There Is No Hope

 
Wouldn’t you know that "clay pot Martha’s" first audience had to bring a houseplant?

She was there with her clay pots stacked up. Anyone know of a suitable 12-step program?

Maybe there's a glimmer of hope. She also featured a how-to on aging a plastic flower pot. Has Martha figured out how to grow green mold on a plastic pot?

COURANT WRITER CLAUDIA VAN NES and her houseplant were in the audience for Martha Stewart’s new TV show, but Van Nes did not fulfill her dream of being onstage with the domestic diva.

As we filed out with our houseplants and grills, I saw Bonnie, another guest who'd had her houseplant repotted by Martha on the air, step into a limousine, handing her bulky grill to the driver. She gets to be interviewed by Martha, takes lackadaisical care of her houseplants AND has a limo and driver.

Hip-Hop Houseplants

I spent a good part of the weekend at the “Celebrate Dance Festival” at beautiful Balboa Park. I shot a ton of dance pictures with my point and shoot digicam. I’ll upload many of them to Flickr in the next couple of days.

One of the events I watched was put on by the Eveoke Dance Theatre. The folks at Eveoke deserve a lot of credit for producing this fantastic 3-day event now in its 10th year.

Applause…applause please...and send some money to Eveoke. All events over the three days were F-R-E-E! (Donation form PDF)

This was my first experience watching hip-hop dance. I really enjoyed The Eveoke Performing Group dazzle the crowd with “Hip-Hop is Everywhere”.

It was particularly cool to see these young Eveoke dancers lead the young kids in audience participation. The picture you see here is part of the crowd doing the hip-hop thing. Just bring it!

So, what does this have to do with inside plants? The thought occurred to me (obsessive-compulsive thinking of course) that we need some "hip-hop houseplants" and some hip-hop culture to reinvigorate the plants in buildings market.

Incidentally, you may have previously noticed my reluctant use of the word ‘houseplant’. It’s about as modern—and down market— as the word parlor.

Although a bit longish, I think the term plants in buildings borrowed from Kenneth Freeman of Rentokil Initial is cool. Indoor or interior plants are cool too, but please…no more ‘houseplants’ mom.

So, how can we get some hip-hop buzz into the indoor plant world? Got any hip-hop houseplant ideas? I’m long past the age of a hip-hopper, but it’s never too late to learn.

Katrina Overwaters Some Houseplants

The Miami Herald reports on damage to South Florida crops including houseplants.

Bill Hunt, president of the Dade Chapter of the Florida Nurserymen, Growers and Landscape Association, predicted a 40 percent loss in landscape and foliage plants but said it would take several weeks to tally up the final losses.

Nursery owner Gus Pena was out surveying his property Friday afternoon. He found bent and shredded shade houses, hundreds of pots bobbing in the flood waters and thousands of overturned sheffleras, draceanas and Croton Petras.
''We didn't expect this kind of damage,'' said Pena.

Pena and his brother and partner Tom grow indoor plants that are sold at Home Depot stores around the country. He estimated he has $1 million in shade houses and $2 million to $3 million worth of plants at his nursery.

Some of the house plants -- which must be undamaged to be sold -- can be saved. But many will be lost. Federal crop insurance can help pay for the damages, but only after the owners pay a deductible of half a million dollars.

Katie Edwards, executive director of the Dade County Farm Bureau, said it will be critical to drain flood waters as soon as possible since root rot sets in within 36 hours.

Another storm casualty was the plant show of the Dade Chapter of the Florida Nurserymen, Growers and Landscape Association. Scheduled for this weekend at the Coconut Grove Exhibition Center, the show was canceled after the hurricane damaged the exhibition hall and cut power.

Hunt, president of the Dade Chapter, said 94 exhibitors had been scheduled to display plants to garden centers, landscapers and, on Saturday, to the public.

Bad News, Sad News From South Florida

This Katrina is no lady and threw a mean left hook across the Miami-Dade area in South Florida. The Miami Herald reports the destructive details. I have fond memories of my time living in that area and am saddened by the news.

