Can houseplants improve indoor air quality?

Yes! Houseplants can help reduce harmful toxins in the air - formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, mold and ammonia, to name a few. Several excellent plant choices for improving air quality are: Bamboo Palms, Spider Plants, Ficus and English Ivy.

Do Ficus trees like to stay in one place? If you move a Ficus, does it die?

We rent ficus trees. They're are in constant motion. They are hearty, strong plants. Ficus trees will drop leaves when they are in shock . That may be the reason for their reputation as being finicky. But Ficus are just like any other tropical plant. They like stable temperature and even soil moisture levels. There was a time when the chemical in fresh paint reacted with Ficus and caused total defoliation. Ficus seem to be more chemical sensitive than other plants. The great thing about a Ficus tree is that it will always try to come back. So sweep up the leaves, make sure it gets some light, check the watering, convert to hydroponic substrate if you can, and give it a trim. It will be fine. Move your Ficus all you want.

Does talking to your plants help them live?

Like any relationship it's listening that matters.

Do plants like coffee?

Splashing your plant with coffee will discourage leaf eating pests but in most case won't help the roots or soil. Coffee in the soil will decrease the pH level and possibly cause mold to grow. Coffee bean plants make beautiful indoor plants.

Do plants like being cleaned and polished with mayonnaise?

A clean plant is a beautiful plant, and wiping leaves individually with mayo seems laborious. If I really wanted a food product on my plants I would reach for the nonperishable vegetable oil. A Jojoba bean or no-stick spray sounds delicious.

Do declining plants need fertilizer?

Plant food or fertilizer is not medicine. It is intended for healthy plants that are growing vigorously and are using up the essential nutrients in the soil. You cannot force plants to use more nutrients than they need. Excess nutrients accumulate in the soil and burn tender roots and cause leaf discoloration. Ailing plants absorb fewer nutrients than healthy plants.

Do most indoor plants go dormant in the winter?

Most indoor plants come from tropical regions that are warm year-round. Unlike temperate zone plants, tropical plants grow actively all year long. Indoors in northern climates the winter months bring shorter hours of daylight. This reduction in light will cause plant growth rates to slow leading some observers to believe they are dormant.