This document, "Indoor Plants: A Comprehensive Guide to Common Species, Pests, and Management," published in Vigyan Varta in November 2024 by Keerthivasan and Ganga, offers an overview of successfully cultivating indoor plants. It highlights the aesthetic and air-purifying benefits of houseplants but stresses the importance of pest management due to the controlled indoor environment making plants susceptible to infestations like aphids and spider mites. The guide details common indoor plant pests, their damage, and various control strategies, including cultural practices like inspection and proper watering, mechanical removal, and chemical treatments when necessary. Ultimately, the article advocates for a holistic approach to pest management to maintain healthy indoor plants and enhance the living environment.

This excerpt comes from "House Plant I Have a Too", a book designed to guide individuals in successfully keeping houseplants. The book is structured in three parts, covering the fundamentals of creating suitable living conditions, an encyclopaedia of common houseplants with specific care instructions, and advice on year-round plant maintenance. It emphasises that while many plant species exist, their basic care principles are often similar. The guide aims to equip both novice and experienced plant enthusiasts with the knowledge needed to choose, care for, and troubleshoot issues related to indoor plants.

This text from a university extension publication provides a comprehensive guide to caring for houseplants within a home environment, which often differs significantly from ideal greenhouse conditions. It highlights key aspects of houseplant maintenance, such as proper watering techniques, the importance of appropriate lighting, and considerations for temperature and humidity. The guide further discusses fertilising, repotting, and managing common insect and disease issues, even offering advice on summer care outdoors and listing some durable houseplant varieties. Finally, it includes a table detailing the specific cultural preferences for numerous popular houseplants to aid in diagnosing and addressing growth problems.

This document, titled "List of Indoor plants", details various indoor plant species alongside their common names and photographic references. The primary focus is on the benefits of these plants, specifically their capacity to purify indoor air by removing various toxins. Many entries highlight the removal of substances like formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene, while others mention VOC reduction, increased oxygen emission, and allergen mitigation. Overall, the resource serves as a guide to selecting houseplants for their air-purifying qualities and other advantages.

These sources collectively describe the Sansevieria genus, commonly known as snake plants or mother-in-law's tongue, highlighting their botanical characteristics, global distribution, and diverse applications. The plant is recognised for its resilience in various conditions, its ability to purify indoor air by removing toxins and absorbing carbon dioxide, and its traditional use in medicine for its antimicrobial and other therapeutic properties. Research further explores the cytogenetics of different Sansevieria species and investigates methods for their propagation and conservation, recognising their potential as ornamental plants and a valuable genetic resource.

This comprehensive botanical resource, titled "Basic Botany", outlines fundamental plant biology concepts, including growth processes like photosynthesis and respiration. It explains plant classification, covering formal taxonomy with binomial nomenclature and informal groupings based on life cycle and morphology. The material further details plant morphology, examining roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits, describing their structures and functions. Finally, it introduces the University of Florida Herbarium and the UF/IFAS Plant ID & Information Service, highlighting their roles in plant identification and information provision.

This compilation of materials, primarily authored by Baylor College of Medicine educators, details a collaborative project between various institutions, including NASA and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), focused on investigating plant root growth in space, specifically aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The primary experiment involves observing the development of Brassica rapa roots in microgravity under controlled lighting conditions and comparing them to Earth-based counterparts grown by student participants following provided protocols. The document outlines the experiment's design, materials required for classroom participation, safety guidelines, and anticipated learning outcomes, also exploring the broader implications of space-based plant research for long-duration missions and potential Earth applications. Additionally, it touches upon related concepts such as phototropism and gravitropism, and introduces technologies like clinostats used to simulate microgravity on Earth.

Bonsai is the art of cultivating miniature trees in containers, aiming to mimic natural aged trees. Originating in China as pun-ching around 200 BC, it was later adopted and refined in Japan. Japan introduced rules and styles, popularising it globally.

Key to bonsai artistry is conveying age and size through roots, trunk, and branches, valuing pleasing shape over mere age. Bonsai are classified by size, influencing care. Numerous styles exist, reflecting natural tree forms like upright (Chokkan), leaning (Shakan), cascade (Kengai), and forest (Yose-ue).

Cultivation involves techniques like pruning for shape, wiring for branch positioning, and careful watering and fertilising. Bonsai appreciation is rooted in Japanese aesthetics, valuing suggestion, imperfection, and asymmetry. Concepts like Wabi, Sabi, and Yūgen describe the aesthetic feelings associated with bonsai.

Bonsai offers several benefits, including stress reduction, therapeutic value, potential for air purification, and even species conservation. It has been shown to promote mindfulness and well-being, even during challenging times.