Grow Indoor Plants in Oman

T-Mag Sunday 05/June/2016 18:23 PM
By: Times News Service
Grow Indoor Plants in Oman

You don’t need to be an interior designer to realise the benefits of growing indoor plants, which add greenery to your home, purify the air, and rid the rooms of the pollution in the air. Above all, it is a quick decorating option that adds beauty and elegance to your abode.
“Plants provide much relief during summer besides beautifying the premises,” says Santosh, supervisor at the Al Rawabi Nursery in Seeb.

According to botanist Abdul Raheem, people in Oman prefer nine varieties of indoor plants. “Pothos, Aloe, Spider Plant, Snake Plant, Jade Plant, Rubber Tree, Dieffenbachia, Peace Lily, and Heart Leaf Philodendron. They are the much sought after varieties,” he says.
Pothos possesses excellent air purifying quality by absorbing toxins. Aloe has high medicinal value, while hanging Spider Plant looks attractive if pruned properly. It is easy to grow Snake Plant with variegated leaves that grow upright.

For those who love the look, a Jade Plant is ideal that offers thick, lush leaves and visually interesting branches. If you prefer a smaller plant, just give the Rubber Tree a shrub shape by pruning long stems. Dieffenbachia can give a tropical accent to home décor. Peace Lily has a pretty, curving white blooms and dark leaves, while Heart Leaf Philodendron’s perky, dark green leaves come to a heart shape where they meet the stems, making it a quintessential easy indoor plant.

According to Chakrapani, supervisor at Greeneries Nursery in Al Ghubra, the soil surface should be optimised to ensure plants remain healthy. “Atmospheric conditions need to be conducive for plant growth.
“The soil should comfortably hold the roots and the surface below it should have optimal water retention and aeration,” he adds.

He stresses on the fact that plants should not be watered during sunshine. “It is a common mistake people make. The latent heat of water is more during daytime, and, with sunlight, it increases further. Water depletes on the plain surface and acts as magnifying glass in sunlight, further absorbing the moisture content from the leaves and burning them due to excessive energy intake in a process called photo oxidation. In arid zones, water should only be sprinkled after sunset or at sunrise, informs the supervisor.

Talking about plants that appear beautiful but might be hazardous for health Santosh cautions, “Arabian Rose, also known as Gulf Rose, is one such poisonous plant. This is a very beautiful summer plant, but its latex may severely irritate or even poison the skin. People should be careful while selecting the plants they grow, and check the plants’ properties before deciding.”[email protected]

Top Indoor Plants:
Pothos
It can produce stems that trail eight feet or longer. It grows well in an array of lighting conditions, but low light may diminish the colour of the leaves. Allow the soil to dry between watering. Pothos prefers normal room temperature.

Aloe
It can grow three feet high. Aloe likes room temperatures around 70 degree Fahrenheit and a lot of sunlight. It prefers dry soil, so avoid frequent watering for best result.

Spider Plant
It comes in a number of varieties, and looks good as hanging plants. It grows well with evenly moist soil and bright or medium lighting conditions. Room temperature of 60 to 75 degree Fahrenheit keep them thriving.

Snake Plant
It grows well across a range of lighting conditions. The air should be dry as should be the soil. Normal room temperature suits the plant better.

Jade Plant
It does not require a lot of water, so keep the soil dry. It prefers bright light and ordinary room temperature.

Rubber Tree
Allow the surface of the tree soil to dry out in between watering. It thrives in lighting conditions from medium to bright, and with room temperatures in the range of 60 to 80 degree F.

Dieffenbachia
It thrives in normal room temperature, not below the mid 60 degree Fahrenheit. Keep the soil evenly moist, and provide medium or low lighting conditions for best result.

Peace Lily
The plant prefers low humidity and also low light. It prefers moist soil throughout the pot and tolerates standard temperatures ranging to about 85 degree Fahrenheit.

Heart Leaf Philodendron
It thrives in a range of lighting conditions from low to sunny, preferring indirect light. It does well anywhere close to standard room temperature. Let the surface of the soil dry between watering.

Contact
Al Rawabi Nursery, Seeb
+968 9620 4597
Al Jars Nursery, Azaiba
+968 9850 1520