• 1 acre of new forest will sequester about 2.5 tons of carbon annually. Trees can absorb CO2 at the rate of 13 pounds/tree/year. Trees reach their most productive stage of carbon storage at about 10 years.
• In its “Reforesting the Earth” paper, the Worldwatch Institute estimated that our planet needs at least 321 million acres planted to trees just to restore and maintain the productivity of soil and water resources, meet industrial and fuel-wood needs in the third world, and annually remove from the atmosphere roughly 780 million tons of carbon as the trees grow. This 780 million tons represents the removal of about 25 percent of the 2.9 billion tons of carbon currently going into the earth’s atmosphere.
• Planting 100 million trees could reduce the amount of carbon by an estimated 18 million tons per year and at the same time, save American consumers $4 billion each year on utility bills.
• For every ton of new wood that grows, about 1.5 tons of CO2 are removed from the air and 1.07 tons of life-giving oxygen are produced. During a 50-year life span, one tree will generate $30,000 in oxygen, recycle $35,000 worth of water, and clean up $60,000 worth of air pollution or $125,000 total per tree without including any other values!

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

You’ve probably seen lucky bamboo before since it is so widespread and easy to recognize. Revered in Asian culture for their ability to bring good luck, water your lucky bamboo regularly and give it light for the quickest growth. The plant can also grow in a wide range of conditions though, so if you want to you can also stick it in the office cubicle.

Golden pothos vine

Our personal recommendation for your first plant, this fast growing vine is a beautiful addition to the home. The vine is indigenous to the rain forest and doesn’t need much light since it is used to the rainforest floor with dense canopy blocking out sunlight. Water your pothos about once a week and spray with some mist to ensure your plant grows up to a foot a year! Once it really gets long it makes a great hanging plant for the house or the front porch. Wow your friends with an awesome plant that will remind you of being in a botanical garden!

Snake plant and mother-in-law’s tongue

Snake plants are on of the more exotic plants in our list of the best indoor plants. Leaves take the form of thick points that grow straight up from your pot of choice. The leaves appear in green with yellow streaks or just plain green depending on the species you choose. Snake plants prefer plenty of light but can also make do with less, making it a good candidate for a bedroom or other location with minimal sunlight. Water your snake plant sparingly, letting the soil get dry about 1″ under the soil before re-watering. Occasionally fertilizing your snake plant will allow its sword like leaves to achieve their full potential, lasting literally decades and getting up to 5 feet tall (but very slowly).

Spider plant

A spider plant is really a beautiful addition to your home’s decor. The Spider plant’s thin blade like leaves will grow quickly with regular watering and fertilizing twice a year with a balanced fertilizer from your local gardening supply in Artesia.

Dracaena

Dracaena plants are a good houseplant for beginners because they can withstand such a wide range of atmosphere. From ample light to low light Dracaena species are a wonderful addition to your growing plant collection with their arching leaves and wood stem. Leaves come in a wide range of shades but most commonly appear as green and yellow, but occasionally with up to three colors being present

Succulents and Cacti

Succulents and Cacti are houseplants that are just about impossible to kill. They don’t need water because they’re used to the desert, so it is easy to just plant it and forget. These plants draw water up into their leaves and store it, making efficient use of a scarce resource.

Boise, ID) — The City of Boise, Ada County and other cities around the valley are working together to make sure Christmas trees are given new life through a major recycling effort at the Ada County Landfill.

Boise residents and those living in most of the cities around Ada County can easily dispose of their cut Christmas trees by putting them out with their garbage on their normal trash pickup days (see instructions and individual city requirements below). Residents who miss their tree pick-up, or those who may want to dispose of their trees before their regularly scheduled trash day, may take their Christmas tree directly to the Ada County Hidden Hollow Landfill. Trees will be accepted at the landfill free of charge between now and January 20th.

“Christmas trees that aren’t set out for recycling take up valuable space at the landfill. This type of material is a great recyclable resource for future use in landscaping, animal bedding and even used to create energy,” said Catherine Chertudi with the Environmental Division of the City of Boise Public Works Department. “There’s no reason to send usable material to landfill as trash. Plus saving landfill space ultimately saves taxpayers money, too.”

“The Christmas Tree Recycling Program is a great example of several diversion programs currently in place at the Ada County Landfill,” said Dave Neal, Ada County Solid Waste Management Director. “This year, Ada County successfully diverted 79-million pounds of wood waste from going into the landfill. Ultimately, the county’s year-long wood recycling effort helped save space in the landfill equivalent to 1,374 semi-trailers space that can now be used for trash that can not be recycled.”