My fears about the foliage growers in the area seem to have been confirmed by John Mendozza of Morning Dew Tropical Plants. He posted this news on the Interiorscape discussion board.

This hurricane has caused substantial crop and structure damage in the Homestead area of FL. Many growers are without power. The full extent of the storm damage will not be fully known until next week.

She’s Baaaack!

Oh no!...It looks like ”Clay Pot Martha” is going to be back talking about houseplants. Martha, Martha, talk about decorating with houseplants. You’re good at that.

Talk about how beautiful they are, talk about how beneficial they are for us, yadda, yadda, but don’t talk about growing them in your cutesy clay pots. You know…the ones with the drainage holes, saucers and green mold.

Please…don’t do it! It’s not a "good thing"!

Saying “I am a businesswoman and I am a homemaker”, Martha Stewart served up details of the two upcoming series today that mark her return to American TV.

The studio full of reporters and photographers got to take stock of the set for “Martha”, her syndicated weekday lifestyles show that premieres on September 12.

It’s a sprawling dream of a Manhattan loft done up in signature Stewart tones, complete with a fully functioning kitchen and a garden area for growing houseplants.

No Split-Up Defense by Flynn

I’ve read every Rentokil article I can get my eyes on including this one. I got up in the middle of the night and listened to this mornings Rentokil webcast from the UK reviewing first half results.

My opinion is that Rentokil is not going to cave in to the Gerry Robinson pressure. I believe the best interests of the shareholders are for them to give Flynn the proper amount of time to turn things around…or not.

My belief is that the “tropical plants” business is not locked in to the Rentokil portfolio. If things do not improve significantly, I believe it could go on the block next year. Only time will tell. Whatever happens will have significant impact on the plants in buildings business in the US.

Sir Gerry, An Analyist’s Opinion

Here’s one person’s opinion of Sir Gerry and the Rentokil situation. All we need is for Donald Trump to get involved. Wouldn't that have the makings of a TV series? Sir Gerry meets The Donald.

Here's a profile of Sir Gerry billing him as "One of Britain's Greatest Businessmen". It mentions his TV series "I'll Show Them Who's Boss". Does 'them' mean Rentokil?

Rentokil Update

It is confirmed that Gerry Robinson may make a bid for control of Rentokil. The news triggered a surge in Rentokil stock.

Rentokil Rumors and News

Today’s rumor all over the UK financial press is that that Sir Gerry Robinson is targeting Rentokil for a break up. Note that new CEO Doug Flynn will be releasing his first set of interim figures this coming Thursday. It will likely be an interesting week in the continuing saga of the world’s largest interior landscaping company.

While billed as the largest interior plant company, I should point out that the plants business of Rentokil is rarely mentioned in the articles I read. Pest control, hygiene and security are the most discussed elements of the business. Rentokil impact on the U.S. plants in buildings business of course prompts my close attention.

The hard news is that Initial Tropical Plants (Rentokil US subsidiary) was selected to provide educational assistance to a prominent nonprofit professional organization. You can read more of the details on the Interior Landscape Business website.

Incidentally, we noticed that Ali Cybulski’s name is conspicuously absent. She is, or was, Editor of Interior Landscape Business magazine. Has there been a change that got by me?

Excerpt from the Iniitial press release: Initial Tropical Plants has been selected by the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI) to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for graduates of BOMI’s professional designation programs. BOMI is a nonprofit group that offers training to professionals with property, facility and building systems responsibilities at property management firms, corporations, government agencies, unions and trade associations. Initial is the only interiorscape firm to be approved by BOMI as an official CPD provider.

The Plants-In-Buildings website was a significant reason for the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI) to pick Initial. I have long been a fan of this plants in buildings educational resource.

My only reservation has been that a business rather than a nonprofit educational institution produced it. I remain, however, an unabashed admirer of the Plants-In-Buildings website.

