November 2020 – Healthy Flat

Where and how to place feng shui plants

Surely today you have heard a thousand times about Feng Shui, although especially in decoration matters. However, this oriental philosophy also has a lot to do with plants and we want to bring you closer to it. How to place feng shui plants? Explaining where you have to place them so that they transmit you peace and energy.

Without a doubt, Feng Shui is very broad and there are different ways of carrying it out. However, today we want to give you some keys that we hope will be very useful when deciding in which areas of the house you should place the plants.

Where to place feng shui plants

As we have advanced, plants and flowers are elements that are generally used to decorate and give a better appearance to patios and gardens, but in Feng Shui, they are essential pieces so that the energy of the home remains balanced. According to this philosophy, the correct placement of plants at home can bring the following benefits to both our physical and mental health:

Reduces anxiety: According to a study carried out by Washington State University, having a plant insight can help us feel less stressed in a matter of a few minutes.

Increases concentration and creativity: the presence of this item on a person’s desk can increase a person’s attention to their work and improve their ability to solve problems.

Supports recovery processes: according to a study by HortTechnology, patients recovered faster when exposed to the company of a plant during their healing process.

It makes us feel better: being in contact with nature improves our relationships and feels much happier.

Placement of feng shui plants

As much as some plants and flowers can attract good energy and luck in different areas of our life, if we do not know the orientation and the correct places where they have to be placed, they will not have the same effects. Therefore, below we indicate where to place the plants according to Feng Shui :

South Zone

The home’s southern area is within the Fire element, so plants, being composed in a certain way of wood, the fan that flame and keep it alive. The flowers in this place increase the ability to be more decisive and effective when solving a problem.

East and southeast areas

These areas are in the Wood element, so if we introduce plants (wooden living beings), we will improve the energy of these two areas of the home. Plants in these two areas will enhance good fortune financially, creativity, and social relationships. However, it is not convenient to saturate it with plants since you could achieve the opposite effect.

Dining room

The flowers in the area that we take advantage of to eat and spend a moment with the rest of the household members can improve both the relationships between them and increase the luck related to the money of all the people who live in that house.

Living room and the entrance of the house

According to Feng Shui, these two areas are also ideal for placing plants as they constantly improve harmony and luck in the home. However, you should avoid placing very large flowers if these areas are oriented to the southwest, northeast and northwest of your home as it will unbalance the energy in your home.

The bathroom

First of all, you have to bear in mind that the most negative room, according to Feng Shui, is the bathroom, so it is highly recommended that you place a plant in this place. However, you will have to change it from time to time, as it is very likely to wilt.

The bedroom

Instead, Feng Shui recommends that no more than two plants are placed in the bedroom and, when sleeping, you should remove them. On the other hand, they are ideal in kitchens and dining rooms to harmonize these environments.

Forgotten corners of the home

As for the most forgotten corners of the home, the ideal is to put plants such as palm trees with long leaves since they generate a lot of energy.

The corridors place leafy plants in a zigzag to interrupt the rapid movement that the flow of energy in the corridors can acquire. And if you have columns at home, try covering them with plants with rounded leaves to soften the vertical lines that symbolize division.

What plants to have at home according to feng shui

Although we have already seen some of the benefits of decorating our house with plants according to this philosophy, it is also true that there are better plants at some point in our home, and others that we should avoid since it could unbalance the energy. Next, we explain which are the most suitable plants to decorate a home according to Feng Shui.

Peonies: according to this culture, these pinkish flowers are used to attract love and romance into our lives. They are also ideal for attracting positive energy and solving some emotional problems.

Chrysanthemums: although there are various colors, the most used chrysanthemums in this philosophy are white, red and pink. This plant is usually placed in a home when we want to attract good fortune for all the members that inhabit that house.

Lotus flower: it is one of the most positive plants in Feng Shui. It signifies perfection and is generally placed to attract health, luck, and harmony in the home.

Orchids: According to this thought, these lilac-hued flowers signify purity, abundance and perfection. They are placed when we want to bring positive energy and luck to our home. They are also used when a couple is looking for a future baby as it is also a symbol of fertility.

Daffodils: yellow or white ones are usually used and are placed in a home because it increases our creativity and luck in studies and work.

5 Upgrades You Need in Your Kitchen

Kitchens are a room that often shows signs of age well before the rest of the house does. With changing trends and the wear and tear that this room can undergo, your kitchen may be calling out for an update and upgrade. If you want to refresh and invigorate your kitchen, here are a few upgrades that can fit any budget.

Wastewater Treatment: Where Is It Required?

