If, like me, your quarantine hobby of plant care has extended to your life four years after the world shut down, you probably have many plants around you. Despite the surge in popularity of indoor gardening amongst homeowners and renters alike, keeping plants around is a practice that has been going on for centuries.
Whether on your seventh pothos vine or trying to cut costs by growing your vegetables, you must know about proper indoor gardening.
The definition of indoor gardening covers a wide variety of practices. At its core it is what it sounds like: growing plants indoors. However, how those plants are taken care of varies from type to type.
Here is a list of tools that would be helpful for any plant owner to have: plant food, general potting soil, watering can, gardening shovel and tiller, and pots with drainage.
There are two main categories of house plants: foliage and consumables. Foliage plants are typically used to add some green to spaces in your home that have ample sunlight. Their main purpose is for decor and includes plants like monsteras, cacti, snake plants, and ferns.
Consumables are plants grown to provide nutrients like basil, cilantro, bell peppers and rosemary. Most herbs are kept on kitchen windowsills to achieve the amount of light needed. It is important to note that you should always repot plants.
You do not have to repot plants immediately when you get home but keep an eye on your new friend. If the plant’s roots are growing out through the bottom, the plant needs to be put in a bigger pot.
This rule especially goes for herbs. Many plants sold at grocery stores and plant nurseries are kept in pots that are too small for the plant which can lead to cutting off oxygen to the plant through its roots.
It is important to isolate your new plant from others that exist in your home. House plant quarantining helps keep your existing plants safe from any pests or mites that may be on the new addition.
Find a place in your home that provides the appropriate amount of light, while still distancing it from the others.
Many houseplants also come with what is called a “plug.” Plugs provide correct growing conditions for the plant in its seedling stage and encourage healthy root growth. However, plants owners often do not realize that these plugs are on their plants. As the plant grows so do the roots, and if the plugs are not removed this can lead to the plant dying.
Once you have repotted your plant, make sure to water it thoroughly, being careful not to get the leaves wet. All plants, cacti included, need to be thoroughly watered.
The best way to ensure this is by bottom watering. This is done by filling a shallow dish with water and placing your plant inside the dish. Leave the plant for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will encourage the plant’s roots to grow deeper and stronger.
Leave a Reply