|
Indoor gardening is
especially desirable to most of us who experience cold winter climates
and want to enjoy blooming plants during this time. Even though we
are here in the greenhouse, you can grow these plants in a bright,
warm place in your home.
Finding
The Right Plant For The Right Place
I
find it unfortunate that our homes are not designed to be an instant
tropical paradise. It is rather inevitable; plants find their way
into our homes, perhaps as gifts. We
know the fear of being the chosen recipient of Aunt Martha’s prized
thirty-year-old violet…or the thrill of bringing home a new plant that
mysteriously ended up in our hands on a recent walk through the
greenhouse. How can we
enjoy success as the caretakers of these living treasures?
KNOW
WHAT YOU GROW
We all have names, and so does your plant! Read the tag and learn
its name. Find its particular growing requirements from a
reference book or through the internet. With so many of us having
home computers, it's easy to use the world wide web to search for
information about specific varieties of plants.
HOME
ENVIRONMENT
Next, consider the
elements of your home environment.
Plants need the right amount of four basic things:
temperature, light, water, and humidity. This amount can vary, depending on the plant, and that is why
researching your plant is so important. The
most important thing to do first is inspect the indoor climate.
Will you be growing plants in your front room? Your basement?
Where you plan to locate your plants is an important consideration for
optimum plant growth and flowering. Light, temperature, water, and
humidity are important factors to consider when selecting plants for
your chosen location. Sometimes
an element is missing in the home environment that needs to be
artificially implemented.
TEMPERATURE
For indoor growing, you’ll need a warm room with temperatures ranging
from 60F minimum night to maximum 85F day). Temperature
can be controlled or changed by means of space heaters, additional
insulation or carpeting, and/or fans for air circulation.
Keep in mind that air circulation is important for prevention of
disease; but you don’t want drafts blowing directly on your plants!
LIGHT
The best setup is a location near a window with anywhere from bright
light to full sun. I don't recommend growing directly on a
windowsill...it exposes plants to extremes of temperatures from the
window glass, and it is also possible for plants to get sunburned.
Plants (such as African Violets, begonia, gloxinia) don’t
need strong sun and thrive under fluorescent light fixtures, which can
be set up in an area of the home where natural light is unavailable. Flourescent fixtures should hang within a few inches of the
plant, for the best results. For plants that require more light,
metal halide lamps, and high-pressure sodium bulbs can closely replicate
sunlight, depending on the requirements of the plants you want to grow.
This is a bigger investment, but for those with plant collections, it
works very well.
WATER/HUMIDITY
Water should be given
according to plant type; this information is found when you research
your plant. General
humidity levels should fall between 40-70 percent. Humidity levels in the average home usually drop in the
winter months. A humidifier
will bring up the humidity to a more comfortable range for you and your
plants. Control humidity if necessary with a
humidifier/dehumidifier, as needed.
A gauge that monitors temperature and humidity is a very
helpful tool; you can then make adjustments as necessary.
PLANT SELECTION
Select plants that thrive in the conditions
that exist in your particular growing area.
Catalog descriptions, books, or your local greenhouse can help
you choose appropriate plants for your home environment. Be sure to make your purchases from a reputable nursery or
greenhouse, and always check to make sure your plants are free
from insects. If possible,
always look under the leaves!
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
There are a variety of plants
that will bloom indoors during the winter months. Here is a
list of easy care flowering plants you may want to try: |
For
more information:
Book: Growing
Beautiful Houseplants - Rob Herwig
This is a wonderful book, with color pictures and
descriptions of thousands of houseplants.
Each plant listed includes description, care, propagation, light,
temperature, water, and soil requirements.
It is a great reference book, with an inspiring selection of
indoor plants. |
LIGHT-EARLY
MORNING SUN
Flourescent fixture or supplemental
window lighting
orchids (phalenopsis)
african violets
begonia
gloxinia
jasmines
impatiens
FILTERED-FULL
SUN
sunny window or supplemental metal
halide/sodium lamp
amaryllis
flowering cacti
passion flower
geranium
hibiscus
gardenia
|