This week we kick off National Indoor Plant Week.  As an avid houseplant enthusiast I belong to a few different national plant societies.  The two national societies I belong to are the African Violet Society of America and the Gesneriad Society.  Sadly, with today’s capabilities to connect to with people around the globe membership has steadily declined over the years.

Membership fees are nominal and the benefits are fantastic.  Yes you can join Facebook or other social media to connect with like-minded people.  However, with most plant societies there are conventions that you can attend.  This is a great opportunity to attend workshops and speakers to learn more about your favorite plant(s).  This will also allow you chance to purchase plants that you would not be able to find at local garden centers.

Another added benefit of plant societies is their commitment to conservation and research.  With widespread urbanization and poor land management practices some plants such as the African violet are now only found in a few remote locations.  With the help from national plant societies conservation efforts are in place to help preserve the wild type plants.

Regardless your plant of passion there is probably a group of people out there who share your interest too.  Here is a small listing of some organizations that might be of interest:

African Violet Society of America: http://avsa.org/

The Gesneriad Society: http://www.gesneriadsociety.org/

American Begonia Society: http://www.begonias.org/

Bromeliad Society International: http://www.bsi.org/new/

American Orchid Society: http://www.aos.org/

Cactus & Succulent Society of America: http://cactusandsucculentsociety.org/

American Hibiscus Society: http://americanhibiscus.org/

Scott Evans

Scott Evans is a horticulture assistant with Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties. A certified arborist through International Society of Arboirculture and Nebraska Arborist Association. Scott is also Tree Risk Assessment Qualified through ISA. Scott co-leads the Master Gardener program in Douglas & Sarpy counties. Along with volunteer management he provides his expertise with disease and insect identification, lawn and landscape weed management, plant health, and I.P.M. practices. He also enjoys growing many houseplants ranging from African violets to cacti and succulents. Scott has two Bachelors of Science, one in Biology (emphasis in Botany, Ecology and Environmental Science) and second in Environmental Geology from Northwest Missouri State University. He earned his Master of Agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.