Here’s a way to reuse virtually any soda or water bottle with a screw-on cap. It’s called the Twist & Spout, and it comes in two varieties. Use the Garden style to create a watering can. Use the Kitchen style to make those two-liter soda bottles easy to handle.

A set of two is available from Perpetual Kid for $5.99.

Growing microgreens is a metaefficient way to have attractive, flavorful greens available for salads and garnishes. Top class restaurants use freshly cut microgreens to liven up their dishes. Microgreens are tiny plants, no more than 8 to 14 days old.

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The indoor plant that outputs the most humidity is the Areca Palm. It releases copious amount of moisture into the air, removes environmental toxins, and is tolerant of indoor spaces. Definitely one of the most useful houseplants out there!

Areca Palms are available on Amazon.

See our post on How To Grow Fresh Air for more information.

The most efficient treatment for burns is: aloe vera gel. Nothing in the world heals burns faster and more effectively. There’s no reason why everyone can’t have access to at least one of these plants, since they are easy to grow indoors. To get best results, the gel must be fresh and undiluted.

This plant, the Club Moss (Selaginella Lepidophylla), has been around for 290 million years. It pre-dates the dinosaurs, and survived through their destruction, it also made it through the ice age and continues to thrive to this day in the 21st century. It can dry up and hibernate for as long as 50 years at a time. During this time it will curl up and travel around with the wind like a tumbleweed in search of water.

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The Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) — it’s the plant that’s the most efficient at removing formaldehyde (the most common indoor air pollutant).

See our post on How To Grow Fresh Air for more information.

It’s great to brighten up a cold winter day by growing plants under lights indoors. This device aims to make indoor growing easier. It has a grow light (a full-spectrum 9-watt fluorescent), and the lamp turns on and off every day, simulating the changing length of days with the passing seasons. The Intelligent Plant Grow Light also has an adjustable neck that stretches to 14 inches tall, a soil moisture sensor that indicates when it’s time to water, and a pebbled base that catches excess water.

Available from: Cool Stuff for about $32.

This curious planter takes the toil out of tomatoes by elevating the planting bed so vines grow downward. The hanging vines need almost no attention as tomatoes ripen in the air (not on the ground) where they won’t rot.

Complementary plants like basil, parsley, rosemary, and peppers can be planted on top, which holds up to 80 lbs. of topsoil. The compact planter can fit in any space with ample sunlight, even condominium balconies. Available from Hammacher.Com for $69.95.

Found via Ecofriend and Coolest Gadgets.

From Japan comes this small but efficient plant. It’s a bonsai for an indoor garden on a desktop or a windowsill. The tree can be repotted in a larger pot or outdoors for growing larger. They are $12 each from Branch.

Found via Ecofriend

Author B.C. Wolverton originally began his research to investigate creating a breathable environment for a NASA lunar habitat. What came of that research was the discovery that houseplants are the most efficient filters of common pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde and benzene. (See our list of the top plants for cleaning the air).

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SmartGardens are specially designed gardens that automatically water and feed plants without the need for pumps, timers and nutrient monitoring. They incorporate a watering system called a SmartValve, which enables the plants to be gravity fed, instead of through a pump. This means there is no need for a reservoir below the garden to capture runoff. There are some more details here. SmartGardens can be placed on the ground, on racks or even on shelves.

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These ceramic “Egglings” look and feel like real eggs. But if you crack one open, and add water, you’ll soon have plant growing. Each Eggling comes with a terra cotta tray and seed pack. The plants will grow for months in their shell and can be replanted in soil.

Available for $8.95 from Elsewares. Found via Inhabitat.

LED grow lights are a good choice if you are interested in growing indoors without a lot of hassle. Traditional grow lights generate a lot of heat and use large amounts of electricity, which raises your monthly electric bill by noticeable amounts. These LED grow lights stay cool, and use only a minuscule amount of energy.

