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Indoor green spaces are increasing in popularity in many sectors, including libraries. While the benefits for mental health and well-being are well documented, indoor gardens are often cost-prohibitive to establish and maintain, due to infrastructure requirements. This article outlines how an academic health sciences library planned and implemented an indoor garden and seed library with minimal ongoing cost commitments and no permanent space requirements. The initiative has been very well received, and the level of engagement is high. Challenges faced both pre- and post-implementation will be discussed along with future directions for the initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houseplant cultivation has become increasingly popular, allowing individuals to bring nature into their homes. However, successful indoor gardening requires careful monitoring of soil parameters to ensure optimal plant growth. To address this need, sensor technology and Internet of Things (IoT) devices are utilized to monitor soil temperature and moisture levels, which play crucial roles in plant growth. Various soil factors are sensed and collected using an IoT-based microcontroller, with data transmission facilitated by a Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker. Visualization of the data is achieved through the Node-RED programming tool, simplifying dashboard creation for easy monitoring. Furthermore, the collected data is stored in a MySQL server, enabling further analysis through SQL queries. The day is divided into four quarters with six-hour intervals, allowing for soil data collection using temperature and moisture sensors. The resulting information on the dashboard facilitates informed decision-making to enhance soil conditions for optimal indoor plant growth. Experimentation has revealed a reduction in soil temperature of 3°C during daytime due to air conditioning operation, while soil moisture content remains consistently between 60 to 65% during early mornings and late evenings. Additionally, emphasis is placed on remote management using IoT systems, enabling monitoring of plant growth even when access is limited. Overall, monitoring soil factors using IoT technology offers a promising approach to optimizing indoor gardening practices and minimizing environmental resource consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare facilities are among the stressful interiors that are likely to negatively affect patients and visitors. When designing hospitals, design techniques that reduce stress and create a positive environment for users should be taken into account. Studies show that the use of green elements and the inclusion of natural factors in indoor spaces reduces people's stress levels and positively increases their psychological state, creativity, productivity, mood and well-being. Biophilic design, which includes the use of both green elements and natural factors which has been frequently used in many public buildings in recent years and has been included in many studies, appears to have positive effects on the environment and people. Incorporating natural design elements into healthcare environments with biophilic design principles positively affects the atmosphere of the place and the indoor comfort of the users. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the existing interior garden on the users of Medicana International hospital in Izmir and to reveal which biophilic design strategies they prefer in the hospital interior. In line with the purpose of the study, a survey consisting of open-ended and Likert scale questions was applied to 55 people in line with the interviews held with the upper management at the selected location. According to the findings, it is seen that users generally prefer indoor gardens in hospitals and that a green space has a positive impact on their healing processes and mental health. Lastly, the results were generally consistent among users, when the obtained quantitative data were analyzed, it was seen that the reliability coefficients (correlation analysis) were in the range of .48 - .57. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants enhance a space's aesthetics and benefit numerous human health and well-being. Indoor plants improve air quality around residential areas by reducing pollutants, increasing humidity levels, and regulating temperature. These plants also reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and boost work productivity. Hydroponics, a soilless technique for indoor gardening, can further enhance the transpiration and photosynthesis rates, improving air temperature and humidity. These plants serve as organic air filters that efficiently remove contaminants, including those that can spread viruses like SARS-CoV-2. The presence of indoor plants in indoor environments is linked to improved mental and physical health, making it cost-effective for improving indoor environmental quality. The present review discusses the benefits of incorporating indoor and gardening plants in available indoor or residential spaces, which have been discussed for human well-being and environmental sustainability using previous supporting studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, indoor systems for growing plants have emerged as a promising approach to address the problems related to extreme weather conditions outdoors. However, such systems must manage the plants surrounding environments to satisfy the environmental and the economical requirements. In this line, any proposed solution must address challenging factors such as plants diseases and unordinary climate situations. In this paper, propose an internet of things (IoT) indoor system that can be used to facilitate the plant growing process. The proposed system is designed to provide alternatives for outdoor climate dependency such as the vitamins provided through sunlight. Moreover, renewable energy sources (sunlight) are employed to reduce the impact on the environment. With the help of several types of sensors, the system continuously monitors the plants through their growing journey. Whereas actuator devices are employed to control the plant-feeding process based on the sensors' reported values. All the collected data will be uploaded to the cloud for analysis, utilizing a website. Additionally, the architecture of the provided system eliminates the need for human involvement, which has a degrading effect on the plant growing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no information available in India regarding the fertigation schedule for the growth and development of indoor plant species suitable for indoor vertical gardening. The current investigations were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India with the objective to determine the optimum fertigation schedule of nutrient formulations for a successful installation of a vertical garden by using four indoor plant species Schefflera