Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening can be a lot easier than you think. You can start anytime with a minimal budget. It doesn’t matter how busy you are.
Once you start it, you will enjoy the few minutes of work it takes to care for your plants.
In fact, most people find this is the best way to relax and get rid of stress and that the routine of watering and tending to your garden becomes a huge source of pleasure.
A garden of your dreams can start small inside your home!
Here are some of the best tips on starting and taking care of your indoor garden:
Start Small
Do not go overboard buying too many potted plants or seedlings.
If you’re totally new to indoor gardening or gardening in general, having to manage 30 different kinds of plants might be a bit overwhelming.
To avoid the stress and work of having to learn about so many different types of plants all at once, just start small.
Check out the simple project on the home page of this site.
Focus on What You Want from Your Indoor Garden
When you decide what type of plants you want to grow in your home, think carefully what will give you the most pleasure; what do you want from your indoor garden?
Do you want gorgeous, colorful flowers that bring a smile to your face all year round?
Do you want fresh herbs to help you prepare gourmet, healthy meals for your family?
Do you want cleaner, fresher air?
Do you want more greenery in your house?
Do you want to decorate a certain room or spot?
Do you want something to care for and nurture?
Do you want to grow fresh vegetables and fruits?
Provide Adequate Space and Light for Your Plants
Before you decide how many pots you will install in your home, check out the space you have available. Keep in mind that you will need to provide enough sunlight to each of your plants.
So, even if you will rotate them periodically to occupy the place near your sunny windows, there should enough space for every plant to get enough sunlight.
Use Best Grade Potting Soil
It is always best to ask the advice of the shopkeeper of your garden store. Buy the best available because it will go a long way.
Your local gardening store expert will definitely advise you on what you need to keep your plants healthy and strong.
Just make sure you ask someone who has a lot of experience with gardening and not just someone who’s working there for a summer job.
Watering and Misting Implements
Watering your plants is one of the most important tasks in the schedule for taking care of your indoor gardening. You will need adequate implements to water your plants; some plants may require regular misting.
Also, you will need to research on what type of water your plants would enjoy most.
For example, some experts recommend that you use the water in which you have boiled vegetables to water your plants – and your plants will grow very beautiful and healthy.
Fertilizer
No matter how good the soil, you may need to add fertilizer at least once in 6 months or one year. I recommend using organic fertilizers or compost as I personally try to avoid chemical fertilizers.
Choose the best type of plants
Contrary to common belief, the list of plants that can be grown indoors is quite varied and long.
There are thousands of flowering plants, non-flowering plants, cacti, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and even evergreens that you could grow indoors.
So, if you love plants and need to grow them indoors take heart in the news that you have plenty to choose from!
One very important thing you should keep in mind while you decide about the number of plants you want inside your home is that indoor plants will raise the degree of humidity in your home. Hence, this is a good thing if you are living in a dry climate, but not so good if it is already humid. So just remember to use a dehumidifier if things get too humid with all your new plants.
While it is true that for your plants to live and thrive indoors they should be adaptable to the indoor environment – i.e. less light, drier and cooler environment – it is important that you understand that most plants adapt very well indoors if you are willing to go the extra mile to provide them what they need.
Plants also respond very well to love – but as a plant lover and gardener, I’m sure you already know that.
Figure out what your plants need
There are many factors that a plant requires to grow well and stay healthy.
The soil is one of the most important aspects of an indoor plant. Hence, it is very important that each plant has the best soil mix according to its requirements.
Generally speaking, most plants would thrive quite well in a good potting mix, which has a 10-10-10 mix of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium, also known as NPK; but occasionally some plants would require something more such as some plants need phosphorous to grow better and bloom.
It is important that you know these little indoor gardening tips if you want to get the best out of your plants – whether they are flowering plants, herbs, vegetables, or fruits.
Controlling the climate of your indoor garden
There are three major aspects that would control the climate necessary for your indoor gardening:
(1) temperature, (2) lighting, and (3) humidity.
Each one of these aspects is critical to the life of your plants and their development. It may look and sound very complicated to ensure the perfect climate for your plants, but it is not.
Of course, you need to initially research the plants you plant to grow and their requirements.
Once you have that down, regulating the indoor climate is not that difficult with the modern appliances available today.
Air circulation and indoor gardening
Without proper air circulation, you can never have a perfect garden. Stagnant air over-heat and creates a conducive atmosphere for pests to grow.
This is why you should never overcrowd the indoor garden area; nor should you allow foliage to touch.
Protecting your garden from pests and diseases
Your beautiful indoor garden will not be perfect no matter what you do. But that is what will make you love it even more.
While you will not have any weeds to worry about, there would be plenty to worry about with pests. If you are lucky, you will be able to prevent most pest attacks.
However, in most cases, you should be able to counter the problem with a little timely intervention.
Additional Indoor Gardening Tips:
There are only very few plants that can be grown indoor and with the right indoor gardening tips, you can be sure to have a little greenery around the home Read On….
Questions or comments may be left below.
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