Prior to developing his famous biophilia hypothesis, Wilson spent three decades as a member of the faculty at Harvard University where his chief interest was the study of ants, or myrmecology. His love of the outdoors, and insects in particular, was fostered from a young age. After losing his stereoscopic vision in a childhood fishing accident, he became enamored with the anatomy of tiny insects that he was still able to see in great detail up-close.

He collected insects extensively, and spent much of his childhood, and later his career, establishing taxonomical scheme for the specimens he found in the wild. Then, in 1984 he published a book called Biophilia that would popularize a far-reaching theory about the way humans are influenced and affected by natural elements in their environment.

Wilson’s biophilia hypothesis suggested that there is an inborn, evolutionary bond between human beings and other living organisms. Likewise, when humans are near other living things they tend to feel better, and more at ease. In his book, Wilson succinctly describes biophilia as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life.”

Wilson then deduced from this hypothesis that humans could live measurably better lives by intentionally surrounding themselves with other living things. Thus the idea of biophilic design was born. Today, Wilson is retired from teaching but he continues to publish books and pursue his passions as a naturalist.

Here at Foliage Décor Services, we put Wilson’s theory to work every day by infusing the workspaces in our area with vibrant plant life. Want to learn more about the work we do? Take a look around our photo gallery to view our portfolio, or give us a call today at (561) 784 – 5040 for more information.

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At the time, scientists had been uncovering all kinds of evidence to suggest that humans live better (and work better) when they’re able to maintain a connection with nature. Today, that evidence is continuing to mount, and scientists like Wilson are searching for creative ways to promote greater human connectivity with the natural world from which we came.

Biophilic design is, quite simply, a type of design that seeks to infuse urban environments with natural elements. Biophilic designers seek to eliminate the strict black and white dichotomy between nature and urbanized society by blurring the lines between cities and surrounding natural landscapes. They constantly look for opportunities to add green space to established cities, and promote increased biodiversity in places that might otherwise be labeled concrete jungles.

So why should we care about biophilic design?

Because it’s good for us, and for the planet we’re fortunate enough to call home. It’s a step in the right direction that aims to end our long, troubled history of trading natural beauty for urbanized civilization. The idea is that the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Moreover, we’d be happier, more productive members of society of we could find a way to rid ourselves of the distinction between humans and the rest of the world.

Here at Foliage Décor Services, we’ve committed ourselves to bringing the workspaces in our area back into harmony with nature by providing them with attractive, refreshing plant arrangements. Want to learn more about all the virtues of biophilic design? Take a look around our photo gallery to see some examples of our work, or give us a call today at (561) 784-5040 for more information.

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Make Dress Codes Casual

To keep heating and cooling costs down, allow your workers to dress casual. Forcing people into “office garb” suits and jackets can mean that you will run your air conditioning a lot higher than necessary. If you’re more relaxed with your dress code, there will be less complaining about the temperature. Also, as a bonus, your staff will be happier about being able to choose what they wear to work.

Lighting

Get rid of those high energy light bulbs, and replace them with energy saving ones. Don’t leave lights on in empty offices or conference rooms, and turn off computers when they are not being used.

Recycle

Recycling is as important in the workplace as it is at home. Print on both sides of computer paper, and recycle used paper. Recycle printer cartridges and recycle batteries properly. Rather than using traditional notepads, try using digital note taking applications instead.

Use Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

These may cost a bit more than their toxic counterparts, but they are almost always hypoallergenic and they tend to smell better. They clean just as well and are antibacterial, but they won’t upset anyone’s olfactory nerve.

Transportation

Encourage workers to walk, cycle, take public transport or rideshare to work. This cuts cost for them, and gives them an opportunity to directly participate in your office’s ecofriendly initiative.

Use Greenery

Nothing purifies the air in closed spaces better than plants. They also add beauty to the office environment and help to minimize the effects of “sick building syndrome”. An added bonus is that it makes people relaxed and happy bringing the outside in, and having living things around them in an otherwise sterile feeling environment.

It doesn’t take much in the way of sacrifice to make your office more ecofriendly. You can do something to help the planet, and also create surroundings in which your workers will be more productive.

We have plant leasing packages that are also budget friendly as well. Now you can bring the natural beauty of plants to your office, and enjoy cleaner air and increased staff productivity. Call 561-784-5040 or reply to Robin@foliagedecorservices.com for more information or a no obligation consult.