Whether valid or not, there is the potential for accusations of “giant sized” Rentokil using the site for competitive advantage. That surfaced in this recent Interiorscape discussion board exchange.

Clem Cirelli, Jr./Summit Plants and Flowers, Inc. - Conflict of interest? 8/19/2005; 9:06:31 AM

This item on the Interiorscape.com news wire caught my eye...what do you all think?

"Initial to Provide Training to BOMI Grads

Initial Tropical Plants has been selected by the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI) to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for graduates of BOMI’s professional designation programs. BOMI is a nonprofit group that offers training to professionals with property, facility and building systems responsibilities at property management firms, corporations, government agencies, unions and trade associations. Initial is the only interiorscape firm to be approved by BOMI as an official CPD provider."

Since when does a trades contractor get hired to "train" employees of its potential clients...or, to put it another way, to indoctrinate/persuade its competitors’ current clients? This seems on its face a conflict of interests for BOMI to hire a firm with a huge vested interest in swaying property owners and managers to its client roster to provide what is supposed to be "continuing professional education"...

Fox in the henhouse?

Clem

Kenneth Freeman/Rentokil Initial plc - Re: Conflict of interest? 8/19/2005; 9:49:06 AM

No conflict of interest at all.

If you had taken the trouble to find out a little more about BOMI’s CPD programme and the requirements made of CPD providers, you would have found out that there are some very tight guidelines to follow.

The CPD course is generic in its nature. It is all about what the industry is capable of, not what Initial does. It is certainly not a sales pitch. The programme will raise awareness of the whole interior landscaping industry with BOMI Institute graduates, so I suppose we may be considered to have done the industry as a whole a bit of a favour!

The provision of CPD programmes is nothing new. Many professional bodies require their members to undertake CPD, which is usually given by companies such as ours (or even yours). We have been running a programme for architects in the UK for some time and you can see an on-line version of the course here: http://www.plants-in-buildings.com/CPDgeneral-intro.php .

Fox in the hen-house? Gift horses and mouths seem to be more appropriate words.

Kenneth Freeman
International Technical Manager: Tropical Plants
(and author of the CPD programme in question)
Rentokil Initial plc

Editors note: Update to thread.

Clem Cirelli, Jr./Summit Plants and Flowers, Inc. - Re: Conflict of interest? 8/21/2005; 9:41:59 PM

What would you think about, say, the State of Illinois hiring a particular insecticide manufacturer to give its pesticide applicator license recertification courses? Do you really believe that the captive audience would be getting an unbiased and completely factual presentation of all aspects of the subject matter, as one would reasonably hope and expect?

I actually did do my homework on this subject before posting my opinion...on the list of approved CPD providers on the BOMI site are numerous industry and other associations, whose role is properly and transparently to advance their industries as a whole. There are also some individual contracting companies, who like Initial have as their ultimate goal the acquisition of new business as a result of their investment in "educating" prospective customers. That’s where I have a problem with the ethics of the approved providers list. And, by the way, I could find nothing on the BOMI site about the "tight guidelines" for the providers...perhaps you might provide me with a link?

I would expect to see among the listed providers: academic institutions who are expert in various disciplines; industry and trade groups whose members engage in providing products and services to the building management industry; and private consultants who specialize in providing seminars, conferences, software, books and other educational information to the property management industry, but do not primarily sell other services or products to that industry. I don’t think it is proper or ethical for a professional association to sanction individual for-profit companies, whose primary objective is to compete for a share of the students’ business, as approved providers for an industry recertification or continuing education program that is basically mandatory for continued professional licensing status.

Anytime a commercial entity that has a particular ax to grind is given free rein to "educate" prospective clients of its own business, there is too much temptation to color that "information" to give the provider’s company an advantage over less-favorably positioned competitors. It’s like inviting only one company to bid on a maintenance contract...too cozy a relationship under the circumstances. Maybe that makes me old-fashioned, but so be it. If it walks like a duck...

