Living Flora TM
 

About Indoor Gardening

Believe it or not, keeping the green of Spring in you life year round, is easier than you think. While it is great fun to get outside when the weather breaks, and start planting that landscaping project, many people keep the outdoor freshness in their life, all year long, by starting indoor container gardens.

A house plant, usually native to tropical climates, is grown indoors for decorative purposes. House plants also provide a natural, and cost effective way, to clean indoor air. According to the Dr. Wolverton NASA study, it is suggested that at least one potted plant, per 100 square feet, of home, or office space, is needed to be an effective air cleaner.

TOP 10 plants most effective in removing: Formaldehyde (found in almost all indoor environments), Benzene (more industrial), and Carbon Monoxide from the air

* Bamboo Palm - Chamaedorea Seifritzii
* Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum
* English Ivy - Hedera Helix
* Gerbera Daisy - Gerbera Jamesonii
* Janet Craig - Dracaena Janet Craig
* Marginata - Dracaena Marginata
* Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana
* Mother-in-Law's Tongue - Sansevieria Laurentii
* Pot Mum - Chrysantheium morifolium
* Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum
* Warneckii - Dracaena Warneckii

Of all the plants that are easiest to grow indoors, herbs are at the top of the list. Not only are they green, and decorative, they are also delicious and very aromatic. And when grown in the kitchen, they are just a step away, from the pot of spaghetti sauce, or the stew, that is cooking for dinner.

Get your house plants from a good garden center, or a nursery that will have plenty of garden advice, to help you with your indoor garden. You will need some garden equipment, like a small digging garden tool, garden gloves, organic fertilizer, and some small gardening containers. You probably already have most of these garden supplies in your storage area.

The major factors to consider when growing, and caring for house plants, are light, temperature, water, containers, and fertilizers. Most plants come with a description tag, that will guide you on how to care for that specific plant.

Although the kitchen is a desirable spot, your plants will do best, in a window that has at least, six hours of sunlight per day, to keep the growth cycle moving along. This could be an east, or south window. West windows tend to have the hottest sun, which may not be good for tender young plants, especially in Spring or Summer. If the window area tends to be extremely cold during winter nights, you may want to put the plants down on a cupboard, or table until the sun comes back up.

Most indoor plants need good lighting. You can provide this, through natural lighting in the room of your choice, or there must be electric lighting. Darker colored plants usually do not need as much light as some others.

Here are a few varieties of plants, that require medium to low light, and are known to be suitable for indoor gardening:

Philodendrons
Boston ferns
African violets
Cyclamens
Creeping Figs

Most house plants grow in a tropical climate, which ranges from 60 to 80 degrees. The majority of homes are kept around this temperature; therefore, house plants can thrive inside the home very nicely. It is best, if night temperatures, are 10 degrees lower, to duplicate nature.

Be careful of your watering habits, since plants in pots, do not lose their water into the earth around them, like they would in a garden. Water only when the soil is beginning to dry. But remember also, that your house, does not have the same humidity, as an outdoor garden, and in winter, particularly, indoor heating systems dry out the air. Mist your plants in winter, to keep the leaves from drying out, and to prevent the infestation of certain pests.

Keep the plant evenly moist, but there should not be standing water in the plant's saucer. This might require watering two to three times a week. Water the plant thoroughly, and after 15 minutes empty any water that is standing in the saucer. A common mistake most people make in indoor gardening, is they tend to over water their plants, which may lead to rotting roots. Make sure to research the type of plant you have, because each kind of plant varies on their watering needs.

When picking a container, or pot for your house plant, make sure it will drain properly. I know what you are thinking, many pots are sold without drainage holes! If you find one, that you are absolutely in love with, then drill a hole in the bottom of the container, otherwise your plant will almost certainly die. Without a drainage hole, water collects in the pot and causes damage to the roots. If you are unable to drill the hole, you can double pot your plant.

Choose good quality, and attractive containers for your indoor plants. Make sure that the pot is clean, before placing your new plant into it, to prevent infection, and to encourage healthy growth. Your container can be pretty much anything, and is only limited by your imagination. For a formal garden choose a more traditional container. Regardless of your choice of container, make sure it is not too big, or too small, for the plants you have chosen.

Just like watering, fertilizing depends on the type of plant. If you have managed to supply your indoor garden with the right amount of light, water and humidity, fertilization may not need much attention. A good indoor fertilizer can be bought from most home depot, or hardware stores. Orchids need the special fertilizer specially formulated for them.

Go to your local garden nursery center, and look thru the selections there. Choose plants that will harmonize with one another, and colors that will work together. Container Gardening is fun, and easy, and a great way to show off your handiwork.

