Indoor gardening is the most fail-proof way to add some life to your home, since, in the process, it improves one’s mood and wellbeing.
Whether large or small, it is too easy to create your special garden by using some basic and easy-to-do ideas.
That’s why we’ve put together this detailed guide to take you through all that will be needed for your plants to thrive.
The Benefits of Indoor Gardening
Your houseplants remove air pollutants and emit oxygen into your home. This enhances air quality and boosts emotional well-being, as well as reduces stress.
Additionally, multiple recent studies have shown that keeping indoor plants can significantly improve a person’s mood and boost creativity! Therefore, houseplants are the ideal way to spark inspiration if you’re a freelance artist or a content developer.
Growing your own veggies and herbs will also give your family pesticide-free greens and healthier options, promoting a healthy way of life for all of your loved ones. You will save money on groceries as a result of the process, so what’s not to love?
And since your houseplants are protected from bad weather, it is relatively easier to keep your indoor plants healthier and more flourishing than outdoor plants.
Choosing the Right Location
The first step is to choose the appropriate place for your plants. Light plays a very decisive role in the growth of plants among all the other factors.
You should aim to place your house plants in a place where they can have enough sunlight. In case your house or apartment doesn’t have enough light, consider shade plants instead. They are more tolerant to small amounts of sunlight.
Southern windows happen to be the brightest ones. On the other hand, northern windows receive the smallest amount of light. You need to identify the amount of sunlight in your home and whether it will be enough for your plants to grow and flourish or not.
If you haven’t grown indoor plants before, consider contacting professional gardening services to visit and check the conditions in your home.
Another key element to consider is the temperature. Extreme temperature fluctuations can harm your plants. Place your garden far from air conditioners, heating vents, and cold drafts to create a consistent atmosphere.
You also need to think of space and accessibility. Make sure the spot you pick is handy for general maintenance, pruning, and watering. Smaller spaces can be maximised with vertical gardening ideas like shelves or hanging pots.
Picking the Best Plants
A few of the most common plants that grow well inside with minimum care are:
- Herbs with high light requirements are basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, and chives. Set them on a sunny windowsill or underneath grow lights.
- Leafy greens that grow swiftly in low light and are easy to harvest include kale and spinach.
- Cacti and succulent plants include African milk tree, burro’s tail, moon, and melon cacti. Great in sunny locations and require little maintenance.
- Plants used for decoration like peace lilies, pothos, spider plants, and snake plants. They can survive with the least amount of sunlight and attention.
Choosing the Right Containers and Soil
When taking care of indoor plants, the first thing that comes to mind is how can I choose the correct container and/or soil mix. It is obvious that this mix will impact your plants significantly, and will provide the right amount of nutrients, space, and drainage for your plants.
Pots with drainage holes prevent the roots from rotting due to the water buildup at the bottom part of the pot. Good examples include terracotta, ceramic, and plastic.
The container size you use is to be just right for the size of your plants. A pot that is too small or large will become quite a problem and get in the way of growing healthy plants.
If it’s too small, it will choke the growth of the roots, and if it is too big, the soil will retain too much moisture.
Use good quality potting mix, especially meant for indoor plants. Never use garden soil, as often it is too heavy for your plants and possibly infested with insects. For succulent and cacti plants, a well-draining cactus mix works the best. In the case of herbs, light and nutrient-rich potting soil will work just great.
Watering the Right Amount
Irrigation has been reported as one of the toughest jobs in indoor gardening. Among the common mistakes which new gardeners make is overwatering, which leads to root rot and sick plants.
Check the soil moisture level before every watering to find the ideal balance. Put your finger about one inch into the ground. If it feels dry, it needs water. If you find that it’s still damp, wait several more days before turning on the spout.
How you water it is as important. Water at the root of the plant, avoiding the leaves as damp ones, can promote fungal problems. You should also use room-temperature water to prevent root shock.
You’ll also want to account for the seasons when it comes to your watering schedule. During winter months, most plants require less water because their growth is slower. Also, think about how your plants react to seasonal changes and adjust your watering calendar to accommodate them.
Finding the Best Natural and Artificial Lighting
Light is the lifeblood of plants. It solely dictates the photosynthetic process wherein they get the energy and food they need.
Natural light is favoured, but not always practical to provide in sufficient amounts, especially in houses with scarce sunlight during darker months.
Place them near windows with plenty of natural light to ensure your plants get what they need.
Plants that love the sun will thrive in bright, direct light from south-facing windows, while shade plants will do best in low-light north-facing windows. The types that require medium light would feel most comfortable with east- and west-facing windows.
You’ll need to think about buying grow lights too. Energy-efficient LED grow lights offer the entire spectrum of light plants need. Place them six to twelve inches above your indoor garden for the best results.
Feeding Your Plants
When it comes to nutrients, house plants require a little more assistance. Unlike outside plants that absorb natural nutrients in the soil, indoor varieties solely depend on you for their nutrition.
A balanced liquid fertiliser will keep your plants healthy when you apply it every two to four weeks during the growing season.
For regular feedings, look for a 10-10-10 (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) fertiliser but make sure you dilute it to half concentration to prevent over fertilising.
If you’re looking for organic fertilisers, compost tea, worm castings, and fish emulsions would be perfect as they slowly release nutrients. This will help keep your indoor plants fed for a longer period.
Managing Pests Naturally
Indoor gardens are not impervious to pests. However, with some care and natural solutions, you can prevent infestations without using strong chemicals.
Early detection of infestations makes getting rid of them far easier. Multiple infestations and pests could happen to your plants. These include spider mites that will cause early leaf loss for your plants, aphids which are small sap-sucking insects that usually occur in younger plants, and fungus gnats which are attracted to the moist in your house plant and can be very harmful.
The safest most non-toxic treatment method for getting rid of indoor garden pests is to manually remove them yourself using a damp towel or a clean pair of tweezers. This works best in cases of small infestations or if your plants have large or sparse leaves.
Sometimes, manually removing the insects isn’t feasible. In that case, you can gently wash the leaves with warm water and soap. Another possible solution is neem oil, but be careful as it doesn’t work on all plant types, you need to search thoroughly for the solutions that work best for your specific plants.
Pruning and Repotting
Lastly, you need to regularly prune and repot your plants to promote fresh growth and eliminate crowded roots. This will help your indoor garden remain vibrant.
Prune often to remove dead or yellow leaves and cut back leggy growth to keep the plants looking neat.
Don’t move your plants frequently, you should only do so when your plants grow too large for the pot. In this case, don’t choose a much larger pot. Instead, select a slightly bigger container and rejuvenate the soil to allow room for expansion for your plant.
Conclusion
Indoor gardening, whether you do it to give flavour to food through growing herbs, green leaves to clean and purify the air, or simply as an accent to decorate in natural colours, is among one of the most rewarding and soothing activities you could do.
These steps most certainly will help you create a green paradise inside your home!
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