Do I need special lights to keep my houseplants healthy in winter?
This is a good idea. To understand why, it helps to know a little about how light works. All light contains a spectrum of colors, ranging from red to violet, and beyond. Blue light fosters growth and photosynthesis, and red encourages flowering; both are vital to keep plants green and robust.
While daylight is composed of all the colors in the spectrum, most incandescent bulbs, the kind typically used in the home, provide lots of light from the red end but very little from the blue. What’s more, these bulbs convert about 70 percent of the energy they run on into heat, not light. If you place them too close to plants (within a few feet) they can burn the leaves and dry out the soil; move them farther away, and the intensity of light is too low to benefit plant health.
Fluorescent lights are much more efficient at converting energy to light. But these also radiate light from a limited spectrum. Sold as bulbs or tubes, fluorescent lights come in two types: cool white, which emits ample blue wavelengths but little red, and warm white, which emits plenty of red wavelengths but not much blue. A good solution is to install one cool white and one warm white tube in a two-tube fluorescent fixture. Place the lights as close as possible to the plants without touching.
Metal halide and high-pressure sodium grow lights, which require special fixtures, are another option. Used in greenhouses and by garden enthusiasts, these come close to mimicking natural sunlight. Though expensive, they are extremely energy-efficient.
For many people, it is neither practical nor aesthetically pleasing to have two tube fluorescent fixtures or grow lights in their living spaces. In this case, think about setting up a growing area in a basement or spare room. When plants begin to look tired, move them there for two to three weeks or until their color and vigor have returned.
Alternatively, you can make the most of natural light: Place plants on a white surface (such as a white painted windowsill) to reflect light.
True flash freezing is a method employed by commercial food companies to freeze items such as seafood, meat and produce rapidly using sophisticated, ultra-low-temperature freezers. The process is designed to lock in the foods’ natural flavors, vitamins and minerals and eliminate the need for artificial preservatives, so they will still taste fresh after they have been thawed.
For home cooking, the phrase “flash freezing” has come to describe the practice of freezing items individually before packaging them for long-term storage in the freezer, so they will not stick together.
This is done by placing a single layer of ingredients or prepared food (such as berries or hamburger patties) on a baking sheet, spaced apart slightly, and freezing them until solid. The foods are then transferred to resealable plastic bags or containers and stowed in the freezer.
This technique is especially handy when cooking in bulk. For example, you can make a large amount of cookie dough, freeze individual scoops, and put them in plastic bags. Remove a few at a time and pop them in the oven.
When decorating a room, should you use the same shade of wood throughout or is it OK to mix colors?
While there is no rule dictating how to mix different shades of wood, there are some guidelines you can follow. If you are drawn to traditional interiors, consider choosing furnishings that are similar in color and that harmonize with wooden floors. This gives a room a pleasing, cohesive appearance. Dark antique furniture arranged on a honey-colored wooden floor, for example, looks lovely.
Those with more modern sensibilities might incorporate a range of wood finishes. A room that features bamboo floors and a mix of wooden furnishings is lively and contemporary, as is one appointed with a combination of dark and light wooden pieces and dark floors.
Another option is to introduce one contrasting piece, such as a chestnut-colored lamp, black-lacquered armoire, or white painted chest, to a room with wooden furniture; choosing a focal point like this adds depth and interest to a space.
Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036. E-mail to mslletters@marthastewart.com.
2007 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.
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