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No matter how diligently you care for the greenery in your home or office, at some point you’re likely to run up against a sickly plant that requires some extra TLC. Unfortunately, many people assume that once a plant falls ill it’s essentially doomed do die. By finding out what caused the illness, however, you can often alleviate the symptoms and rescue your plant before it goes off to reside in the great greenhouse in the sky.
 

Don’t Forget to Drain

Sometimes, people water plants regularly only to find them wilting and turning brown in spite of their efforts. This can be a frustrating experience, and many people fail to realize that they may actually be watering their plants too much. Make sure that your plant’s container has holes in the bottom to allow water to drain out. Feel the soil with your fingers to determine whether or not it’s oversaturated with water. If it feels muddy or spongy, it’s time to ease up on your watering regimen.

Check your Container

Once plants reach a certain size, they’ll need to be repotted in order to allow them to continue to grow. If you don’t repot your plants the roots can become bound in a tight clump, effectively suffocating the plant. If your plant is spilling out of the edges of its current container, it’s time to find it a new home.

Inspect for Insects

Insects can be problematic for both indoor and outdoor plants. Characteristic symptoms of insect damage include yellowing growth and holes in the leaves of your plants. To check for insects, turn the leaves over and look for small white or black spots. If you spot these sings of insect infestations, gently rinse the plant in a sink to wash the pests off.

Trim Dead and Dying Leaves

Leaving damaged parts of your plants intact saps them of the energy they need to resume healthy growth. Trim these parts away to give them the extra energy they need to recover. Assuming they still have a healthy root system, they should recover with time.

At Foliage Décor Services, we specialize in brightening up offices with beautiful, live indoor plants. Give us a call today at 561-784-5040 to learn more about all the services available at Foliage Décor Services. Or, you can reach us via Email at Robin@foliagedecorservices.com.

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Orchids

The orchid family is composed of a diverse group of delicate, exotic looking flowering plants renowned for their unique beauty and vibrant coloration. In traditional Chinese culture, the Orchid is thought to have healing properties, and has been used to treat respiratory illness. Keeping orchids indoors does require a degree of care and maintenance, but few other flowers can brighten a room in quite the same way.

Peace Lily

A common feature of many offices, the peace lily is not only an aesthetically pleasing choice, but also a sound practical option. The peace lily does well in low-light conditions and can even clean the air in your office by scrubbing it of harmful volatile organic compounds such as benzene and ammonia.

Bromeliads

This family of tropical flowering plants is well adapted to life in indoor environments. They flowers come in a variety of shapes and colors and are resistant to many common pests. Bromeliads are a great, low maintenance option for office foliage.

Snake Plant

Another option that requires fairly minimal maintenance, the snake plant is also remarkably effective at purifying indoor air. Just take care not to overwater as this can cause rot in the snake plant’s root systems.

We’d love to help you brighten up your workspace with lush plant life. Give us a call today at 561-784-5040 to learn more about all the services available at Foliage Décor Services. Or, you can reach us via Email us at Robin@foliagedecorservices.com

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Recent research has shown that the presence of plants and blooming items such as bromeliads or orchids in the workplace significantly reduces stress and boosts productivity, creativity, and problem solving skills among employees. In a study performed by Texas A&M University, researchers found that plants in the workplace create a setting that is more conducive to business success. Men and women involved in the study demonstrated consistently higher productivity and problem solving abilities when working in spaces with plant life. Informal studies suggest staff are happier and more satisfied when plants are present in the workplace

Washington State University performed a similar study on the presence of plants in office spaces and their effect on the stress levels of employees. Researchers at Washington State also confirmed that the plants helped to reduce employee’s stress levels. The university tested their theories by monitoring the heart rates of employees in office spaces with plants versus office spaces without plants while they performed a difficult task. Men and women who participated in this study also reported feeling more attentive to their work when there were plants around the office.

This spring, consider revamping the interiors of your office spaces with vibrant greenery along  with seasonal rotational bromeliads or orchids to boost productivity and creativity while helping to eliminate stress among your employees. This way, you can be confident that each and every person in the office is realizing his or her full potential.

Call Robin at 561-784-5040 for your free consult in Palm Beach County or the Treasure Coast today.

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Spathiphyllum Species (Peace Lily)

This shade-loving genus of lily is extremely adept at removing VOCs such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air. It also absorbs acetone, which is found in many electronics and adhesives. Best of all, in the proper lighting peace lily blooms all year-round, making it both an aesthetically pleasing and practically sound option for air purification.

