Gardening With Indoor Plants

Plants are just as popular as furniture for your indoor garden. Aside from the aesthetic value plants add to your home there are also health benefits.

Even grade school science class tells us that indoor plants cleanse the air we breath by using the carbon dioxide we exhale and producing more oxygen.

Here is some important information on how to care for your indoor plants to gain the optimum health and aesthetic benefits.

Lighting

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 leaved plants usually don't need as much light as others.

Here are the varieties of plants (usually those that only require medium to low light) that are known to be suitable for indoor gardening:

a. Philodendrons
b. Boston ferns
c. African violets
d. Cyclamens
e. Creeping Fig

Watering

A common mistake most people make in indoor gardening is they tend to over-water the 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. If your potted plant sits in a saucer, be sure to empty the excess water out of the saucer after each watering.

Potting

Choose good quality and attractive container 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. Place an inch or two of gravel in the bottom of the planter for drainage and be sure there is a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Indoor plants hate to sit in a saucer full of water.

Humidity

In indoor gardening, humidity is a big issue. The amount of moisture in the air has effect on the growth of the plants. During mornings, you could spray the plants with water for their much-needed moisture. Make sure the leaves don't get covered in dust.

Fertilizing

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 water soluble indoor plant fertilizer can be bought from most hardware stores. Orchids need a special fertilizer formulated just for them.

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