Fresh ideas to liven up your dorm room
Date 10/16/2003 12:00 AM | Topic: FeaturesMany Luther students consider buying plants when they need something to liven up their dorm rooms and raise their spirits. Knowing the right kind of plant to buy can make a difference between one that dies overnight, and one that lasts for years.
Having a bit of green in your room can make you feel ten times better when the dead Iowa winter months get the best of you.
Jim Lukes is the owner of the Decorah Greenhouse, a greenhouse and gift shop that offers a full line of indoor and outdoor plants.
"Plants always add to the aesthetic environment," Lukes says, "Plus the fact that they put oxygen in the air and will make you feel better if you miss your mommy!"
However, students grow frustrated when plants require a lot of care and then die within a week despite all the work put into them.
In fact, many students refuse to even try horticulture therapy. Joanna Williams ('05) expressed dismay at even the idea of owning one.
"Are you kidding me?" Williams said, "I can barely take care of myself, let alone a plant!"
Believe it or not, there are some plants out there that can go without water, light, and tender loving care-- perfect for the average college student.
Lukes offers some great advice for students who would like to own a plant but do not have the time or knowledge to take care of them. There are several characteristics and specific plants that lend themselves to dorm life.
"You're going to want to buy a plant that has a low light requirement such as an arboricola," Lukes said.
There are two varieties in the schefflera family that both will do well in low light. The schefflera has larger leaves that are 6-7 inches long, whereas the arboricola is more of a compact plant. Drazena plants and rubber plants are also suitable for low light areas.
The perfect plant for college students is the ponytail plant, which takes mistreatment in addition to low light.
"There's a little bulb that sits halfway out of the dirt that if in the case of not getting water they will actually live off of the juices' in that bulb," Lukes said.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot of color variety when it comes to low light plants. Most are green because bright colors need bright sunlight.
A plant that needs little light or water still requires care.
"Music and talking to your plants is said to help them grow," says Lukes. Having people around will make your plants happy and encourage them to keep fighting despite wicked conditions.
If your dorm room happens to be one of the few that gets a lot of sunshine, cacti will do great in high light. Luther student Stephanie Novak ('05), however, disagrees about cacti being good for dorms.
"Even though my cactus didn't die," Novak said, "it attracted a lot of unwanted bugs. I wouldn't recommend owning one."
A satisfied plant owner keeps an aloe vera plant in her dorm room.
"Not only is it easy to take care of, but it eases bug bites and sunburn, too," said Luther student Julie Van Scoy ('05), also an owner of a few rubber plants.
Don't dismiss the idea of owning a plant at the thought of having one more added responsibility. Plants not only make the air in your dorm room a little more breathable, but also brighten your spirits at the sight of something green during the cold season.
Michelle Matthews
Features Reporter
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