Indoor gardening is an art, however, even those with a ‘black thumb’ can make a success of it with the right type of plants. Indoor gardening serves a number of purposes: beautification, purification and source of activity and relaxation.  Many people are unable to keep an outdoor garden because they live in apartment buildings or the climate just is simply not conducive to outdoor gardening.

To maximise your indoor gardening efforts, try to follow these simply pieces of advice:

1. Select the right type of plants

Some indoor plants are easier to care for than others, so depending on the time you have available this is a serious consideration for indoor gardening. The best plants to use indoors are foliage plants because they do not require a lot of attention and are therefore generally easier to maintain.

2. Types of containers

The containers you use for your indoor plants must be drainable.  In other words, the water shouldn’t sit in there after you have watered the plants.  If the pots do not allow drainage then unfortunately some plants will die as the roots will rot.  Depending on your climate there is another downside as mosquitoes could use the still water as a breeding ground. Also, some indoor plants have the benefit of needing very little water, such as a cactus.

3. Temperature control

Humidity and temperature control are also vital to the health of indoor plants. House plants need a certain level of humidity to grow well.  Humidity can be maintained by using a humidifier, but you can also help by spraying water on the leaves in the morning.  It is not good practice to do this at night since there is less evaporation and this can result in the plant rotting.  Try to maintain a temperature range of between 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 17 - 22 degrees Centigrade). Most plants can stand fluctuation of between 8 – 10 degrees daily; anything greater or lesser can result in poorly growing plants.  If the plant leaves begin to turn yellow it is an indication that the
temperature is too low; if the plants fail to strive the temperature may be too high.

4. Arrange for adequate lighting

Most plants need some amount of sunlight to strive, however you find this is not always possible. If you are unable to provide enough natural light for your indoor gardening needs, why not consider installing artificial lighting?

5. How to water plants, when and how often

Watering indoor plants calls for observation of certain rules. These include:

•    do not use very cold water, try to use room temperature water, so as not to shock the plants
•    wet the soil and allow to drain so that it does not become soggy
•    do not over water the plants

The bottom line is indoor gardening is a great way to brighten your day, especially if you follow these basic guidelines.

The Gardener