Growing plants indoors, while rewarding, requires time and commitment as well as knowledge about the proper temperature, lighting and soil for the plant you want to grow. Additionally, there are several methods of growing plants in pots.
Inspect the area where you plan to keep your plants before you do anything else. The potted plant must be placed in an area where it will receive natural light several hours a day. Artificial lighting is also an option if you have the budget for it. Special indoor lamps and lights that you can use to replace natural sunlight are on the market. The easiest factor to control is temperature, so ensure your home’s temperature is ideal for the plant.
Choose an appropriate container for your potted plant. The larger your plant will grow, the larger your pot should be. Putting a big plant in a small pot can result in the plant not being able to breathe properly or the roots’ growth being stunted. A small plant in a large pot will usually not look good, but it might grow to fit its pot. Alternately, you could grow your plant in a smaller pot and then transplant it to a larger one when it grows to large for the smaller one. You can also choose from various styles and sizes. As a general rule, the container’s diameter should half the plant’s height. Ensure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom, so that the roots will not drown.
The next step is to look for the proper soil or growing medium. Garden soil is usually not suitable, because it doesn’t drain properly. Further, garden soil could contain fungi or insects that are harmful to the plant type. Instead opt for packaged potting soil, which can aerate the roots of the plant and help it hold moisture.
When the plant should be watered can be affected by several factors. These include the type of plant you’re growing as well as sun, rain, wind and heat.
You should water most plant regularly, although not to the drowning point. That said, aloe vera and other desert plants tend to do better when you let them dry out a little instead of flooding them with water. For this reason, people who find it difficult to remember to water their plants regularly may do better with desert varieties. The amount of water any plant needs can vary each day.
Potted plants also dry up faster than those growing in the ground. Stick your finger into the soil to determine if the plant needs to be watered. If it is dry, then it needs to be watered.
In general, you should fertilize potted plants every two weeks. Watering a plant flushes the nutrients from the growing medium. If you have children or pets in the house, are growing edible plants, or are growing plants for personal care or medicinal purposes, your best bet is to use organic fertilizers.
Note that some plants are poisonous to humans and/or animals. Properly research a plant’s risks before you bring it into your home if you have pets or children. (See Pets and Plant Poisoning for more information on this.)
When you grow a plant in or around your home, you should do what you can to protect it from destructive pests. Insects can enter your home and destroy your plant even if you house it indoors. There are several organic pesticides you can use to combat this problem.
Growing potted plants can be worthwhile and rewarding whether you grow them in a window box, on a balcony or patio, or in an outdoor garden. Potted plants can provide herbs for teas or natural remedies, edible fruits and vegetables, fragrance, or simply decoration.
As is the case with any gardening project, growing indoor plants does require a bit of study and application of standard practices and proper growing techniques, but this will become easier with practice, and will be well worth the trouble.
About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn to live greener and more eco-friendly lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Green Resourceful Living.
Source Article: How to Grow Plants in Pots.
