How To Improve Home Office Air Quality And Breathe Better

Today, we’re all very much aware of how air pollution affects our health. We’re constantly seeing non-stop innovations to becoming greener, as well as the media being populated with pollution and emission related headlines, indicating they’re affecting the planet as well as our health. 

What’s stranger than that, there are many of use who believe it’s an ‘outdoor problem’ and don’t acknowledge the air we’re breathing in our homes. The only difference it is to outdoor air, it’s trapped within the four walls of our homes or offices and what’s alarming, is it’s susceptible for all kinds of indoor pollutants. 

Statistically, we spend around 90% of our time indoors, which makes it vital that the air we breathe in is clean. With that being said, Frugal Finance has teamed up with top HVAC supplier Daikin, to explore the risks of toxin building up and how it reduces the air quality within your home, office, or home office and what we can do to make the air purer indoors. 

What Is Toxic House Syndrome? 

Toxic House Syndrome, (also known as Sick Building Syndrome), is a condition which the NHS outlines being caused by multiple factors. Dust, smoke, bad ventilation, and inadequately maintained air conditioning units are all cited as potentially contributing towards the problem. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) outlined the following risk of extremely poor indoor air quality. 

- Stroke 
- Pneumonia 
- Ischaemic heart disease 
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
- Lung cancer 

It’s apparent that the impact of toxic household air is more common in poor and low-income countries, those that commonly use solid fuels like wood, waste and charcoal. Countries that are more developed are still adding to their indoor pollutants though, even when if aren't aware they are doing it. 

What Are The Causes Of Poor Indoor Air Quality? 

Let’s look at the root causes of pollutants in your home or workplace. 

The British Lung Foundation published an article the stated that cooking, smoking, pets, damp, ventilation, temperature, pollution outside and cleaning products all build up within our homes. It’s worth opening the windows of your home for at least a little time every day, especially when you’re cooking. Check your home for dampness too — this can cause myriad health problems, so you’ll want to treat it as soon as possible if found. 

Scented candles are enjoyed by many of us, but sadly our lungs aren’t relaxing when you light a perfumed candle. The chemicals used to perfume candles for their scent can contain harmful substances like benzene and toluene. The same goes for air fresheners, regardless of if they are spray or plug-in. The fresh scent is achieved by chemicals, which you let into your home when you use them, so if you’re looking to freshen up, best stick to opening the windows and cleaning the home with natural products. 

Indeed, spray-bottle cleaners can cause the chemical cleaning product to partly disperse into the air. It’s better to opt for liquid cleaners that you can pour as much as you need. Consider other sprays too (deodorant, hair spray, etc) and only use them in well-ventilated areas. 

How To Make The Air Purer 

Now we know the causes, lets address what can be done to improve the quality of the air you breathe. 

Of course, ditching the store-bough air fresheners and all the toxins they bring with them is a good start. But you still need a way to freshen up your home without having the windows open all the time, right? Luckily, there are loads of natural air fresheners you can make, and they’re very easy to create. The Natural Penguin offers loads of great ideas — we’re particularly fond of the oil-scented wood blocks, they’re simple and would look boho-chic in a glass bowl mixed with some dried flowers or glass pebbles. 

Scattering plants around the house is another way to clean up the air we breath in. NASA has even conducted a study of the best air-purifying plants out there; try some aloe vera in the bedroom, or a spider plant in the kitchen! Ask your employer if it’s possible to bring some greenery into the office too. 

For dealing with outdoor pollutants and to ensure the air your breath is pure and free of mold, you could consider investing in an air purification system. These powerful systems actively filter the air you breathe, capturing any harmful particles or pollutants and keeping the air as fresh as possible. Air purifiers can help lower allergy and asthma symptoms, as well as reduce the number of bacteria in the air you breathe. They’re also a great way to neutralise odours without resorting to harmful air fresheners. 

Breathe Better With Immaculate Air

With it being second nature, we often neglect to think about the air we breathe. But it’s not something you can avoid! Take a look around your indoor spaces and ask yourself — what exactly am I breathing in every day? We guarantee that there is room for improvement for awesome air!

Beginner Guide To Feminized Hemp Seeds

If you are involved in any hemp farming activity, you might know and understand why it is essential for farmers to opt for feminized hemp seeds. Otherwise, you may not entirely understand this topic’s importance. 

