Houseplants have the ability to make our lives a whole lot better. Simply placing a few indoor plants strategically around your living space can make you healthier, more focused, and happier. That’s because plants are basically mother nature’s air purifier and humidifier all in one. We all know by now that they release oxygen and water vapor into the air, and absorb carbon dioxide from it.
A lesser known, yet more important, benefit of having plants scattered around our houses is their natural ability to clean the air and rid it of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are nasty, invisible, toxic substances which make their way indoors and are commonly found in items such as plastic bags, carpeting, and paint. Once inside these compounds usually end up trapped, because most buildings are well-sealed and temperature regulated, and we breathe them in. According to NASA research, every 24 hours houseplants can remove up to approximately 87% of these VOCs by trapping them in soil and converting them into food. That’s pretty awesome and you don’t even have to lift a finger to reap the benefits!
You also don’t even need to buy a plant to get all the positive effects that come along with having them inside the house. Instead, you can grow your own from seeds that you already have… if you have a lemon on hand! Lemon trees are wonderful to have in your home. They smell zesty and strongly of citrus, even just one will leave a space smelling noticeably fresh and clean.
This video from Mr Eastcoastman will show you exactly how to grow a lemon tree from the seeds of a lemon that you can pick up at the grocery store. All you’ll need is a lemon, a few paper towels, a Ziploc bag, and some patience. Read on for what to:
1) Take a lemon and cut it in half. Remove any seeds you may have sliced with the knife and discard.
2) Dig out the remaining seeds, wipe them clean with a paper towel, and dry them off as best you can.
3) Remove the outer shell that surrounds the seed by grasping it firmly with a paper towel and locating the pointed tip. Use your fingernails to peel the shell down and off from that point. Once the shell is fully removed the seed will look a lot darker. Repeat this step with as many seeds as you’d like.
This step is the key to growing a lemon tree faster. The protective shell surrounds the seed and must rot away before it can sprout, which often takes a very long time. By removing the shell you drastically speed up the time it takes for the seed to sprout!
4) Place all of the dry, shelled seeds on a paper towel square and fold it in half, then fold it in half again so that all of the seeds remain securely wrapped inside it.
5) Dampen the paper towel with just a little bit of water, stick it inside a Ziploc bag, and seal it closed. Jot the date down on the bag before placing it in a dark warm spot.
This helps germinate and start your seeds!
6) After about 8-10 days open the bag and check the seeds to see if they have sprouted. If there are no sprouts, re-seal the bag and wait a few more days. If there are little white roots beginning to show, they sprouted and are ready for planting.
7) Fill a pot with soil, place the sprouted seeds in the dirt and cover them with a thin layer. Water regularly as needed and soon you’ll have a beautiful lemon tree growing!
Finally, lemon trees grown indoors will need extra support as they grow taller to keep them from bending or breaking. Simply place a stick in the soil and use twist ties to secure the tree to it. As it grows larger and stronger it eventually will become steady enough to stand on its own and you can remove the supports.
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