arboricola, Dracaena godseffiana, Aglaonema angustifolium and Philodendron selloum to make interior beautiful as well as to add cleaner air for healthy environment. These indoor plant species were grown in soilless media consisting of cocopeat, perlite and vermiculite in the ratio 3:1:1 with four concentrations of Hoagland nutrient solution (25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % of Hoagland's solution) and the fifth concentration was self-composed nutrient formulation placed horizontally inside the rooms. Experimental design was factorial completely randomized design keeping three replications in each treatment. Plant growth and leaf nutrient accumulation was maximum when the plants were fertigated with 100 % of the Hoagland's solution (NF IV). Thus, based on their performance these indoor plant species were further planted for indoor vertical garden using fertigation schedule of NF IV. The order of performance of the species evaluated on the basis of growth, chlorophyll and nutrient accumulation were Aglaonema angustifolium >Schefflera arboricola> Philodendron selloum> Dracaena godseffiana. The accumulations of nutrients by ornamental plants were highly variant between species and this information could be used for further fertigation scheduling of indoor vertical gardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor landscaping is an environmentally friendly approach that enriches the environment and fosters productivity and comfort for occupants. The practice of incorporating plants into interior spaces requires meticulous care to ensure healthy growth and prolong the benefits of interior greening. This study explores the impact of natural and artificial light, represented by fluorescent lighting on the growth and physiological responses of Codiaeum variegatum and Ardisia japonica. A natural light chamber and an artificial light chamber of identical dimensions were constructed to compare the plants' physiological responses under consistent temperature, humidity, and illuminance conditions. The results indicate that Codiaeum variegatum and Ardisia japonica exhibited higher chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rates under natural light conditions compared to fluorescent lighting. Furthermore, the study found that natural light offers a rich spectral distribution across various wavelengths, providing an advantage for plant growth. Although direct comparisons between natural and artificial light environments are inherently challenging due to the distinct characteristics of each light source, the study emphasizes the importance of considering the rich spectral distribution of natural light when designing artificial lighting systems for optimal plant growth. In conclusion, understanding the effects of natural and artificial light on indoor plants is crucial to supporting plant growth and creating more effective indoor gardening solutions. Although direct comparisons between natural and artificial light environments are inherently challenging due to the distinct characteristics of each light source, natural light provides a more advantageous environment for growth compared to fluorescent lighting, with Codiaeum variegatum and Ardisia japonica both exhibiting a higher chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate under natural light conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students explored variation in our donated mix of vegetable seeds and planted their individual mini-gardens so they could later look for variation in seedlings. Students suggested that they could plant only a few widely spaced seeds in the mini-gardens, or that they could plant in an outside garden where there is more space. Students asked to plant seeds from their lunches, started plants from cuttings, became excited about growing mini-gardens at home, and ended the year with lots of ideas of how to plan a fall garden on their return to school. Ms. Sky read aloud "From Seed to Plant" (Gibbons 1991), which follows plant life cycles from seed to adult and back again. [Extracted from the article]

The increasing global population and urbanization have led to a growing interest in urban farming to provide sustainable food production. Indoor smart gardens, a new form of urban farming, have emerged as an innovative and technology-based solution to urban agriculture. This paper explores the role of indoor smart gardens in modern urban farming and their potential impact on food production, environmental sustainability, and human health. Consequently, comparison was used of traditional outdoor farming vs. indoor smart gardening. Also, a comparative study was conducted using the case study of two leading brands of indoor smart gardens: Aerogarden and Click & Grow. The research's results show that smart gardens have significant potential to revolutionize urban farming practices and address the growing demand for food production in urban areas. Our review of the literature and case study showed that smart gardens can significantly increase food production, improve environmental sustainability, and enhance human health in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ongoing ecological crisis, mere conservation of ecosystems in their current state proves insufficient; a pressing need to restore degraded ecosystems arises. Such restoration efforts challenge traditional conservation paradigms and the prevailing norms of environmental aesthetics. Reconceptualizing restoration as a co-produced ecosystem service fosters a paradigm wherein a symbiotic human-nature relationship is central, potentially transforming perceptions towards what might be termed 'awkward restoration aesthetics.' This paper focuses explicitly on forested peatlands, examining the evolving perceptions surrounding them in the context of ecological restoration. By integrating insights from environmental philosophy, this analysis aims to illuminate the nuanced interplay between ecological integrity and aesthetic valuation in restoration practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the connections between darkness and sustainability, particularly in contemporary night environments, and the needs of various species. Artificial light plays a vital role in shaping the aesthetics of today's nightscapes. For humans, illumination during night-time serves both practical purposes after sunset and enhances the aesthetic appeal of the night. However, this same artificial lighting poses disturbances to other species. Consequently, using artificial light at night is a significant issue in discussing a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an announcement from the American Journal of Physiology: Renal Physiology. It highlights the work and backgrounds of several individuals in the field of renal physiology. The individuals mentioned include Edwin J. Baldelomar, Maya Brewer, Cole S. Hudson, James D. Odum, Sai Sindhu Thangaraj, and Xiaofeng Zuo. Each person's research interests and accomplishments are briefly described, along with their affiliations and personal interests. The document provides a snapshot of the diverse perspectives and expertise within the field of renal physiology. [Extracted from the article]

