Press Release

We had just finished creating our April memes that celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day when COVID-19 modified our plans (just as it changed yours). Maintaining social distance is pretty easy for a group like NICH. We meet electronically and are scattered across the country.

Many of us are faced with new challenges of suddenly finding ourselves unemployed, working from home, kids out of school, and uncertainty and worry. Many of you are essential workers on the front lines of this pandemic. We understand that these lifestyle changes can be difficult for both you and your customers. We will do our part by providing content that is engaging and involves consumers with plants and nature every day.

This is a good time to inspire new consumers of horticulture. After all, we can enjoy our house plants and garden in the yard. We can even take advantage of horticulture service industries, such as lawn and tree care, and landscape designers, while maintaining a safe social distance.

With that in mind, our Social Media Committee and the Health and Community Committee have created a series of engaging memes to get this message out. Don’t hesitate to use and share these resources. Please tag @consumerhort on Instagram and use the hashtag #PlantsDoThat in all of your posts, so we can track how far they have gone and how many people they reach.

We are also creating a virtual ‘Horticulture Hunt.’ These provide suggestions for consumers, including parents working at home with children, to get everyone outside and immersed in the world of horticulture. There will be easy activities involving plants that can be done in homes, backyards, or on a walk around the neighborhood or park. We will produce one challenge activity per day during April. Look for these on our Facebook and in our Instagram accounts, and please share. The more people we can encourage to enjoy horticulture, the better.

If you haven’t done so yet, follow our pages, like them, repost, and take what you can and use it. Let’s get the word out there on how plants improve our lives.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/consumerhort/
Instagram: @consumerhort

Work sapping your energy? Do you find it hard to focus? Plants have been shown to make workers more creative, productive, and motivated while helping them stay calm, relaxed, and focused. Plants at work boost energy, reduce sick leave, and reduce eye strain. Plants also improve air quality by removing carbon dioxide, particulates, and harmful chemicals. Plants should be a part of every productive and happy workplace

There is a right plant for almost every workspace. Different plants have different needs, and light and water are the two most important factors to consider when selecting and growing indoor plants. Plants that need more light grow best in a window facing south or west. Plants also differ in their water needs; it’s a good practice to water indoor plants weekly.

Plants also prefer some humidity, which can be difficult to provide with central heating and cooling. Increase the humidity by grouping plants together to create a micro-environment of elevated humidity. Finally, don’t forget about the temperature—most indoor plants like it between 60 and 80 degrees (F).

Houseplants are a great way to bring the outdoors in. Plants can make a wonderful addition to your décor no matter the setting and have a positive impact on your health and productivity.

Here is a short list of indoor plants that can thrive at the office: ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), mother-in-law’s tongue, pothos ivy, arrowhead plant, dracaena, calathea, bird’s nest fern, dieffenbachia, schefflera, fiddle-leaf ficus, money tree, parlor palm, spider plants, Chinese evergreen, peace lily, and dragon tree. Succulents and sedums, which are trendy right now, also do well indoors.

The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) highlights research that supports the benefits of plants in our homes, schools, hospitals, workplaces, and places of worship.

NICH is a consortium of industry leaders who are promoting the benefits and value of horticulture. NICH brings together academia, government, industry, and nonprofits to cultivate the growth and development of a healthy world through landscapes, gardens, and plants – indoors and out.

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and love is in the air! Plants and flowers make thoughtful gifts with many benefits besides beauty. Use these memes to help get the word out to your customers, friends, and family. These memes are based on research and highlight just some of the benefits indoor plants provide.

When posting on social media, use the hashtag #PlantsDoThat.

“At NICH, we believe everyone should enjoy the many benefits of horticulture. Why pass up an opportunity to give a plant?” says Mary Kay Woodworth, Chair of the NICH Marketing Committee. “A living, growing plant is a great way to say I love you.”

The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) is a consortium of industry leaders who are promoting the benefits and value of horticulture. NICH brings together academia, government, industry, and nonprofits to cultivate the growth and development of a healthy world through landscapes, gardens, and plants – indoors and out.