If you like to be up on what’s good for the environment, then you are likely aware of the great amount of wastewater that is produced on a daily basis in the U.S. It is good to know that most of the industries that produce this waste also work with wastewater treatment companies to handle it properly.

Water from many sources is being treated to keep it from carrying disease or contaminants that harm people. Here are some of the industries that treat wastewater.

Construction

While you may think in terms of lumber, bricks and concrete when you think of waste at a construction site, water is also used. Whether for cleaning equipment or surfaces, that water needs to be treated to reduce contaminants.

Textiles

The textile industry uses many different chemicals and colorants to make the diverse types and colors of fabrics we use today. Large amounts of water are also used in the process and are combined with those chemicals. The discharge must be disposed of properly.

Agriculture

As you drive by fields of corn in the late summer, you may see large sprinklers in use. However, irrigation is not the only area where water is needed. The water that is discharged from a farm is often combined with residual chemicals from fertilizer. On a dairy farm, machinery needs to be cleaned, so water may be combined with the residual fats from cow milk. The types of contaminants that need to be treated depend on the type of facility.

Gas and Oil

In addition to the water needed to clean tanks used in the extraction process, oil or gas residue must also be taken care of properly.

Many of these industries work with professionals to make sure they are in compliance with federal and local regulations that pertain to wastewater.

Top Reasons to Build a Conservatory

There are many reasons why a conservatory could be the perfect addition to your home. The extra light, space, and value are just three to list off straight away, but there are plenty more on top of this as well. So, if you are wavering on whether you would like to install one yourself, here are some of the reasons why this could be a great addition.

Let in the Light

When you have a conservatory, you are bound to have plenty of natural light as a result. Build on a tiled conservatory roof and you are able to keep using the space all year round, so it can prove to be a nice place to escape to when the days start getting shorter during the winter months as well. Plus, you don’t even have to step outside when it is too cold!

Extra Space

A simple reason for adding in a conservatory at home is the addition of an extra room and more space, which many people are looking for. Maybe you have a growing family, or you are simply the kind of person who likes to have a lot of people over. Either way, a conservatory can create a great entertaining space.

Add Additional Value

While it may not be your primary reason for adding in a conservatory, it can prove to be an added bonus that you add some additional value to the home in the event that you would like to sell in the future. Whenever you are making a home improvement such as this one, it is always worth thinking about how the value is going to be impacted and whether you will be making a wise investment.

Bringing the Outdoors Inside

One of the most popular design trends over recent years has been the idea of bringing the outdoors inside. A conservatory is a nice way of doing this, while also ensuring that you have a roof over your head to protect yourself from the rain and other elements.

Fit the Style With Your Home

With so many different varieties of conservatory out there these days, you will be able to find one that best suits your home. So, it could provide a nice flow rather than being anything that negatively impacts the visual appeal of your home.

Usable as a Greenhouse

Another way that you use a conservatory is as a greenhouse. So, if you are the kind of person who has green fingers, this could prove to be the perfect way of keeping plants, which have the benefit of purifying the air around you and also improving your general mood and wellbeing.

So, as you can see from the list above, there are plenty of reasons why a conservatory can prove to be a perfect addition to your home and one that you can enjoy all year round – and for years to come as well. Plus, you may find that it proves to be a sound financial decision, too.

How to remove mold from walls

The home requires a whole series of care to stay in good condition, thus coexisting in the best possible environment. The walls are one of the surfaces that need your attention so that the state of the home is good since in many cases they accumulate dirt for different reasons or even suffer the appearance of black mold, which is dangerous for our health.

Mold usually appears on the walls due to excess moisture in them. Suppose you want to know how to remove mold from the walls with home remedies, learn the best products and methods to achieve it and discover how to avoid its appearance. In that case, we recommend that you continue reading this article and always use a mask for the moment you go. Clean up the mold to avoid health problems.

How to remove mold from walls?

The hydrogen peroxide will help you remove mold from the walls if you use it correctly. Do you not know how? Following the steps to remove mold from the walls with hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide:

Use 3% hydrogen peroxide. You must spray it on the affected areas of the walls by mold.
Wait an estimated 10 minutes for the hydrogen peroxide to act on the mold.
Dampen a cloth in water and, with its help, clean the moldy areas to remove all the remains. Thus, you will eliminate the spores that the mold contains and prevent it from reproducing more.
You can use hydrogen peroxide several times to completely remove mold from the walls. However, if you see that the area is too wet, let it dry completely and another day, you can use this product again until there are no stains.

