Sunday, July 18, 2010

Green plants for green buildings 出點力綠化室內吧!

只要在室內擺設綠色植物,就有助於改善「病態建築症候群」。因為綠色植物不僅可以美化空間,更有助於放鬆心情、減少壓力與疲勞感,科學研究更顯示栽種植物具實際改善日常活動空間內落塵、二氧化碳及揮發性有機物質等功效。 
 



以為室內的冷氣比路上的空氣乾淨,那就大錯特錯了,冷氣吸入外圍的空氣,結果一樣有呼吸氣管,咳嗽等毛病。
要室內空氣質數得到改善,就要用大量植物,產生氧氣,吸走化學物如甲荃。

研究顯示,樓宇中每一個人就要平均四棵樹,香港的寫字樓就沒有這樣的環境,只能在吸下街外的廢氣。
外國的設計都會以綠化的植物提升室內的美觀感,可惜香港的設施豪宅口味濃,容不下真樹木,以假花假樹代替。
政府部門用假樹最多,不見它們的室內運動場,圖書館的樹都是假的,真正綠化香港只有市民自己發力了!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

綠色植物﹣為夏天散散熱



30度的火熱高溫,的確熱力驚人。植物可以遮攔陽光,呼出清新空氣,綠化家居,心情都開朗D,做事起勁D。多種植物為地球降溫出一分力!

室內植物的打理

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Planting and repotting in 4 steps.

The best period of time to repot plants is in early spring. Plants that almost burst out of their pots and plants that lack vitality should be repotted now. Transfer the plants into a pot that is at least 1 size larger. Whether you start planting or repotting, always use the same method.

如果植物的根而穿透內盆,那就需要更換大一點的盆。如果植物的外觀缺乏生命力,亦要更換泥土的時候了。

1. Choose the right pot. Make sure the plant has room for growth so don’t choose a size that is too small. Make sure the pot possesses a drainage hole for excess water.
植物要有生長的空間,不要使用太小的盆。盆底有孔使水份滲出。

2. Always use potting soil. Potting soil mixed with coconut fibre dries out less rapidly. For this purpose there are also granules (Seramis) that can be mixed through the soil.
使用科學泥。有些科學泥可能摻有椰子殼衣和粒子使保持泥土的水份或幫助疏水。亦可以使用陶粒保持水份。

3. Before repotting or planting place some clay clumps or shards at the bottom of the pot first so the hole does not close up and excess (rain)water can drain.
可以在盆底先放陶粒,然後才用科學泥,有幫助疏水以免出水位塞住。

4. Fill the pot with some soil and press the dirt down well. Put the plant in the pot and again press down the dirt well. Make sure that the soil does not get higher than 2 to 3 cm under the rim of the pot so when watering the plant the soil does not spill over the rim of the pot.
用科學泥放盆底,然後把植物放入盆,再加入科學泥填滿及壓下泥土。泥在距離盆子的邊2-3cm即可,不用滿瀉。


Fertilisation 施肥
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Plants that richly bloom need extra fertiliser. If you have used fresh potting soil your plants have nutrients for a month from the potting soil. After that you will have to provide some extra ’vitamins’, for instance in the shape of coated fertiliser granules that you can add to the soil. The nutrients in these granules are released gradually. A little more work is giving liquid plant food, which is added to the water. In that case pay close attention to the dosage used.

要植物生長得旺盛,就要施肥。新泥土可以有足夠的養份維持一個月左右,時間一耐就要額外養份。 肥料有顆粒狀或水溶液,顆粒的分解慢可以安心使用,不會令泥土過份肥沃。水溶液的肥料就要注意份量。

Watering 澆水
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Giving plants water is an art. Too little water isn’t good for the plants, but too much definitely is not either. The most frequent mistake is to keep the soil wet constantly. This starts rotting the roots or it starts causing mildew. So make sure of good drainage and use water trays. Also never let the soil dry out completely. Put water on the soil or via the water tray as much as possible. Regularly add liquid fertiliser to the water for watering the plants.

澆水都有一定學問。太少水當然不行,太多水亦都對植物不好。最常見的誤解是要泥土經常濕透,不能有效疏水的話,根部會被漫會發霉及敗壞。泥土亦不可以完全乾透,要在泥乾之前澆水,植物的水份吸收速度在冬天會減少,不用經常澆水。可以在泥土表面淋水或在底盤上加上使根部吸收。淋花的水可以先稀釋水溶液的肥料有助吸收。

Remember that plants in earthenware pots need water more often than plants in synthetic pots. After all, earthenware absorbs water. Most plants do like it to be sprayed.

陶盆比膠花盆要吸多一點的水。可以的話,使用噴霧壺可以使植物漂亮。


Clean your house plants