Instructions for curbside tree pick-up are simple. Trees must be free of all decorations (includes tinsel and any spray on materials), no tree stands are allowed and trees must be cut into four-foot lengths. Trash haulers also ask residents to set their trees just a few feet away from their trash cans since trees are picked up by a separate truck.

Trees hauled directly to the landfill must also be 100% decoration-free but they do not have to be cut into four-foot sections. (Note: The landfill will be closed on New Years Day.)

Here’s a listing of the dates and specific tree recycling information for Ada County and cities around the valley:

• Ada County County residents with trash service can leave trees for curbside pickup from January 2nd January 12th on regular trash collection days. Plus, any Ada County resident or Christmas tree lot owner can self-haul trees to the Hidden Hollow Landfill, 10300 N. Seamans Gulch Road, free of charge until January 20th, 2007. There is no size limitations on tree brought to landfill.
• Allied Waste Transfer Station Located at 4485 S Curtis Road, the transfer station will have separate drop off boxes for City of Boise and Ada County residents until January 20th.
• Boise Curbside pickup from January 2nd January 12th. Residents can leave trees with no decorations on regular trash collection days.
• Meridian Residents can leave trees on curb during regular trash collection day from January 8th January 12th. Also, Meridian residents only can drop off trees at the citys transfer station on 2130 W. Franklin Road until January 13th.
• Eagle Curbside pickup from January 2nd January 12th. Residents can leave trees with no decorations on regular trash collection days.
• Garden City Curbside pickup from January 2nd January 12th. Residents can leave trees with no decorations on regular trash collection days.
• Star Curbside pickup from January 2nd January 12th. Residents can leave trees with no decorations on regular trash collection days.
• Kuna No curbside pickup. Kuna residents can bring trees to Hidden Hollow Landfill, to the Meridian transfer station on 2130 W. Franklin Road until January 13th, or to the Allied Waste Transfer Station on 4485 S. Curtis Road until January 20th.

1. Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way of maintaining their freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
2. Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Don’t cut the trunk at an angle, or into a v-shape, which makes it far more difficult to hold the tree in the stand and also reduces the amount of water available to the tree.
3. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water. Don’t bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.
4. If needed, trees can be temporarily stored for several days in a cool location. Place the freshly cut trunk in a bucket that is kept full of water.
5. To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.
6. Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.
7. Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat (fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, direct sunlight). Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day.
8. The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
9. Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree. With many stands, there can still be water in the stand even though the base of the tree is no longer submerged in water.
10. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake.
11. Use of lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights, will reduce drying of the tree.
12. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set.
13. Do not overload electrical circuits.
14. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.
15. Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is dry, remove it from the house.
16. Go to www.realchristmastrees.org and type in your ZIP code to find a recycling program near you.
17. Never burn any part of a Christmas tree in a wood stove or fireplace.

Prepared by Dr. Gary Chastagner and Dr. Eric Hinesley
Edited by the Scientific Research Committee of the National Christmas Tree Association

1. Your needs

Determine where in your home you will display your tree. With this in mind, you will be able to tell what height tree you will need and whether all four sides of the tree must be suitable for display.

Height – It is a simple formula:  

Shape – Some prefer a slender tree, others want one which is larger and more bulky. It is nothing more than your personal preference!

2. Examine the tree

Freshness is an important key if you are buying a precut (harvested, fresh-cut, etc.) tree. Of course, if you are cutting your own, or having it cut for you, you know it will be fresh!

• The needles should be resilient. Take hold of a branch about six inches from the tip, between your thumb and forefinger, then pull your hand toward you allowing the branch to slip through your fingers.
•  The needles should adhere to the branch and not fall off in your hand. The needles should be flexible, not brittle. Run your finger down a branch – the needles should adhere to each twig. Bump the base end of the tree lightly against the ground to verify that the needles are firmly attached and to see if any outside needles fall off (inside needle loss in Pine trees is common every fall and some may lodge against the branches). If only a few drop off, the tree is fresh.  
• The tree should have a good fragrance and an attractive good green color.  Fresh trees will retain their moisture content and thereby keep their fragrance and needles if kept in a stand that has a good water holding capacity. Limbs should be strong enough to hold ornaments and strings of lights.