Is winter making you feel a little blue? Go green and bring a bit of springtime sparkle to your indoors this season.
Tis the season of ice and snow. With the trees losing their leaves and the grass its lustre, you'll not be seeing any green just Christmas pines and poinsettias until March. If this sounds depressing why not try growing your own herbs, fruits, and veggies indoors? All you need is the right equipment and some knowledge about botany.
First, you need to decide what you want to grow. Do you want to have available amounts of herbs and spices, such as mint, thyme, basil and dill? Maybe you are craving the taste of homegrown tomatoes or strawberries. Whatever you decide, you have to do a little homework to understand the nature of how your plants grow best.
Do I want to grow this from a seed or from a small plant?
Be aware that some seeds need stratification or to be raised in specific conditions so that they are able to leave their dormant state and sprout. Some seeds need intense heat like a forest fire, while many others require the repeated frost and thaw of winter in order to germinate from seedling to plant. There are ways of 'tricking a seed' into germinating; you can refrigerate and soak the seed in water or moist vermiculite, but this trick varies from plant to plant.
Tip: Know the best indoor fruits and vegetables for winter
What time of year does this plant usually grow?
If you planted your tomatoes in December, hoping for a crop in February or March, you will be sorely disappointed. Different plants grow at different times during the year and this is not just because of the temperature and weather, but because of the different light each season provides. Some plants are better suited for growth in very little light. For example, certain orchids will only bloom in the winter, while sunflowers grow more with access to twelve hours of daylight. The quality of light is also important because some seedlings do better under blue light, while certain flowering plants require red lighting to bloom more.
Tip: Help your seedlings flourish by keeping them warm.
What climate does this plant grow?
If your house is set at 72 degrees and dry, you will not be able to grow exotic hot-house flowers which originate from the Amazon. Some plants such as bananas, for example, need a very humid tropical environment in order to grow. Other plants need an arid desert climate to flourish. Be aware of the limitations of your home.
Tip: Get your plants the right light.
Is this plant annual or a perennial?
Some plants will blossom and bear fruit only once and then die. These are annuals and while they might be really exciting to have, be sure to consider how much of an effort is required. Tomatoes are annuals and relatively easy to grow, but so are melons and they are a little more difficult to grow, especially in winter.
Other plants are perennials and will appear to die off every winter, only to come back during the spring. Some plants are more obviously alive, trees for instance, while others like tulips and daffodils die before sprouting new shoots and blossoming each spring time. As a general rule, because they come back year after year, perennials are easier to maintain indoors and it is also easier to 'trick' them into growing out of season.
Tip: Read about your plant.
How big does this plant get?
While you might envision a beautiful overflowing indoor garden and landscape, bear in mind that your small bushes and shrubs will grow, and some of them will grow quite large. People who keep houseplants like Jade trees and Ficus are often surprised when their trees outgrow their containers within several years. If you want to keep your plants small, be prepared to read up a bit on bonsai tips and tricks so that your plants stay manageable and still bear flowers and fruit.
Tip: Explore your bonsai options for a bit of miniature plant-worthy advice.
What type of soil does this plant grow in?
This is an easy one. Some plants grow great in thick, clay-like soil, while other plants do better in dry, sandy soil. Just like people, different plants prefer their nutrients and minerals from different sources. The same super-rich loam that will grow blue-ribbon vegetables can easily kill cacti. Just do a little homework before you hit the garden center, or ask your local garden stores for advice. For those of you who do not like the dirt, try hydroponic gardening. Just make sure to ask around because not all plants do well with soil-free growing.
Tip: Give hydroponics a try at home.
How much water does this plant typically get?
Another easy one: Do not drown your plants. Some plants, like many fruits and vegetables, need lots and lots of water, while others like orchid plants barely need any at all.
Tip: Avoid overwatering by using the right pots for the right plants.
Share your challenges and tips with us to grow indoor plants.
Featured Image: Indoor Gardening: Courtesy of rd.com
Images: image 1: rd.com, image 2:http://urbancomfort.typepad.com/
Source:www.everyday-vegetable-garden.com,www.gardenforever.com,forums.gardenweb.com
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