The lack of space in cities has favoured the development of vertical gardens in indoor and outdoor environments. For an adequate development and appearance of the plants in these living walls, it is necessary to provide nutrients (usually by means of fertigation). One of the main limitations is the difficulty in obtaining a uniform distribution of nutrients, especially in felt systems. The objective of this research was to identify whether the distribution of nutrients (particularly iron and phosphorous) applied by fertigation in a felt living wall depended on the species used and the location of the plants in height. Three modules of a Fytotextile® felt-based living wall were used, each module containing three columns of different species: Soleirolia soleirolii, Philodendron hederaceum, and Nephrolepis exaltata. Fertigation was applied using a Hoagland–Arnon solution for 4 months. Measurements of leaf area, normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), chlorophyll meter readings (CMR), fresh and dry weight, and P and Fe concentration were carried out for each of the plants. Comparing variables within the same species at different heights showed no significant differences in the variables. This means that the distribution of nutrients along the living wall (especially in height) was uniform. It is important to note that these results could vary for other types of living walls or for other configurations of the fertigation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is mounting anecdotal and empirical evidence that gardening and art-making afford therapeutic benefits. Objectives: This randomly controlled pilot study tested the hypothesis that participation in group-based indoor gardening or art-making activities for one hour twice a week for four weeks would provide quantifiably different therapeutic benefits to a population of healthy women ages 26–49. Methods: A population of 42 volunteers was randomly assigned to parallel gardening or art-making treatment groups. A total of 36 participants initiated the treatment protocol and 32 (Gardening n = 15 and Art n = 17) received the interventions and completed all assessments. Treatments included eight one-hour group-based gardening or art intervention sessions. Self-report psychometric assessments were conducted for anxiety, depression symptomatology, mood disturbance, stress, satisfaction with discretionary social activities, and quality of life measures. Cardiac physiological data were also collected. Outcomes were measured at baseline, during, and post-intervention. Results: Engaging in both gardening and art-making activities resulted in apparent therapeutic improvements for self-reported total mood disturbance, depression symptomatology, and perceived stress with different effect sizes following eight one-hour treatment sessions. Gardening also resulted in improvements for indications of trait anxiety. Based on time-course evidence, dosage responses were observed for total mood disturbance, perceived stress, and depression symptomatology for both gardening and art-making. However, gardening or art-making did not have an apparent influence on heart rate or blood pressure or result in marked improvement for satisfaction with discretionary leisure activities. Conclusion: The data did not support the hypothesis of differential therapeutic benefits of gardening and art-making for healthy women. When taken together, group-based gardening or art-making can provide quantitatively measurable improvements in healthy women's psychosocial health status that imply potentially important public health benefits. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03266120. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to characterize the growth, physiological responses, fruit yield, and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants grown under different daily light integrals (DLIs) and photoperiods. In experiment I, nine compact tomato cultivars were grown indoors using broadband white light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures. Plants were grown under low (10.4 mol·m−2·d−1) and high (18.4 mol·m−2·d−1) DLIs with 12 and 16 h photoperiods, respectively, and two intermediate DLIs of 13.8 mol·m−2·d−1 with either 12 or 16 h photoperiods. In experiment II, three compact tomato cultivars were grown under the same low DLI with either 8 or 12 h photoperiods, and the same high DLI with either 12 or 16 h photoperiods. Generally, higher DLIs decreased plant growth and increased the fruit yield. Changing the DLI delivery strategy by adjusting the photoperiod and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) did not have major effects on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of the compact tomato plants evaluated in this study, even though net photosynthesis increased under higher PPFDs in experiment II. Although several cultivars were affected by intumescence, only two cultivars showed treatment responses, for which the severity was generally higher in lower PPFDs using the same DLI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software engineering is a systematic approach that allows traceability of programming-oriented projects in the multiple paradigms that can be written, thus allowing the orderly planning of information flows and algorithms to reach the desired result through of the implementation of a robust and systematic methodology. On the other hand, the Indoor trend is a technological concept that has evolved with the entry of the 21st century, with the aim of promoting urban, peri-urban and rural agriculture. This concept creates agriculture anywhere from a department to a greenhouse. The present work presents the results of a research in software engineering referred to the design of a mini-PFAL, technified with multiple layers of software for the control of growth parameters in experimental lettuce crops, such as light intensity, temperature, humidity, light spectrum frequency, irrigation control, etc. The design strategies for the creation of the software architecture at its different levels are described, applying the software design methodology. The structure of the design process is ordered from the requirements analysis to the interface design, with them the final product reported is a PFAL IoT system that is interconnected via Bluetooth and WiFi with the SmartPhone, in turn via USB port to a GUI Visual Studio application, having a WareHouse data that administrates the information of the variables in a local database which manages the information on a SharePoint page that in turn, links with Access, having a Dashboard to directly control crop growth remotely, thus having an intelligent PFAL system for growing vegetable crops in vertical format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]