Clem

Will Creed/Horticultural Help - Re: Conflict of interest? 8/21/2005; 10:17:04 PM

Thanks, Clem for doing the heavy lifting on this issue. Many of our comrades are unwilling to take on the 500 lb. gorilla in our industry. It is easier to beat up on the Anonymous critic with no clout.

I admire your integrity and courage.

Will

Dorm Décor Tips from Bowling Green U.

So maybe I was a bit off base about the candles, but not the plants. Read on. Remember that with sub-irrigation and hydroculture there’s no water slopping around and draining into saucers (or on furniture or the floor). Use a closed system and your dorm plants will love it…and so will you. Check it out! Dormscaping...sub-irrigation...hydroculture.

An artsy theme could be the perfect fit for a free-spirited resident. Artwork and accessories like live plants can give a dorm room a relaxed mellow vibe. Useful accent colors like purple and white give off a creative and open feel for a room.

Click for more ABOUT this public service weblog updated weekly when time permits. I plan to return to daily blogging after I find a home for the plant lab and move from San Diego to Brooklyn, my birthplace.

Welcome if you're a newcomer and welcome back if you've been here before. Keep on coming back!

Tell a friend and remember to be a 'Green²' greenscaper!

ALSO VISIT GreenScaper.net, a companion blog.

More Feng Shui Today

It appears the universe decided to make this a Feng Shui plant day. This situation could apply to a lot of dorm rooms (and students) that's for sure.

Healing greens

Q: The eastern side of our house is completely blocked. We are having a lot of health-related problems in the family. I was wondering if this could be due to the blocked east. If so, please suggest Feng Shui remedies.

Shantanu Banerjee

The Solution: East is the direction from where the sun’s universal life-giving force flows into the house and nourishes the health of each and every resident.

Since you do not have windows in the east, try to create positive energy by putting up wallpaper or a painting that depicts the rising sun with growing trees and flowers.

Enhance the ruling wood energy of this area by placing fresh healthy green plants and flowers, as opposed to artificial silk ones.

Add Feng Shui Color

Click to enlarge.This timely article talks about color and Feng Shui. The novena candles come in all the colors mentioned. This is an easy way to create a "Feng Shui dormscape" combining green plants and colored candles.

Flash...update 08-20-05 Oops, I'm seeing that many (most?) campuses don't allow candles in dorm rooms. Is it okay if you don't light them? They're neat color accents. So what do I know, I went to night school as a commuter dad.

The plants are cuttings of Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta that were rooted in the expanded clay pebble filled glass cylinders.

As in nature, green encourages growth. This color can be quite invigorating when used indoors. A front entryway can be enhanced by the color green, because it invites the visitor to enter and imagine what lies beyond. Green is all about adventure, exploration, growth and change. Introducing green plants, a green vase or even painting a room green can elicit these desired feelings.

The Essential Pot

 
Forbes.com names "the pot" as the 16th most important tool of all time.

Curiously they make no mention of its use for holding plants. That may be because it awaited the invention of the drainage hole and saucer by the USDA Extension Program. How else would present day houseplant gardeners be able to practice drench and drain watering.

Light a Lucky Bamboo Candle

Click to enlarge.When you're finished burning what are called 7-day, jar, or novena candles, recycle the glass cylinders. They make excellent hydroculture rooting cylinders. If you're not familiar with them, they're readily available at supermarkets at low cost.

Installing in individual cylinders means you can easily rearrange them without having to replant. Just move them around any way you like. If you come up with a more artful way of arranging them, grab your digicam and email me some photos. I'll be glad to post them. Should we have a contest?

Not only will you be recycling, you'll be combining Feng Shui plants with lucky or spiritual candles. Don't we need all the help we can get? Pour it on! Perhaps someone knows if novena candles can also be considered Feng Shui candles. Seems to me that spirituality is universal.