Remove mold from walls with vinegar

Another solution with which you will make mold disappear from the home walls is with apple or white vinegar. Get it by following these steps to use vinegar to remove mold on the wall:

In a bottle, add vinegar and spray it directly on the moldy areas of the walls.
For very large areas, dilute the vinegar with water to counteract its powerful aroma. In any case, applying only vinegar is the most effective option.
Let the vinegar work for several hours.
Scrub the treated areas with a brush to completely remove the mold.
You can also add a little essential oil of a flavor that you like to the vinegar to alleviate its strong smell.

Tea tree for damp and mold on the wall

Tea tree oil is an effective wall mold removal remedy because it has very powerful antifungal properties. You just have to follow these steps to apply it correctly:

Mix two cups of water with one tablespoon of tea tree oil (use two tablespoons maximum).
Apply it to the affected areas and let it act and dry itself.
In the following days, you will see that this product will have eliminated the black mold on the wall or, at least, part of it, depending on how much there is. So if there is still, reapply more of this diluted oil.
If the smell of this oil is very powerful for you, you can put on a mask by diluting it in the water and during the entire wall cleaning process, remembering that it is necessary to prevent you from breathing in mold.

Remove mold from the wall with bleach

Bleach is an effective remedy to get rid of mold present on the wall, but you must be careful when using it to not damage your skin or breathe it in. For this reason, we help you discover how to use bleach to remove mold from the walls through the following procedure safely:

In a bucket, make a mixture of water and bleach: add one of bleach for every three cups of water.
Dampen a sturdy brush with the created mixture of water and bleach.
Scrub moldy walls with this brush. Do it with intensity and until the spots disappear completely.

Remove mold from walls with baking soda

A natural product that will help you get rid of mold on your walls is baking soda. To use baking soda to remove mold from the wall properly, you must follow these steps:

Mix the baking soda with a little water in a bowl.
With the resulting solution, you should spray it on the moldy areas of your home walls. Another option is to dip a brush in this mixture and rub the wall with it.
Wait several minutes for the mixture to work on the mold.
With a cloth dipped in a little water, rinse the walls to remove all dirt.

Citrus seed extract to remove mold from walls

The citrus seed extract also works to remove mold from the walls and has its main advantage, compared to other remedies, its soft and fresh aroma. Apply it properly using the following procedure:

Mix two cups of water with 20 drops of the extract.
Add the mixture to a spray.
Spray the walls with the spray solution.
Let the mixture work without cleaning or rinsing the surface.

Prevent mold from growing on the walls

After discovering how to remove mold from walls with different methods and products, we help you prevent it with the following tips to prevent mold from growing on the wall:

Control humidity. Mold spores reproduce rapidly in high humidity conditions, so you should reduce them throughout your home.
Try to ventilate in the best possible way the house areas that do not have specific air extraction or ventilation systems, such as the bathroom or a basement. Allow air to flow by opening doors and windows.
Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers in rooms that are most difficult to ventilate. Opt for the first option in summer and the second in winter.
Use anti-mold paints to care for the walls.
Clean the wettest parts of the home frequently.
Keep clothes and shoes dry.

Tips to Choose the Right Office Furniture for the Reception Area

The reception area is an important space for your business. Visitors come in and get their first impression by seeing and feeling how organized and elegant the reception area is. To make the reception attractive and fully functional, you need to have good quality furniture in place. Apart from planning the décor and allocating space, you have to choose the right type of furniture to create good mobility, comfort, and convenience in the reception area. Here are some tips for choosing different pieces of reception furniture.

Reception desk

The first time when someone walks into your office, they see the reception desk. The desk you are buying should have an inviting feel and professional design elements that suit your business. These elements are style, tone, layout, comfort, and functionality. In terms of style, based on your business type, you need to choose your reception desk style. For example, the desk used at a massage parlour does not suit a tech business.

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Reception chairs

While there are various types of reception chairs, you need to consider the average waiting times of clients coming to your office, the space available in the reception area, how many people you are going to host at any given time, and other design aspects. Based on this information, you will have to choose chairs that offer comfortable seating. For a range of Reception Chairs, visit bestbuy-officechairs

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Overall, good reception furniture has great importance as it holds a lot of weight in deciding the extent of customer satisfaction enjoyed by customers.

Making sure you have the right Conveyancer.

After you have found a property that you like, secured a Mortgage and got to offer it’s then time to think about which Solicitors you are going to use. Conveyancing is a branch of Solicitors work that takes up much of their time and daily job role. It is a vital service that keeps the property market afloat. Finding one does not need to be a hassle and you can get a Conveyancing Quote right now from the link provided.

