy cooler temperatures. Their offshoots are easy to propagate into new plants.

ALSO READ: 50 Best Cities for Urban Gardening

String of pearls
>Latin Name: Senecio rowleyanus
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

This unusual succulent is a vigorous grower, with long stems that cascade down around the pot. Although it may need pruning once in a while to keep the stems attractive, this drought tolerant beauty rarely needs to be repotted, and even produces clusters of white flowers with colorful stamens.

Swedish ivy
>Latin Name: Plectranthus verticillatus
>Light Conditions: medium light
>Watering Needs: consistent

Despite its name, Swedish ivy is native to southern Africa and is not a true ivy. Its vining branches are well suited for cascading down from hanging baskets, and will need periodic pruning. Although primarily grown for its scalloped foliage, Swedish ivy will bloom once a year with small, attractive clusters of white to mauve blossoms.

Swiss cheese plant
>Latin Name: Monstera deliciosa
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate

Monsteras are sought after for their large, iconic split leaves. Although these tropical plants prefer bright light and warm, humid conditions, they can tolerate low light situations. They are natural climbers, and will grow upright if given stakes or supports to climb, often developing large aerial roots that act as extra supports.

Umbrella tree
>Latin Name: Schefflera actinophylla
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: moderate

Reaching heights of eight to 10 feet indoors, umbrella trees are suitable for large, bright rooms with high ceilings. Their leaves form radial clusters and are usually solid green, although variegated varieties exist. Although they don't like soggy soil, they do prefer humidity. Place an umbrella tree pot on a tray of rocks with water in it to keep the air around the plant moist.

Velvet plant
>Latin Name: Gynura aurantiaca
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: consistent

Also known as the purple passion plant, this unusual house plant has bright purple hairs over its serrated green leaves. Problems with the plant often stem from water issues. To prevent root rot, let about a quarter of the soil dry before rewatering. Avoid getting water on the foliage, as it can become trapped in the hairs and cause the leaves to rot.

ALSO READ: Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens in the World

Wax plant
>Latin Name: Hoya carnosa
>Light Conditions: medium to bright light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

Also known as hoyas or porcelain flowers, these hardy vines feature thick, shiny foliage and will occasionally produce fragrant blooms. They can live for decades if treated well and will snake around an entire room if given wall supports or trellises. Hoyas prefer drier soil but high humidity and take well to occasional misting.

Weeping fig
>Latin Name: Ficus benjamina
>Light Conditions: medium to bright indirect light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

Weeping figs are incredibly easy to care for as long as you follow one rule: after you've placed your ficus in an ideally bright location, never move it again. Weeping figs are very sensitive to changes in their environment and may drop their leaves if they are moved. These trees will stay green and healthy with occasional waterings and warm rooms that are free of drafts.

Zanzibar gem
>Latin Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
>Light Conditions: any indirect light
>Watering Needs: drought tolerant

Thriving in most light settings except for direct sunlight, Zanzibar gems, or z-z plants, are a forgetful gardener's dream. They are incredibly low maintenance and drought tolerant, only needing water if their soil has completely dried out - possibly as infrequently as once a month. Occasional dusting with a wet rag will keep their waxy leaves shiny.

Plant choice should match local climate conditions; succulents thrive in drier areas, while ferns and hydrangeas are suited for more humid or cooler locations.

Using native plants increases sustainability and survival rates .

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Content: Elevating Your Outdoor Sanctuary: Tips for Cultivating a Vibrant Garden Oasis

The art of garden design is becoming increasingly important as people look to their outdoor areas as a haven from the daily grind.   Before we embark on this journey, remember that cultivating a garden is …

The art of garden design is becoming increasingly important as people look to their outdoor areas as a haven from the daily grind.

Before we embark on this journey, remember that cultivating a garden is not just about beauty—it’s an opportunity to connect with nature and enhance our well-being. For more inspirational green insights, consider visiting this helpful link.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Garden Design

Starting with a blueprint ensures that your garden is a feast for the eyes and a functional space. Take your time sketching out your ideas, considering how different sections of your garden will relate to each other and the overall aesthetic of your property. A garden should be an extension of your home; therefore, the design should flow seamlessly from the indoor to the outdoor spaces. Think about the movement through the garden, how you interact with the plants, and the views from inside the home.

Selecting Plants for Year-Round Interest

Strategically chosen plants create a captivating garden landscape and deliver a succession of blooms throughout the seasons. Designing a garden that looks great in all seasons requires a careful balance of plants that peak at different times of the year. Consider incorporating a mix of bulbs for spring, annuals for summer color, perennials for autumn hues, and evergreens for winter structure.

Understanding your local climate zone and soil type is crucial when looking for plants that will thrive in your garden. Hearty native species can offer a more resilient and sustainable option that supports local ecosystems.

Soil and Nutrition: The Foundation of a Healthy Garden

Whether sandy, clay, or loamy, the soil is perhaps the most overlooked yet fundamental aspect of gardening. Your garden’s vitality begins with the ground, so investing time in understanding and improving your soil’s health can yield lasting benefits. Simple steps such as regular amendments with organic compost can significantly improve soil structure and fertility. Moreover, soil testing can inform you about deficiencies and guide appropriate nutrient management.

Embracing natural methods helps the soil and ensures that your garden is part of a sustainable practice. Natural fertilizers like fish emulsion, bone meal, or green manure techniques invigorate the soil without the harsh effects of chemical fertilizers.

Creating a Habitat for Wildlife

Inviting biodiversity into your garden brings it to life and assists in the natural control of pests. Birds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial creatures can all find a haven in a garden thoughtfully planted with their needs in mind. Planting native species is particularly effective in supporting local wildlife because these plants have evolved alongside the local fauna. Establishing various plants that offer food, shelter, and nesting sites will make your garden a bustling hub of natural activity.

Keeping Your Garden Thriving: Maintenance and Care

A garden is a living canvas that requires attention and nurturing. Regular maintenance like pruning, weeding, and deadheading keeps your garden looking its best and encourages healthy growth and blooming. Each season brings specific tasks—from spring planting to fall cleanup—and staying on top will ensure your garden remains a place of beauty and serenity.

One of the most critical aspects of garden maintenance is monitoring for pests and diseases. Early detection and environmentally friendly control methods can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. Being proactive about the health of your garden will reward you with a vibrant outdoor space that continues to thrive and enchant year after year.