Now, if you are interested in hemp production, given it is legal in your state, you must know a few things first to have an abundant harvest without having your hands scorched season after season. Want to these things? Then read on to learn more! 

Why Feminized Hemp Seeds? 

You might be wondering what is the importance of the feminized hemp seeds, right? Well, your question will be answered after this sentence. Female cannabis plants are the only ones that contain the compound called cannabinoids, which is what people or every farmer is keenly after. 

Two types of cannabinoids found in any cannabis products are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Both compounds are the ones that drive the demand in the cannabis market nowadays. 

Further, the reason why farmers prefer the feminized seeds is that it guarantees the growth of female cannabis plants for about 99 percent all the time. With this said, most feminized seeds might have scientifically tampered since it is bred explicitly in a way that eliminates the male “genes” or chromosomes. It then drastically decreases the chances of having a male cannabis plant. 

As such, with this process, one can say that the male cannabis plants are not as desirable as the female cannabis plants, except when it comes to pollination. 

How Is A Cannabis Seed Feminized? 

Are you wondering how a cannabis seed feminized? There are two ways. One is through a natural process, and the other is through an artificial method that utilizes silver. Here are in-depth explanations about the two processes. 

1. Natural Process Or Rodelization 

Rodelization is the natural process to make feminized hemp seeds. Through this process, a female cannabis plant that contains hermaphrodite traits will be put under the light of cycle interruption. 

What Are Hermaphroditic Plants? 

A plant with a hermaphrodite trait can produce both male and female reproduction systems. They are typically true bisexual and self-pollinating plants. Examples of hermaphroditic plants are vining crops like pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers, which all produce both male and female flowers. 

Since they’re self-pollinating plants, hermaphroditic plants don’t depend on insects like bees and butterflies to reproduce. Usually, it’s the wind or the gravity itself that drives their pollination. 

Further, the Rodelization process results in making the flowering stage of the plant stagnate. Meaning, it stays in the said stage for much longer than what is normal. During this period, the female cannabis develops pollen sacs, which is then harvested by the farmers and is applied to another female plant that does not show any hermaphrodite signs. After the said processes, the seeds of both female and hermaphrodite plants are deemed as the female seeds and are then harvested. 

However, one should bear in mind that most cannabis plants are naturally predominantly hermaphrodite. It is not uncommon that the produced pollen by the female plant would transfer its traits to the seeds. In other words, this Rodelization process is not 100 percent effective. 

2. Artificial Process Or Colloidal Silver 

While Rodelization is the natural process, Colloidal Silver is deemed to be the artificial process of creating female cannabis seeds. Even so, it is considered more effective than Rodelization. In this process, after a female cannabis plant has flowered, it will be sprayed with colloidal silver daily for about 14 days. 

The silver solution application on the plant slows down ethylene, resulting in the growth of male flowers with pollen sacs. The said pollen is then harvested and is used to fertilize another female plant whose outcome is 100 percent feminized seeds. 

Why colloidal silver better than the natural process? You can control seed production. More importantly, you can manage in producing feminized seeds only by utilizing two female cannabis or even clone-only strains. 

The majority of the growers find it easy to buy colloidal silver solutions as ready-made since it is less hassle. However, this does not mean to say that you cannot make the solution by yourself. 

In making the silver solution, all you have to do is to have a few alligator clips with a soldering iron, pure silver, a 9-volt battery, and a distilled water. After combining these materials, your do-it-yourself colloidal silver is ready. 

Takeaway 

As mentioned, it takes about 14 days to have substantial progress in the feminizing process of your plant. Make sure that you equip yourself with patience. Also, follow proper guidelines and procedures when dealing with cannabis plants to avoid any potential incidents and disruption during the processes.

7 Steps for How to Grow Hemp

In the past year, there has been a 76% increase in jobs in the cannabis industry.

With states legalizing the use of marijuana, for medical and recreational use, you may want to consider looking at all of the new job opportunities.

If you are wanting to make money off of growing cannabis and hemp you will need to know how to.  

Scroll down to learn how to grow hemp, along with tips on how to ensure that your plants don't die. 