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These gift trees, from the National Arbor Day Foundation, can be grown indoors or outdoors or even preserved in the refrigerator until you are ready to plant them. The trees are only $3 each, but there is a minimum order of 10. You can select from four evergreens: Ponderosa Pine, Coastal Redwood, Longleaf Pine, and Colorado Blue Spruce. They come in a recyclable “polytube” which has instructions for planting. They’re available from: National Arbor Day Foundation

Thanks to Inhabitat for this tip.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa")

Peace Lily removes benzene, xylene and toluene found in nail polish, paints,
solvents, and adhesives as well as trichloroethylene (TCE). TCE is a commercial
product found in a wide variety of industrial uses such as metal degreasing
and dry cleaning. It is also found in printing inks, paints, lacquers,
varnishes and adhesives. Wash the leaves occasionally to prevent insect
attack.

Pothos Vine / Golden Pothos (Epiremnum
Aureum)

Golden Pothos removes all indoor chemicals and is the easiest to grow
of all houseplants, the Pothos is a vine that produces light green heart-shaped
leaves colored with gold or cream. The Pothos can withstand neglect and
is very resistant to insect infestation. To encourage a more bushy appearance,
pinch out the growth tips and clean the leaves with a damp cloth.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema Modestum)

English Ivy (Hedera Helix)

English ivy removes formaldehyde. English Ivy can be adapted to a variety
of home and office environments including ground cover in lobbies, topiaries,
and hanging baskets. Ivy is a vigorous climber and prefers to be fed regularly
with a mild fertilizer. Allow to dry slightly between waterings.

Mother-in-Law’s Tongue / Snake Plant (Sansevieria
Laurentii)

Bamboo Palm / Reed Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii
)

Mass Cane / Corn Plant (Dracaena Massangeana)

Dracaena Warneckii

Dracaena Fragrans

Dracaena Janet Craig

Dracaena Marginata

Other good plants:

• Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
• Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)
• Australian Sword Fern (Nephrolepis Obliterata)
• Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix Roebelenii)

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis Exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’)

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Philodendron Selloum

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii)

Pot Mum (Chrysanthemum Morifolium)

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous chemical found in virtually all indoor environments.
The major sources which have been reported and publicized include urea-formaldehyde
foam insulation (UFFI) and particle board or pressed wood products used
in manufacturing of the office furniture bought today. It is used in consumer
paper products which have been treated with UF resins, including grocery
bags, waxed papers, facial tissues and paper towels. Many common household
cleaning agents contain formaldehyde. UF resins are used as stiffeners,
wrinkle resisters, water repellents, fire retardants and adhesive binders
in floor coverings, carpet backings and permanent-press clothes. Other
sources of formaldehyde include heating and cooking fuels like natural
gas, kerosene, and cigarette smoke. 

Formaldehyde irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat.
It is also a highly reactive chemical which combines with protein and can
cause allergic contact dermatitis. The most widely reported symptoms from
exposure to high levels of this chemical include irritation of the eyes
and headaches. Until recently, the most serious of the diseases attributed
to formaldehyde exposure was asthma. However, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has recently conducted research which has caused formaldehyde
to be strongly suspected of causing a rare type of throat cancer in long-term
occupants of mobile homes.

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Benzene

Benzene is a very commonly used solvent and is also present in many common
items including gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics, and rubber. In
addition it is used in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals,
and dyes. Benzene has long been known to irritate the skin and eyes. In
addition, it has been shown to be mutagenic to bacterial cell culture and
has shown embryotoxic activity and carcinogenicity in some tests. Evidence
also exists that benzene may be a contributing factor in chromosomal aberrations
and leukemia in humans. 

Repeated skin contact with benzene will cause drying, inflammation, blistering
and dermatitis. Acute inhalation of high levels of benzene has been reported
to cause dizziness, weakness, euphoria, headache, nausea, blurred vision,
respiratory diseases, tremors, irregular heartbeat, liver and kidney damage,
paralysis and unconsciousness. In animal tests inhalation of benzene led
to cataract formation and diseases of the blood and lymphatic systems.
Chronic exposure to even relatively low levels causes headaches, loss of
appetite, drowsiness, nervousness, psychological disturbances and diseases
of the blood system, including anemia and bone marrow diseases.

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Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a commercial product found in a wide variety
of industrial uses. Over 90 percent of the TCE produced is used in the
metal degreasing and dry cleaning industries. In addition, it is used in
printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes, and adhesives. In 1975 the
National Cancer Institute reported that an unusually high incidence of
hepatocellular carcinomas was observed in mice given TCE by gastric intubation
and now considers this chemical a potent liver carcinogen.

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