Luann Hays Luann runs 2 website that offer special items for women. Go to Woozita's Wares for Rate this Article:
  • Article Tags: Gardening, Flowers, Indoor Gardening, Houseplants, Indoor Plants
    • Related Articles
    • Related Q&A
    1. Garden Flower
    2. Choosing Garden Flowers With Vibrant Colors Blooming Throughout the Year
    3. Why Do People Plant the Garden Flowers at Home?
    4. Common Garden Flower Diseases
    5. Euro Garden Flower Basket ' Simply Irresistible!
    6. Summer Garden Flowers - Learn About Which Are Most Suitable
    7. Gardening: Flower Gardening
    8. How To Choose Garden Flowers
    Add new Comment

    Captcha

    • Latest Gardening Articles
    • More from Luann Hays

    Biodynamic Farming for Planting and Growing Vegetables

    By: Sutiyo Na | 02/01/2010
    Earthworms or night crawlers are best used as fertilizers for vegetables, whether in small or large areas. Such organisms are best suited for a type of composting called vermicomposting. The composting type is a process wherein worms are fed to excrete a form of soil that is very rich in necessary and productive nutrients essential to growth of vegetable crops...

    Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers - What Are The Advantages?

    By: Janet Ashby | 02/01/2010
    The options for lawn mowers have expanded considerably in the last few years and electric models are becoming increasingly popular. Nowadays their performance is comparable to the petrol models and they are easier to maintain and much more environmentally friendly as they do not produce noxious fumes. A petrol mower...

    Composting, Earthworms, and Biodynamic Farming

    By: Sutiyo Na | 02/01/2010
    Do you want to boost productivity of soil in your garden? There is no need to turn to expensive fertilizers and pesticides. Aside from bringing about health and environmental hazards, such products are less effective compared to natural techniques. You should start learning biodynamic farming...

    Buying A New Honda Lawn Mower - What Are The Options?

    By: Janet Ashby | 02/01/2010
    If you are buying a new lawn mower then you will want to ensure the one you buy is good quality and has the features you need at a reasonable price. One of the most popular makes is Honda which are made in Japan and have a good reputation for...

    The "Hardiness" of Marijuana

    By: joyce | 01/01/2010
    Why Marijuana is destined to become a super weed

    Much to Do in Southern California Gardens--Even in Winter

    By: Bill Camarillo | 31/12/2009
    While many trees and plants go dormant in January, warm, sunny days can entice Southern California gardeners into their backyards where much can be done even in winter.

    Helping Winter Wildlife during the Cold Spells

    By: Richard n Williams | 31/12/2009
    The cold snowy weather can keep many of us in during the winter months but these cold spells can be even more harsh on the local wildlife. Not only do many of our native animals and birds struggle to find enough to eat during the winter months they also struggle to find shelter.

    The Money Plant Tree - The Tree That Brings Prosperity

    By: Barbara N | 31/12/2009
    A plant that will bring prosperity to your home or business? Why the money plant tree is a popular gift idea for yourself or someone special.

    Send That Floral Gift

    By: Luann Hays | 03/12/2009 | Holidays
    If you are one of those people that are always left wondering what to give for birthdays or any other holidays or occasions, the answer is flowers. Flowers are the gift that is always the right size and color, and will never have to be returned.

    Save Your Memories - Dry Your Roses

    By: Luann Hays | 03/12/2009 | Crafts
    Although there are some things we wish could last forever or a moment we wish would never end, ultimately they do. The memory of the special event, however, can be preserved for us to recall and enjoy for a long time to come. Drying flowers is a simple and inexpensive way to preserve these cherished moments.

    Rose Pruning Basics

    By: Luann Hays | 03/12/2009 | Gardening
    Pruning your roses is one of the more important and intimidating tasks that goes with proper rose care. It takes a steady hand and the proper procedure to ensure the best possible growth for your rose bush. Pruning your roses is basically the act of getting rid of dead and damaged pieces, and teaching the new growth to grow in the correct outward facing direction.

    Pick the Best Roses for Your Garden

    By: Luann Hays | 03/12/2009 | Gardening
    Roses have long been a favorite among all types of gardeners, and roses continue to enjoy great popularity today. In addition to their beauty as cut flowers and in bouquets, roses are among the most useful and attractive flowers to grace the landscape of any home. As a matter of fact, the exterior of any home can be made more graceful and more inviting through the use of wonderful landscape roses.

    More Rose Pruning How To

    By: Luann Hays | 03/12/2009 | Gardening
    Pruning and deadheading are essential to proper rose care. There are nearly as many opinions about how and when to prune as there are roses in need of pruning. While seasoned rose gardeners have their favorite tried-and-true methods, this article is geared toward new-comers who are unsure where to start.

    Indoor Gardening

    By: Luann Hays | 03/12/2009 | Accessories
    Believe it or not, keeping the green of Spring in you life year-round, is easier than you think. While it's great fun to get outside and start planting that vegetable or flower garden, many people keep the freshness in their life even during the winter, by starting indoor gardens.

    Indoor Gardening Tips

    By: Luann Hays | 03/12/2009 | Accessories
    Nothing is more attractive and cheerful than a room filled with healthy green houseplants. They offer aesthetics to the interior of our homes, improve indoor air quality, and often provide emotional satisfaction to the caregiver in getting the plant to bloom or produce new growth.

    About the Author:
    Luann runs 2 website that offer special items for women. Go to Woozita's Wares for Sexy Lingerie and much more. Send Flowers Online, find fresh cut flowers, gift baskets and unique gifts.

    Author: Luann Hays

    Living Flora TM