7 Top Tips For Growing Hemp


1. Start With the Details

The first step in hemp farming is to focus on the details and paperwork that are required. 

When growing hemp, you will need the proper licenses from your state. The license often comes with a fee and some additional paperwork. In some areas, growers may even have to undergo a background check.

You should do all research on local laws, permittable THC levels, and how to grow hemp. 


2. Find a Location

The next step in growing your hemp farm is to find a suitable location for growth.

Some people choose to grow hemp indoors, which requires a few materials. If growing inside, you will need a humid room for the plants, a consistent temperature, and air vents. You will also need to get strong lights and any other growing materials.

If you are growing industrial hemp, you will need roughly 50 acres for it to be a profitable business. 


3. Plant Your Seeds

The best time to plant your hemp seeds is during late spring.

As long as the soil temperature is consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you are safe to plant the seeds. They grow best in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and about 2-3 cm deep in the soil.  

The pH levels in the soil should be between 6 and 7.5, this helps ensure that the soil is aerated. If the soil is not aerated, you can damage your plants. 


4. Maintain Your Plants

After the seeds have been planting, your main focus will be on caring for them.

Regularly watering your plants is necessary. If the soil is not moist, water it until it is a couple of inches deep. The first 6 weeks are the most important time to water because the plant is growing quickly. 

After 6 weeks or so, you don't have to water your hemp plant as much. It can survive with no water for several days before dying. 


5. Treat Your Hemp

Over time, as your plant grows, you will need to start caring for them beyond giving them water and sunlight.

If you want your hemp to be healthy, you should fertilize the soil it is growing in. This step is typically done on a hot and dry day so that the fertilizer doesn't stick on the plants. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers are recommended.  

Often, hemp prevents weeds from growing in the area, however, you may have to use treatment. Pre-emergent herbicide should be sprayed on the plant once germination is complete.

Treating your hemp plants will help ensure that they are protected and healthy. 


6. Harvest the Hemp

Harvesting the hemp can begin only once you find seeds starting to develop. 

Once you see the seeds, you can cut the hemp stalk with a sickle, or sharp object. Be sure to cut the hemp as close to the ground or dirt as possible. Cutting lower will allow you to get more fibers out of each stalk. 

If you have a large farm, you may want to invest in a sickle- bar attachment that can go on tractors. Some places may even let you rent their sickle for a while. 

After the hemp has been harvested, the stalks must sit in the field for 5 weeks.


7. Prepare the Fibers

The hemp has been harvested and you've waited for 5 weeks, now it is time to focus on the fibers.

The stalks should be stored in a dry and cool area. Once they have a moisture level of 15%, you can officially harvest the fibers. You can separate them by using a decorticator machine that has 2 rollers and breaks off the exterior parts of the plant.

You will put the hemp stalks in and the product that comes out of the machine is the hemp fiber.


8. Retrieve the Seeds 

After about 16 weeks you can harvest the seeds with a sickle. 

Most leaves fall off of the plant at this point. You will need to feel all of the seed pods and pull them out if they are hard. You can cut the top of the stalk, right below the seed location. 

This step is typically done in October if you live in the United States and you can leave fallen leaves in the dirt as fertilizer.

Once you have all of the seeds you will have to remove any residue and then store them in a freezer. You can replant these seeds in late spring and start all over again!


Tips for When You Are Learning How to Grow Hemp

Learning how to grow hemp can be challenging if you don't have a green thumb, but with these tips, you will be on your way to raising a healthy plant!

One of the best tips when growing hemp is to use soils that can be easily drained and have organic materials. They do best in warm temperatures, but will not survive in a desert environment.

Try planting your seeds shortly after frost goes away from the winter months before corn is being planted.

Make sure that you are patient. Regularly watering and keeping the hemp in a humid room help ensure its growth. Some people even say that adding Miracle Grow helps it grow faster!  


Green Thumb for Green Goods 

When learning how to grow hemp it is extremely important to be patient.

Many people think that growing hemp is a difficult process. However, utilizing the steps above can help you grow a small seedling into a blooming plant with benefits. 

It is extremely important to do research, have enough land, and use correct materials when growing hemp. Growing hemp will provide you with seeds for the next season, making them an excellent annual plant. 

Be sure to keep browsing our blog for more articles relating to hemp and healthy living.