Praying at the Green Altar to the calming qualities of indoor plants – Newcastle Herald

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There's a theory that the most opposite view to a computer screen is a tree. After spending all week, 40-odd hours staring at an artificially-lit screen, the best thing you can do to rest your eyes is to look at nature. Sadly, we often don't have time. We go from office, to car, to home, to bed, to office, and so on. The trick is to break this cycle - and the best way? Bring nature into your house. Introducing plants to your home is positive for many reasons, and not just because they give your eyes a rest from the screen, or for aesthetic reasons. We've all seen stunning images of creatively positioned, healthy plants in designer-styled living spaces. "The benefits of having indoor plants include purifying the air, improving the mood of a person and the atmosphere of a room," Amanda Marsh, co-owner of The Green Altar at Newcastle Station with husband Andrew, says "Having plants teaches responsibility and patience as it incorporates the nurture factor. "It also gives people the opportunity to get creative and get their hands dirty. You can talk to your plants and they provide you with a sense of connection." Since opening the luscious and vivid store at the end of September (and before that via the House Plant Revival and Desert Sunday Co), Amanda has been guiding fledgling green thumbs into the world of indoor flora. But before you try to emulate some interior design that you've seen on social media, it's best to know what will work in your space. "For a beginner, I ask three questions: where will it go and be positioned; how much lighting will it receive, and how often are you willing to water it? The answers to these play a big role in deciding which plant to get," she says. Positioning in a house can often be overlooked, but always plays a key role. If you park a plant under the air-conditioner, it is going to have a different effect on it compared with if you put it near a window or in the bedroom. Similarly, a plant in the bathroom will experience different conditions than those in the lounge room. A plant that prefers things a little drier won't appreciate the humidity of the bathroom. You're just setting yourself, and the plant, up for a tough time. Lighting is divided into three categories: direct, indirect and shade. Certain plants respond better to each type. If you've got a dark corner, you could try a Chinese evergreen, rubber plant or a prayer plant, while the devil's ivy or maidenhair fern appreciate the more humid environs of the bathroom. If you're the forgetful type, you may want to remind yourself to water your plant, but without killing it with kindness. Amanda recommends ferns if you're an "over-lover", or if you need a bit of a reminder, then the prayer plant is the perfect choice. "It's very good at being neglected, but the real reason it's good is because it talks to you. When it needs watering the leaves droop and curl up and in. You know it's thirsty then. It's the hardest plant to kill." "Generally, indoor plants only need to be watered every seven to 10 days, but obviously this needs to be altered if the temperature gets below 15 degrees or above 30 degrees, or if they get too much sea spray or air-conditioning." Like any other covetable object, plants go through trends and phases with enthusiasts. "Indoor plants started to trend on social media at first because of their aesthetic appeal - interior designers were using them often used in funky city apartments to give people their own sense of a garden. Now, as we move towards a focus on wellness, it's more about looking after yourself and your environment," Amanda said. At the moment, a popular way to arrange plants is in a 'gang'. "A gang is three or more plants, usually different sizes, positioned to create a mini garden. Sometimes people put all the same plant together, like the snake plant, but other times just different varieties," she says. "The fiddle leaf fig was a phase, but they're really hard to care for and so many people had trouble looking after them. We're seeing ferns coming back in vogue, people feel that now they've managed to keep other plants alive, they'd like to try for something different. Rhipsalis (mistletoe cactus) is a great plant to make a statement due to its interesting foliage and leaf shapes." Essentially it's up to you and individual needs and taste, but any addition is going to be a lovely one. Amanda wants to ensure you've got the odds in your favour from the beginning. And with a little preparation and knowledge, there's little room for failure - a photograph of the room you plan to put it in can help with the selection process. "My goal is to take the stigma out of the thought that if you kill a plant once, you can't own one ever again. Plant ownership should be engaging for all ages, not just because it's trendy." While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here.