Dracaena Species (Corn Plant, Janet Craig, Warneckei )

These low maintenance plants do a fine job of removing benzene, formaldehyde, and ammonia from the air. The best feature of these VOC magnets is that they do not require steady, direct sunlight in order to survive. Keep them by a window if you prefer, but an interior conference room works too. Either way you’ll enjoy fresh, clean air courtesy of your dracaena foliage.

Variegated Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Affectionately known to some as “mother-in-law’s tongue,” this tropical plant is a low maintenance, highly effective option for cleansing the air in your office. They don’t require much sunlight, and are fairly tolerant of irregular watering. During the course of their clean air study, NASA scientists demonstrated the snake plant’s ability to scrub the air of toxic compounds such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde.

Aglaonema Species (Marias, Emerald By, Silver Queen)

These low light loving evergreen plants effectively cleanse the air of a number of VOCs including trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. These plants don’t grow tall, nor do they require bright light. Plus, they don’t require much watering either.

Aloe (Aloe Vera)

The extract of aloe has long been recognized as an effective topical treatment for burns and sores. What many people don’t know is that aloe also helps to remove harmful byproducts of chemical cleaners such as formaldehyde and benzene from the air. These plants thrive in direct sunlight, and require water only about once a week.

Plants are the original green – way before being green was cool. Want to learn more about the cleansing powers of plants? Give us a call today at 561-784-5040 and ask for Robin for more information!

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This is one of our most ambitious projects do date. We hand selected the 300 foliage plants from local quality growers who nursed this wall from a tender young seedling to the marvel of eco engineering you see before you. We’re happy to see it go to a loving family, but we’re suffering from a bit of empty nest syndrome. So, in hopes of populating the planet with more vertical vegetation, we’d like to take a moment to educate our readers about these lovely living walls.

Over the past decade or so, living walls have been cropping up in corporate offices, schools, and small businesses all over the world. Not only do they make for eye-catching focal points, they also act as natural air filters for the spaces they occupy. The largest of these walls is a four story biological behemoth at the University of Guelph in Ontario. This wall is so efficient at filtering air it that completely eliminates the need for conventional air purification systems in the building in which it’s housed, saving the university countless dollars in energy bills. Living walls come in all shapes and styles to fit most budgets.

Living walls are born in upright planters. A growing medium such as potting soil is used to cultivate the walls from seed to sprout. Often, hydroponic watering systems are used to maintain the walls as they grow and develop. Hydroponic systems are ideal for living walls as they require little maintenance and do a nice job of evenly irrigating the vertical surface of the wall. The last thing you want is a dead spot right in the middle of your living wall!

Want to learn more about how we grow living walls? Call today to speak with Robin – our LEED Green Associate design professional for a no obligation consult.

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In today’s world, we gravitate towards quick information; that is, we love when we can get a quick statistic here and a picture there to make it easier for us to absorb that data more efficiently. That being said, check out the infographic below, where you will find a quick, easy to understand layout of the much of the information we’ve already provided you with about the benefits of indoor plants. So if you’ve found yourself suffering from a bit of an information overload lately, we’ve got you covered!

by Zabisco.
Explore more visuals like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

 

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In this age of ever changing technology, most people spend a great deal of their time in front of computers, hand-held devices and smartphones. We seem to always be in front of a screen of some kind, regardless of whether it’s at work or at home. Today’s scientific community has studied the effects that this constant relationship with technology has had on the condition of our minds. In general, this technology age has caused many to have a decrease in focus and a shortened attention span. But these new findings suggest that with some minor changes in decor, we can begin to remedy this problem.

If you can imagine yourself strolling on a spring day through a park and having your senses engaged by each flower, plant or leaf that catches your eye, you have experienced what the power of having plants around you can accomplish. Just as the color of flowers and plants automatically capture your attention when you’re out in nature, they have that same ability indoors. This is called “undirected attention,” and it is effortless. When your undirected attention is engaged, it allows the “directed attention” that we use for work, chores and our to-do lists to rest and renew itself.

Researchers are still studying this process of how plants capture your undirected attention while allowing your directed attention to rest, and attempting to answer a few questions about its effectiveness. It appears that having plants around may actually increase the quality of rest and rejuvenation that is gained by your directed attention during this time.

Though there are still many unanswered questions as to how the process works, it appears that even if you are one who chooses not to include leafy greens in your daily diet, you can definitely benefit from their restorative effects by placing plants in your home and work space. Call Foliage Décor Services today to learn more about how we can bring the cognitive benefits of plant life to your work space.

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