Flash...update 08-20-05 Oops, I'm seeing that many (most?) campuses don't allow candles in dorm rooms. Is it okay if you don't light them? They're neat color accents. So what do I know, I went to night school as a commuter dad.

I've used them to luckily root Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana), Aglaonema, Dracaena marginata and Dwarf Dracaena 'Janet Craig'. So far, it's worked every time. Lucky me!

Decorative Hydroculture

Click to enlarge. Clear glass (or plastic) containers can make interesting hydroculture planters. Not everyone likes the look of the expanded clay pebbles however.

This Sansevieria is planted with river gravel that is decorative only. The plant is growing in expanded clay pellets. I believe this application has further potential. What do you think?

Breaking News From Initial Tropical Plants

Here's breaking news about another acquisition by Initial Tropical Plants, the U.S. subsidiary of Rentokil Initial of the U.K. Note that they bought the interiorscaping division of Veldkamp's only, not the entire company.

Initial Tropical Plants is by far the largest interior plantscaping company in the U.S. Think Wal-Mart.

Veldkamp's is a 45 year old company and one of the pioneers of the interior plantscaping industry.

August 12, 2005 - Corporate

It is with great pleasure that Initial Tropical Plants has agreed to acquire the Interior Plants Division of Veldkamp's, Inc. in Denver, Colorado effective August 1, 2005. We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new co-workers from Veldkamp's. Together we will continue on our path to "Fabled Service."

Dormscaping With Chi

 
 
This is a sketch of Tom's dorm room before help arrived.

Tom was not happy.

 

 
 

 
 

 

You may not recognize it but Tom’s dorm room has been redesigned with Feng Shui in mind. He now has a green plant by his pillow and laptop. He’ll be sleeping and surfing a lot better now.

Tom is now happy.

The sketches are from Katherine Olaksen's "Dorm Room Feng Shui," a handbook about bringing positive energy (that's the "chi") into dorm room living.

Whether you believe in Feng Shui, or not…a healthy plant (or two, or three or more) in a dorm room can help to change an often-sterile environment. The problem is that most students don’t know how to care for ‘houseplants’. Low light, typical of a dorm room, compounds the problem.

Maybe your view is of a brick wall like this. You're probably not happy.

There’s no doubt that the creative application of some dormscaping would improve the outlook in your room.

To encourage healthy dorm plants (and happy, healthy students), I've started a new ‘dormscaping’ category.

It will feature proven low light tolerant plants installed in either soil sub-irrigation or hydroculture. Both of these methods significantly improve the odds of maintaining healthy plants in lower light.

Dormscaping will highlight the methods that professional interior plantscapers use for maintaining plants in buildings. Commercial plant maintainers long ago found that plants installed in sub-irrigation have a greater tolerance for low light conditions. These methods modulate soil moisture resulting in the desired “evenly moist” status.

Drench and drain top watering often results in a wide swing in soil moisture between soaked and dried out. This causes significant stress for the plants. Coupled with low light it can be a killer combination.

Remember too, there’s no ‘stray water’ with sub-irrigation and hydroculture. These are self-contained systems with no need for drainage and saucers. Unlike drench and drain top-watering there is little exposure to water damage. Both you and your school administration will appreciate that.

Further, it's an environmentally sound practice. Since the surface is always dry, there's little or no exposure to the propagation of mold or pests like fungus gnats (Sciarid flies). Your plants can now be classifed as 'sustainable' truely green products in every sense of the word.

Think about it...how can you in good conscience do something as utterly archaic as pouring water on your houseplants when you're listening to MP3's on your iPod and surfing the Internet on your laptop.

It may be in a small way but dormscaping will enhance your college life. Try it! It works. If you need help, just ask...and tell a friend about finding happiness, as Tom did, through ancient Feng Shui coupled with 21st century dormscaping.

Hurricane Forecast Increased

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Service projects an additional 11 to 14 tropical storms from August through November. That’s not good news for the foliage plant industry in Florida, which produces more than 50% of the plants for use in buildings in the U.S.