Plants That Should Be Left Outside

When you are an indoor gardener the same rules apply to your plants as they do to any
other type of gardener. Your plants will need water, food, and plenty of light as does the
ones grown outside or in a green house. Of course there are special considerations such
as temperature and humidity control but they can be overcome with relatively minor
adjustments. With that being said, there are some plants that are best left to the outdoor
gardener.

The type of plant that wont do well indoors is really dependant on the climate you live
in. If you live in a warm area and have the air conditioning or fans on during the day a
plant that is used to higher temperature will not do well inside your home and should be
left outside. The same goes for the opposite, if your house is overheated a plant will most
likely dry out from lack of moisture in the air.

Other plants that are best left outdoors are perennials and bulb plants that need the
seasonal rains and temperatures outside to grow again. You could bring some tulips or
daffodils inside in a pot but they will do much better outside.

Most trees are best left outside too; by trying to grow certain trees inside you will only
have a smaller less sturdy version than its outside mates. If you do decide to grow a tree
indoors plan ahead for a transplant that may have to occur. You do not want to wait until
the tree becomes too heavy to move. When a larger plant is repotted or planted
elsewhere it will usually go into shock meaning it will not grow for at least one season
(it may be more depending on the size and age of the plant).

Part-Time Indoor Gardening

There are part-time indoor gardeners; these are the ones that live in an area with cold
winters too cold for their outdoor plants to survive in. By transplanting or bringing the
plants indoors, they can survive the colder months and add greenery inside the home.
There are some considerations and preparations that should be made before you decide to
become a part-time indoor gardener.

The most important point to think about before bringing a plant indoors is whether or not
it will survive being an inside plant. If the plant has high or very high light requirements
and your house does not get a lot of light in the winter time it may not be a good
solution. As a back-up you can invest in an artificial light source to supplement the
natural light the plant will get.

How will you get the plant indoors? If the plant is already in a pot that will fit inside it is
easy enough to move it indoors. But if the plant is in the ground you need to find a pot
large enough to contain the root system and one that will not be too difficult to move.
Keeping in mind that when a large plant is transplanted (re-potted or put in a pot for the
first time) it may go into shock. Although with careful attention, you can nurse your
plant through this.

Most likely you have been taking care of your plants outdoors and they do not have any
pests or bugs on them. But it smart to double-check. By bringing an infested plant
indoors you are putting all of your other indoor plants at risk of becoming infected too.
Either forego bringing the plant inside or treat the pest problem before the cold weather
arrives. You may enjoy having your plant inside all winter that you decide to keep it
there come springtime.

Natural Way to Deal with Pests on Indoor Plants

It is inevitable that insects or another infestation will make its way to your plants at one
point or another. If you are dealing with pests in your indoor garden you may want to
find a natural way to eliminate them especially if you have young children or pets in your
home. There are ways to do this and most of them require ingredients that you can get at
the grocery store.

When you find insects or another disease that is making your plant sick. Isolate the plant
immediately to prevent the problem spreading to the other plants inside your house.
Depending on the type of problem the solution will be different.

If your plants are being eaten by spider mites, you can eliminate the problem by making a
solution of buttermilk and water. Put the solution into a spray bottle, put the plant in the
bathtub and give a thorough once over. A mix of 50-50 is recommended, if this is too
thick to use with the spray bottle, add more water for a thinner consistency.

You may be able to control aphids with a thorough washing of the plant leaves with
water. Another recommendation is to kill a couple of the aphids and leave them in the
bottom of the pot. They then emit an odor that lets the other aphids know that danger is
near and they abandon the plant. If this method is used, do it outside so they can find
another home that is not inside yours.

The natural and organic methods available for the wide variety of problems your plant
can encounter are too numerous to list. These are the two most common pests, but with
some research there is a natural solution to many more different insects or diseases that
can affect a plants health.

