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Anyone who has had a garden will agree that they are gleeful hard work. There are always weeds to pull, wilting stems, piles of leaves to rake, and squirrels to chase away from eating your tulip bulbs first thing in the morning. But it's not all bad–in fact, the benefits of a garden far outweigh the slight inconvenience of maintenance. Gardening offers a creative outlet, stress reduction, the opportunity to harvest different fruits and vegetables, and let's not forget about the aesthetic beauty. With all of these benefits, it's no wonder so many of us want to bring all that gardening has to offer indoors.
Of course, indoor gardening has its challenges, too. Being removed from nature, there are certain elements that you need to recreate in the home in order for plant life to flourish. So if you're looking to acquire all of the bonuses of gardening, this article was created just for you! And if you have a bit of a black thumb, no worries! By following these 8 simple tips and tricks, you too can have a lush and thriving indoor garden that your neighbours will envy…
The first thing we want to look out for is picking the perfect spot for your little oasis to grow and thrive. You'll want to choose an area that has a lot of windows and sunlight, as most plants welcome the sun and fresh air. East and west facing windows are typically the best for this. Avoid placing plants in rooms with colder temperatures, like the attic or garage, as the cold can kill or slow the growth of your plants.
But of course, if you employ plants that prefer shade, such as pansies or violas, you can place them in the dark corners of your home that don't see much light, and they would certainly benefit from a little burst of colour and life.
There is a wide variety of plant holders on the market. You can opt for traditional pots or containers from a garden supply store, or be unique and use old vases or plastic bottles. You do, however, want to make sure that your container has holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. If you're making your own container, be sure to drill the holes yourself.
Plastic containers can hold moisture the best, but terra cotta pots are usually considered the most attractive option. When using a wooden container, try to find one made of either redwood or cedar, as these are particularly rot resistant.
The soil in your pot can make or break the livelihood of your plants. Unfortunately, you can’t just grab a load of dirt from your backyard and use it for your containers. Soil from outside can often contain diseases or insects that can kill your plant over time, not to mention the soil rarely contains the proper balance of sand and clay. You can easily buy potting mix at your local hardware store.
You should also use fertilizer when growing indoors. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in fertilizer will really foster plant growth and give your vegetation the added nutrients that they may otherwise get if they were outside.
When watering your plants, be sure to water them at the bottom by standing them in a dish and filling the dish with water. Many indoor gardeners don't realize this, but water poured directly into the soil may flood the plant or not reach the roots. Additionally, you should only water your plants when the soil feels dry to the touch.
You also want to make sure you water to your plant's specific needs. Plants like day lilies and irises love to get soaked, while orchids can barely stand water at all.
homify hint: when watering an orchid, don't use water at all. Simply place one ice cube on top of the soil once a week. As the ice melts, it distributes just the right amount of water at a steady rate. This of course also depends on the size of the orchid. Bigger plants may need a few more ice cubes.
Many indoor plants benefit from the occasional misting from a spray bottle. It becomes especially helpful if you live in a heated or air-conditioned home where the air can become very dry.
The water you use in your spray should be at room temperature, and there's no need to soak those leaves. Just a spritz should do the trick.
Yes, that's right–you have to dust your indoor plants. Just like any other surface in the home, dust will gather on your plant leaves.
Dusting each leaf about twice a month clears up the pores on the surface of the leaves, allowing for better oxygen exchange, which keeps your plant breathing.
Many indoor plants suffer from not having enough ventilation. This doesn't mean placing them near your air conditioner! On the contrary, that would be sure to dry out your plants. Proper air circulation assures that your plant is taking in the appropriate amount of carbon dioxide while also circulating the produced oxygen.
Check out this article for more on indoor plants that help you breathe!
A lack of humidity can be a challenge for indoor plants. You know your plants are suffering when you see the tips of the leaves turning brown, when plants start to look withered or puckered, or when the leaves fall out entirely.
Misting plants, as we've discussed earlier, will help with this. Alternatively, you can place a tray of water near your garden to add a little extra moisture to the surrounding air. We recommend you fill the tray with lava rocks. That way, the surface area is increased and evaporation rates increase. You can also run a humidifier, which might benefit your skin as well.
If you think you still need help with your indoor garden, check out our professionals and get a free quote!
