Indoor gardens are not a new concept by any standard because people have managed to grow their edible crops inside the premises of their houses for centuries. Humans have managed to grow basically everything inside their houses. With this article, you will be able to learn the concept of indoor gardening together with tips to use for successfully building your own indoor garden within your own house or apartments in Calicut.
Indoor Garden in Apartments
Whether you are a house owner or an apartment dweller, you can have your own indoor garden. Growing plants indoors is a little different from growing them outdoors. You will need to be more attentive to the conditions of your plants.
The advantages of having an indoor nursery are many. It makes you feel healthier, increases the oxygen levels in your home, beautifies your home, and prevents dust from accumulating on furniture and floors. Some common plants that are grown in the house are spider plants, some varieties of cactus, bamboo plants, ferns, orchids, etc.
Indoor gardening is a great way to grow your own vegetables and herbs with minimal effort. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, you can always find a corner to set up a decent garden. And you don’t have to be a gardening expert to do it. Here are some tips from experts that will help you get started.
The first rule is to make sure the area you want to use for indoor gardening gets plenty of sunlight. Most plants need somewhere around six hours of direct daylight consistently. So make sure the place where you intend to set up your garden gets plenty of light. It is also essential that there is adequate ventilation in the room as well as proper drainage.
If you have decided on the spot, then now is the time to start preparing the soil by adding organic composts. Perlite and vermiculite can be included as these are known to improve drainage and provide good aeration for the roots of the plants.
As far as selecting a location for your indoor garden, experts recommend choosing a spot that gets plenty of natural light so that growing your own vegetables and herbs will be easier. It would also help if there is a place nearby where excess water can drain off so that the soil does not become waterlogged over time
Selecting the Right Pots
The size and shape of the pot is important to factor to consider when you look for plants that you want to grow indoor. These plants require a certain size of the pot in order to grow healthy. They can’t be grown in pots that are too small or too big.
The potting soil should be able to retain moisture and should also allow for proper drainage of excess water. The soil should not get overly wet so that it will be difficult for the roots to breathe, and yet it should not dry out completely so that all nutrients are taken away from the plant.
For beginner gardeners, it is advisable to start with a small plant in a small-sized pot. A good example would be a dwarf papaya plant in a 2-4 inch pot. This way, if you take proper care, the plant will grow healthy and strong. It will eventually grow into a fruit-bearing tree that can provide enough fruits for your own consumption or for selling purposes.
Proper Light is Necessary
The most important element for a successful indoor garden is light. The right kind of light will help you grow all kinds of plants, from flowers to fruits and vegetables.
How much light is needed? You should have a minimum of five hours a day, but the more the better. To make sure that your plants get enough light, place them near a window with good exposure. Alternatively, you may use grow lights. These lights are designed to provide high-intensity lighting for plants indoors.
You can purchase grow lights from your local gardening store or online. The price will vary depending on the type of bulb used in the lighting system. Also, keep in mind that cheaper lighting systems are not always better.
If you are on a limited budget, it is advisable that you purchase an inexpensive lighting system that uses fluorescent bulbs rather than incandescent bulbs. When choosing a grow light, be sure to check its wattage output and the size of the area where it will be used. A good rule of thumb is to use one watt of fluorescent for every square foot of growing space.
Good Air Circulation
If you have decided to grow the plants indoors, the first thing that you need to take care of is adequate air circulation in your room. You must provide the plants with fresh air or else they may die. Therefore, this is one of the most important parts in growing indoor plants. It may seem like a difficult thing to do but actually, it can be quite simpler than it sounds.
The best place for adequate air circulation is near the window where there is an open space. If there is no open space near your window, you can make use of a desk or table where you can put your plants and allow enough space for them to breathe. The only time when you will need to worry about adequate air circulation is when you are trying to grow your plants in an indoor environment that does not have sufficient ventilation. Also, you will need to check if the temperature that your plants are encountering is good enough for their growth or not.
Don’t shift the Place Frequently
The frequency of shifting the plants in the indoor gardens for apartments is not desirable. Plants can be shifted in two different ways, namely, manually and mechanically.
Through manual shifting, you can transport the potted indoor plants to places by your own hands. You might find this option to be time-consuming when shifting a large number of potted indoor gardening plants in the indoor garden setup.
Through mechanical shifting, you can utilize a lifter to shift the potted indoor gardening plants in the indoor gardening setup. However, it is not easy to set up the mechanical lifter properly to shift all the potted indoor gardening plants in one go.
Maintain a Perfect Moisturizer Level
If you want to have a successful indoor garden, you have to have a perfect moisturizer level. The first thing you need to do is understand how plants can wither from being under-watered as well as over-watered.
So then, how do you know if your plants are getting enough water? You should keep an eye on the soil, not the plant. The plant will tell you what it needs if you learn how to read its signals.
In general, if your plants are wilting or drooping, they need more water. If your plants are shiny and perky, they don’t need water.
The best way to improve your plants’ health is by improving their drainage and their moisture levels. When using a potting mix for indoor plants, use one that has excellent drainage properties and is well-draining. This kind of potting mix will help reduce root rot and other problems that occur from poor drainage.
Conclusion
With this information, you should be able to start your own indoor garden. The most important thing to do is to start small and build up from there. If you can’t afford a lot of supplies, start with one plant and work up from there.
It is important to know that you will need to put some elbow grease into your indoor garden. You will not be able to just put your plants in the ground and walk away; you will have to at least water them regularly and check for mold or other issues. It may seem like a lot of work now, but once you see all the positive results you will be glad that you took the time and effort to grow your own plants.
