Brief 3 - Plant Publication - Brief and Early research

Brief:
For this brief the aim is to create an engaging magazine aimed at students that promotes the use of plants in the workspace and in homes/accommodations. The magazine needs to include useful tips on how to keep plants and not kill them.

Research that I will need to undertaken will be into the benefits of plants in workspaces and homes, as well as research into how to keep plants alive.

I will also need to find out how many students already have plants and know their benefits as they are my intended audience and without this information my magazine may not be needed. To find my content for the magazine I will be looking into other books and magazines that speak about plants benefits as well as keeping them in the house, I will also research articles and websites that provide similar information as it is important that I get a wide range of resources to have reliable information. 

Research:

To start my research I decided that I would look for the answer to my initial questions that I set out to answer with this publication. I used a range of website to answer the question of ‘what are the benefits of having plants in your house/workspace?’ There was many answers to this question as there are many different benefits to plants such a cleaner air, increased productivity and reduce sickness. When researching into how not to kill plants I found 10 golden rules that will help to keep plants alive. All the useful information that I found to answer these questions will be included in the publication as it is all useful and informative about having plants in your home. 

links to found information :
https://www.ciphr.com/advice/plants-in-the-office/
https://www.myflowertree.com/blog/2017/09/important-health-benefits-of-having-indoor-plants-in-your-workspace/

10 GOLDEN RULES (from book 'the new house plant expert)

1. Don’t drown them

Roots need air as well as water- keeping the compost soaked at all times means cerain death for most plants.

2. Give them a rest in winter

Beginner are usually suprised to learn that nearly all plants need a rest in winter, which means less water, less feeding and less heat than in the active growing period. 

3. Accept the loss of ‘temporary’ plants

some popular girft plants such as cyclamen. chrysanthemum and gloxinia will die down in amtter of weeks. You’ve done nothing wrong- these types are flowering pot plants which are only temporary residents. 

4. Give them extra humidity

the atmosphere of a centrally-heated room in winter is as dry as desert air. To avoid this you could move your plant to a moist room such as the kitchen or the bathroom. An alternate method is to usea humidifier to increase the moisture content of the whole room. 

5. Treat trouble promptly

Expert beginner, trouble will strike some time. One or two scale insects or mealy bugs are easily picked  off; an infestation may be incurable. Overwatering is not fatal at first but kills when prolonged. learn to recognise the early signs of trouble.

6. Group them together

Nearly all plants look better and grow better when grouped together.

7. Learn to repot

After a year or two most plants begin to look sickly; in many cases the plant simply needs repotting into a larger container.

8. Choose wisely

The plant must be able to flourish in the home you provide for it. Even the expert can’t make shade-lover survive in sunny windows.

9. Have the proper tools

Buy a watering can with a long, narrow spout and a mister for increasing humidity, reducing dust and controlling pests. You will need a reputable brand of compost and a collection of pots plus stakes and plant ties or string. Drip trays will keep water off the furnature - a bottle of liquid fertilizer and a safe pest killer will keep the plants looking healthy.

a mister for increasing humidity, reducing dust and controlling pests. You will need a reputable brand of compost and a collection of pots plus stakes and plant ties or string. Drip trays will keep water off the furnature - a bottle of liquid fertilizer and a safe pest killer will keep the plants looking healthy.

10. Check the plants specific needs

Research any of your plants spercific needs before purchasing. 

Benefits of plants 

Houseplants actually improve indoor air quality. Dry indoor air is blamed for a host of aliments like respiratory problems, sore throats, colds, and even breakouts. Indoor plants help to maintain, and in some cases increase, humidity levels by emitting water vapor during transpiration. And in addition to emitting oxygen and humidity — plants produce negative ions, similar to many fancy air-purifying machines. The negative ions attach themselves to, and effectively remove, any particles in the air such as dust, mold spores, bacteria, and allergens.