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What are the factors you should consider when looking at a Conveyancing Solicitor? Many are provided by the seller, especially if it is a property building company, saving you time but a bit of leg work yourself can save you quite a few pounds.

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One thing to remember is that you do not have to engage a local source. Any legal firm offering conveyancing anywhere in the country can do it for you. In this day and age of email and digital technology things can be sent quickly although in the world of the conveyancing Solicitor the FAX is still used as it offers a way of sending documents safely and directly.

However there is certainly a more persuasive argument to use the local Solicitor as they can be on hand to deal with any issues that may arise during the later stages of the sale. At least if they are local you can drop of documents in person and met the team that are working on your case directly.

Christmas cactus wilting: Why it happens and what to do?

Christmas cacti, scientifically named Schlumbergera, are a genus of succulent plants of the cacti family, very popular in interior decoration due to their characteristic flowering, which occurs in cold months, hence their name. This plant is also called Santa Teresita cactus, Santa Teresa feathers or Easter cactus. Its care is not difficult, but if your Christmas cactus does not seem healthy and its leaves are wrinkled, we tell you the possible causes of a Christmas cactus wilting and what to do to help it be healthier, so keep growing and flourish well.

Why Christmas cactus wilting happens?

Like all succulents, the Christmas cactus accumulates water in its structure. This genus of plants, in particular, accumulates water in its stems, so when we talk about the leaves of the Christmas cactus being wrinkled, we are referring to its stems that look like this.

The most common when this occurs, and we see that the stems seem to deflate and wrinkle, or simply become limp in the early stages of plant discomfort, because it has lost or consumed much of the accumulated water, which gives that poor health look.

This bad watering of the Christmas cactus can be both by excess and by default. When it comes to the cactus being dehydrated, the leaves shrink because the plant does not have enough water to store in its reserves and, when it is forced to consume it, its stems shrink. Don’t forget that, although the Christmas cactus is a cactus and is adapted to drought conditions, it still needs a certain amount of water.

It can also happen that the leaves become wrinkled due to too frequent or excessive watering. Most cacti and succulents have roots that cannot tolerate excess moisture. This causes its roots to rot and, at first glance, it may seem that the plant needs just the opposite: more water. Take a good look at the stems and whether the leaves’ tips seem to blacken or rot: this is the sign that you are over-watering your Christmas cactus. If the soil seems wet to the touch, you can be sure that this is the reason.

Too much sun

Not all cacti are prepared to withstand direct sunlight in a hot climate. For example, the sun in some hot countries, especially in the summer months, can cause wrinkled leaves on a Christmas cactus. An excess of high-intensity sunlight will cause the cactus to lose water despite its retention mechanisms. Its stems will shrivel and dry out if it becomes dehydrated, especially if the plant does not receive enough water.

Plant age

Plants age like other living things. Christmas cacti also notice the passage of time, and their older stems and leaves will wrinkle over time even if the plant is in good health.

Therefore, if you know that your plant is many years old, do not be surprised to see some wrinkled or somewhat withered parts. On the other hand, if you see that it is a large part of the plant, pay attention to the rest of the possible causes of this problem, since, leaving aside age, the rest of the issues discussed here can also affect it.

Inadequate fertilizers or water

Finally, the use of inappropriate fertilizers or water with too many additives can also affect the stems or leaves of this plant. The salts of some fertilizers rich in these or those that the tap water itself contains in some places can be the cause.

What to do if my Christmas cactus has wrinkled leaves

We tell you what to do if your Christmas cactus has wrinkled leaves, depending on the cause:

If it is an excess of watering, simply let the substrate of your Christmas cactus dry completely before watering again. Simultaneously, if it is a lack of watering, you gradually increase the water you provide to the plant, always being careful not to overdo it or flood it.

In the case of heatstroke, move your Christmas cactus to a location that is bright but protected from direct sunlight, at least during the noon hours.

If your plant is of a certain age, remove its stems and leaves once they have completely dried and see if it gives new shoots: if it does, everything is fine.

Finally, in the case of fertilizers, do not use fertilizers rich in sodium and, if possible, use specific ones for cacti. Use rainwater or low-sodium water for watering, and if you don’t have access to it, let it sit for at least 24 hours before watering with it.

Christmas cactus care

These are the basic care of Christmas cactus or Easter cactus:

Irrigation: abundant during the growing season, scarce after flowering. Pot with drainage holes.

Light: needs a lot. It can be direct in mild climates.

Location: put in a cool place after flowering and reduce watering to let the plant rest in a semi-shade summer. Keep it protected from drafts.

Substrate: special for succulents, very loose, light and well-draining.

Fertilizer: specific for cacti and succulents.