These last few days of April need not bring a close to our National Earth Month celebrations. This is the perfect time to start a garden, plant a tree, or bring a new plant into your home. Did you know that plants are actually beneficial to your health? They are natural air purifiers - not only purifying and renewing our stale indoor air, but also trapping many of the pollutants present in our homes.Not sure what to plant? May I suggest a Sweet Potato Vine? These lovely vines grow well indoors and out and are super-easy to start. Just grab a sweet potato from your kitchen and follow these directions. This simple project is also great for children.
Sweet potatoes are related to morning glories and sprout prolific vines that trail beautifully. With a little guidance they can be trained onto any trellis or into any basket. Just provide a little sun and water and your sweet potato will give back beauty. In addition to the common varieties you can start yourself, your local farmers market or nursery is sure to have dozens of hybrid varieties. Vines are available with foliage from lime green to deep purple with all manners of glorious blooms. These lovely vines are my number one choice for splendid house plants. Even if you are green thumb deficient, this easy to grow plant will allow you to reap the benefits of nature's air purifying power. It really IS easy to be green.
I used to have one of these growing in my kitchen. They are really easy to start. I might just start another one.
ReplyDeleteI never realized that Sweet Potato Vines were so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHow pretty. I might just do this with the kids.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fun project for my 6 year old. He is learning about plants in school. I love the picture of the sweet potato "monster".
ReplyDeleteI usually don't comment on blogs, but yours is so fun, I had to say 'Good job'
ReplyDeleteMY MOM USED TO START THESE PLANTS ALL THE TIME. THEY GROW LIKE CRAZY ONCE YOU GET THEM GOING.
ReplyDeleteI bought a sweet potato plant at Lowe's. I don't think it is the same though. It has purple leaves.
ReplyDeleteHello Cindy,
ReplyDeleteThere are many hybrids of sweet potato vine now that have purple leaves. I love the purple ones in planters and baskets, they provide a perfect contrast to green foliage.
I love to eat sweet potatoes, but I never knew that they were so pretty as a plant.
ReplyDeleteI have one of these trained around my kitchen window. It only takes a little watering and these babies just take off.
ReplyDeleteTia
Nice
ReplyDeleteI love these vines.
ReplyDeleteI actually planted some sweet potatoes in my garden this year because your blog has shown me so many things to do with them. I'll try growing a vine inside, too.
ReplyDeleteCool
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