An indoor garden can be a great addition to the home or workplace
By Bill Peel

Gardens inside the house offer plenty of visual and health benefits.

Interior landscaping is the practice of designing, arranging and caring for living plants in enclosed environments.

Just as some breathtaking outdoor gardens are planted and maintained by professionals, there are stunning indoor gardens installed and cared for by trained interior landscapers.

These interior "plantscapes" can be found in most office environments, retail centres, public gathering places and increasingly in private homes.

Plants are an integral component of an interior design. They can perform functions such as space division, lineation and direction of traffic flow. Plants provide accent, texture, colour, shape, contrast, scale and proportion, all of which contribute to harmony of design. they create a warm, comfortable living and working environment. Numerous studies have shown an increase in employee productivity, creativity, well-being and attendance when plants are present in an office environment. Noise levels in open spaces are reduced by plants. The relaxed atmosphere created by the inclusion of plants as been shown to increase sales in retail settings.

In addition to their obvious aesthetic value, indoor tropical plants offer substantial health benefits. Studies have proven that plants improve air quality. Plant-filled rooms contain 50 to 60 per cent fewer airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without plants. Today's modern energyefficient buildings have less exchange of fresh outdoor air for stale indoor air, resulting in higher concentrations of toxic chemicals emitted by carpets, fabrics, paint, furniture, etc. Sick building syndrome is the term given to the myriad of symptoms often seen in workers exposed to such chemicals. It has been proven that plants dramatically reduce the levels of these toxins. In addition, plants are vital to maintaining a healthy, appropriate level of humidity an enclosed environment.

A qualified interior landscape contractor will advise on the appropriate selection of plants, based on lighting and other environmental conditions. he or she will be able to select and supply highquality, healthy plants and professionally install them to ensure a long-lived, enjoyable plantscape. The plantscaper will create a design that is functional and attractive that will accent your home or office. The selection of containers is critical to match and blend your plantscape with with your interior surroundings. Also available are seasonal displays, daily cut flowers

and artificial plants which can be used in low-light areas. Finally, the interior landscape contractor should have trained horticultural technicians who can provide a weekly maintenance service to protect your investment. These maintenance services should be fully supported by a written guarantee. A reputable interior landscape contractor will be happy to provide you with references.

A professional plantscaper should belong to the local business trade associations. This demonstrates a commitment to excellence. In this province, this is Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association is the national trade organization.

Bill Peel is president of Moore Park Plantscapes, a full-service interior landscape company providing the design, installation and maintenance of interior tropical plants for the home and office. Moore Park Plantscapes is located in Schomberg, and has been serving many major Ontario cities for 15 years.