Indoor Gardening - The Basics For Success
Indoor Gardening - The Basics For Success
There are some things that you can do to help assure your success gardening indoors. House plants do need more or less the same conditions to grow as outdoor plants do. The indoor gardening tips suggested here will help you to achieve these conditions.
The conditions that are required by all plants, whether they are indoor or outdoor plants are:
- a good supply of fresh air,
- the proper amount of sunlight,
- water and
- fertilization
Fresh Air
This requirement is fairly easy to achieve and most often, this is not even considered when planning a garden. For an indoor plant, the air requirements are basically the same as they are for us. When it is hot and stuffy for us, the same holds true for our plants.
Proper Amount of Sunlight
Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to get the nutrients they need from the soil and water. This process takes place in the plants leaves and is directly related to the exposure that the plant gets to sunlight. Without sunlight, your plants will starve to death. Be sure to place your plants so that they will get sunlight every day.
An alternative to placing plants in the sunlight is to purchase indoor gardening lights, or "grow lights". Without an indoor area that will allow exposure to sunlight, these lights will provide the needed ultraviolet light to keep your plants growing strong.
Water
The challenge is to provide your plants with the proper amount of water. Many indoor plants die due to either over-watering or under-watering.
When watering, you should use water that is at room temperature and wet the soil enough that a small amount of it will stick to your finger when you touch it. The soil should feel damp and slightly soft. The soil should not feel "squishy".
Using pots that provide proper drainage for your indoor garden is an excellent way to help keep from over-watering. If there is no drainage in the pots that you use, be sure to place small stones in the bottom of the pots before planting and water carefully.
In the summertime, watering should be done every two to three days to keep the soil from drying out. This can be safely reduced to every 4 to 5 days in the winter.
Fertilization
Since plants get all of their nutrients from the sun and the soil, proper fertilization is another important consideration for indoor plants. Fertilizers provide nutrients to the soil and in turn, to the plants.
There are some types of plants that require specialized fertilizers, but most common indoor plants can use a basic fertilizer. The schedule for fertilizing different types of plants can also vary. Since the type and frequency of fertilization varies, you will obtain the best results by doing a little research on the type of plants that you intend to use for your indoor garden.
These easy to follow tips will help you on your way to becoming a successful indoor gardener.
Belinda Nelson is a free lance copywriter who enjoys writing on subjects that enhance family life.. Each article is carefully researched and put together for the benefit of the reader. Learn more about creating a peaceful home garden area and enhancing the beauty of your home by using indoor gardening by visiting: http://www.hiddentreasuresdirect.com/ Be sure to sign up for your free gift!
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