​Houseplants have so much to offer. They can help clean the air, reduce stress, improve concentration and productivity, reduce noise levels, and even boost your mood. Houseplants also offer eye-pleasing aesthetics and can quickly spruce up rooms in your home, apartment, office, or business. Due to the large variety of houseplants available and their differing care requirements, it can be challenging to determine which plant is best for your space and how much light your plant will need. Natural light is a crucial element in the care and growth of a houseplant and is vital for any plant to photosynthesize, which is the process by which plants take the energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates for the plant, better understood as energy. Oxygen is a byproduct of this process, and we all know why oxygen is important! With this process in mind, as houseplant owners, finding the right amount of light for your plant to thrive is essential. Not all spaces have access to an abundance of natural light. Fortunately, there are many plants that can handle low-light environments. In this blog, we will discuss five recommended plants that do well in rooms with low light.

While the concept of plant lighting may seem intimidating to new plant parents, there are many beginner-friendly options that will spruce up your space and help build your confidence as a plant owner! Adding life to any low-light space is easier than you think. You can find all six of these low-light houseplant varieties and grow lights at your local Family Tree Nursery. ​

​Crisp mornings and Autumn’s vibrant colors mark our change of seasons, as Mother Nature shows off before preparing for the cold weather that lies ahead. You too should be preparing your yard and garden, so that come spring it will be full of lush, green grass and flourishing trees and shrubs.
 
Here’s a Q&A excerpt with Jonah Nelson, Horticulturist and store manager of Family Tree Nursery in Overland Park, to get the skinny on what needs our attention this fall.
 
Q: What are the benefits of planting in fall?
 
A: Fall is the best season to plant the vast majority of plant material, due to the soil temperatures that have been warmed from the summer sun. Typically, the air temperature cools in September evenings, allowing plants to focus their energy on developing a strong root system in the warm soil, as a strong root system is the main factor in successful establishment of plant material. In addition, the gentler autumn rainfall is more easily absorbed, compared to the gully washing rains that we can receive in spring. With this in mind, it is always important to water newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials thoroughly and weekly until dormancy for best results in establishment. 
 
Q: Is there a perfect window for fall planting?
 
A: Preferred fall planting is September - mid November. That said, it is still fine to plant most trees and shrubs even when dormant. Installations can be done every day that the ground is not frozen. Trees and shrubs that are planted dormant actually have a great opportunity to root and establish with the natural season as the ground temperatures warm in spring.
 
Q: Is it really better to plant grass in the Fall?
 
A: September is the best month of the year to seed your lawn as it is the natural time that the native prairie begins to drop its seed and begins to germinate and establish. It is so important to work in conjunction with the natural cycles of nature to ensure strong establishment. WATERING: Once your lawn is seeded, the seed cannot establish itself without proper watering. You must keep it wet until it has been mowed twice. The initial stage of germination is the most critical as it may need watered 2-3x/day. Once it has germinated it is common practice to reduce watering to about 1x/day, soaking it longer so that it will draw the roots deeper. FERTILIZING: At Family Tree Nursery, we recommend putting down a fall rejuvenator/seed starter fertilizer at the time of seeding to help give the young seed all the nutrients it needs to thicken and spread. After one month of seedling establishment, a winterizer fertilizer(high nitrogen) should be applied. It is best to make two separate applications of the winterizer fertilizer(high nitrogen) one month apart. This is done so that the new grass can store maximum carbohydrates going in to winter dormancy. Even when the lawn appears to be dormant, as the cold air and short days naturally suppress the grass plants ability to vegetatively grow, it is still actively growing roots and thickening at the base. 
 
Q: How much should you water trees and plants during Winter?
 
A: It is critical to water trees, shrubs, and perennials when we do not receive rainfall or snow. When water freezes around the root system, the ice that forms on the roots insulate and keep the root system hydrated. Plants loose water throughout the winter from the temperature swings and the wind, which is why it is imperative to hydrate them once or twice a month when we do not receive regular rain or snowfall. 
 
Q: Is there still a good selection of plants at this time of year? 
 
A: Yes! Fresh stock arrives the first week of September from our local production farm and other farms, along with fresh trees and shrubs. Our stores are filled with a vast array of perennials, mums, asters, pansies, and a great selection of fall annuals! We also carry a full line of grass seed, fertilizer, and other products for lawn maintenance and renovation.