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December 29 2019 - 9:00AM

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There's a theory that the most opposite view to a computer screen is a tree.

After spending all week, 40-odd hours staring at an artificially-lit screen, the best thing you can do to rest your eyes is to look at nature.

Sadly, we often don't have time.

We go from office, to car, to home, to bed, to office, and so on. The trick is to break this cycle - and the best way? Bring nature into your house.

Introducing plants to your home is positive for many reasons, and not just because they give your eyes a rest from the screen, or for aesthetic reasons.

We've all seen stunning images of creatively positioned, healthy plants in designer-styled living spaces.

"The benefits of having indoor plants include purifying the air, improving the mood of a person and the atmosphere of a room," Amanda Marsh, co-owner of The Green Altar at Newcastle Station with husband Andrew, says

"Having plants teaches responsibility and patience as it incorporates the nurture factor.

"It also gives people the opportunity to get creative and get their hands dirty. You can talk to your plants and they provide you with a sense of connection."

Since opening the luscious and vivid store at the end of September (and before that via the House Plant Revival and Desert Sunday Co), Amanda has been guiding fledgling green thumbs into the world of indoor flora. But before you try to emulate some interior design that you've seen on social media, it's best to know what will work in your space.

"For a beginner, I ask three questions: where will it go and be positioned; how much lighting will it receive, and how often are you willing to water it? The answers to these play a big role in deciding which plant to get," she says.

Positioning in a house can often be overlooked, but always plays a key role.

If you park a plant under the air-conditioner, it is going to have a different effect on it compared with if you put it near a window or in the bedroom. Similarly, a plant in the bathroom will experience different conditions than those in the lounge room. A plant that prefers things a little drier won't appreciate the humidity of the bathroom. You're just setting yourself, and the plant, up for a tough time.

Lighting is divided into three categories: direct, indirect and shade. Certain plants respond better to each type. If you've got a dark corner, you could try a Chinese evergreen, rubber plant or a prayer plant, while the devil's ivy or maidenhair fern appreciate the more humid environs of the bathroom.

If you're the forgetful type, you may want to remind yourself to water your plant, but without killing it with kindness. Amanda recommends ferns if you're an "over-lover", or if you need a bit of a reminder, then the prayer plant is the perfect choice.

"It's very good at being neglected, but the real reason it's good is because it talks to you. When it needs watering the leaves droop and curl up and in. You know it's thirsty then. It's the hardest plant to kill."

"Generally, indoor plants only need to be watered every seven to 10 days, but obviously this needs to be altered if the temperature gets below 15 degrees or above 30 degrees, or if they get too much sea spray or air-conditioning."

Like any other covetable object, plants go through trends and phases with enthusiasts.

"Indoor plants started to trend on social media at first because of their aesthetic appeal - interior designers were using them often used in funky city apartments to give people their own sense of a garden. Now, as we move towards a focus on wellness, it's more about looking after yourself and your environment," Amanda said.

At the moment, a popular way to arrange plants is in a 'gang'.

"A gang is three or more plants, usually different sizes, positioned to create a mini garden. Sometimes people put all the same plant together, like the snake plant, but other times just different varieties," she says.

"The fiddle leaf fig was a phase, but they're really hard to care for and so many people had trouble looking after them. We're seeing ferns coming back in vogue, people feel that now they've managed to keep other plants alive, they'd like to try for something different. Rhipsalis (mistletoe cactus) is a great plant to make a statement due to its interesting foliage and leaf shapes."

Essentially it's up to you and individual needs and taste, but any addition is going to be a lovely one.

Amanda wants to ensure you've got the odds in your favour from the beginning. And with a little preparation and knowledge, there's little room for failure - a photograph of the room you plan to put it in can help with the selection process.

"My goal is to take the stigma out of the thought that if you kill a plant once, you can't own one ever again. Plant ownership should be engaging for all ages, not just because it's trendy."

While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here.

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Praying at the Green Altar to the calming qualities of indoor plants - Newcastle Herald