Keeping Pets our of your Plants

Cats and dogs love dirt, they dig in it, play in it and if a cats litter box isnt clean they
may find a back-up location in your potted plants. Some pets will leave the dirt alone but
are irresistibly drawn to the leaves, either to nibble on or bat at. There is no fail-safe
plant but there are some tips and tricks you can follow to make your pets leave the plants
alone.

The biggest problem and the most damaging to an indoor plant is a cat deciding to use the
dirt as a litter box. Once a cat has done this once, the odor is there and it is going to be
hard to stop them from going back. To prevent this from happening in the first place,
cover the dirt in larger pots with lava rock or wood chips. A cat will not like the feel of
either of these materials on their paws and will not feel comfortable using the pot as a
bathroom.

Dogs are easier to train and keep away from plants but it is harder for other animals.
Especially for cats – a deterrent may be necessary to keep them away. You can use a
spray bottle of water to stop them from chewing on plant leaves or digging in the dirt.
Since cats dont like anything from the citrus family you can put fresh citrus rinds at the
base of the plant too their sensitive noses will stop them from getting too close.

Keep your soil nice and moist, not only is this good for the plant, cats will not enjoy
digging in wet dirt. Some trial and error may be called for until you find the right
solution that works for your pets. If all else fails, buy hanging plants instead or put the
plants in an inaccessible location.

Indoor Garden Tips For Beginners!

Hey there, new gardeners! This ones for all you kitchen garden enthusiasts that want to sow different varieties of indoor plants, both edible and the simply decorative ones too, whod like to know simple, practical and home-grown wisdom regarding a garden thats easy to maintain and provides for both body and soul nourishment.

While some people have all the luck and also large spaces to maintain kitchen gardens, others like those living in apartments, small spaces or those bereft of a backyard can still indulge in gardening as a hobby with making the best of growing potted vegetables, herbs, floral plants and indoor greens.

A good choice of flowering plants that do well even in limited areas of growth, like planter boxes and pots that have been prepped with potting soil are nasturtiums of the compact kinds such as Whirlybird and Copper Sunset.

Marigolds, Iceland poppies and smaller varieties of sunflowers are other options that are sure to happy up your indoor garden area. These are short, easy to care for and not likely to take over your walls like trailing plant varieties are prone to doing!

If choosing herbs for your indoor garden, even small tin-pot containers work well as long as you ensure the necessary sunlight (minimum 4 hours) and water nourishment is given them regularly; check a local nursery for pre-prepared soil-mixes as these contain the right balance of grub for indoor garden glories.

Do check for proper drainage (at the base) for your plant containers or punch holes if these are missing, so the excess moisture escapes and your plants get the necessary warmth too.

If planting herb seeds, try out an old home-gardeners trick of pre-soaking them a couple of hours before planting in pots filled with potting soil; cover with a quarter inch more of soil after randomly scattering the seeds over the base soil and rosemary and thyme are sure to see you through the season with welcome aroma!

Hydroponics and Indoor Gardening

If you have heard of hydroponics or other methods of growing plants without soil and
want to try it out at home, you can. Hydroponics is easy to care for and set-up at home.
There are materials you can buy or some you may be able to find around the house.

The dirt or soil that you use to grow plants in a traditional method is substituted for a
growing medium (full of nutrients the plant needs to grow) in hydroponics gardening.
The growing medium is fed directly to the roots by method of a drip-feeder. The system
can be automated and the gardener can control how many drips the roots receive in a
specified time frame. The more of the growing medium the faster the plants grow.

Since the system can be automated, the amount of time and energy that is required to
maintain a hydroponics garden is less than with a traditional garden. As long as enough
water is present and growing medium the plants can be left unattended for a longer period
of time.

A home-based hydroponics garden can grow vegetables year round. The concern about
pests and the composition of the soil are not an issue with this type of gardening.
Another bonus with this type of gardening is how fast you can have mature vegetables
indoors (by increasing the amount of growing medium).

The types of plants that are best for hydroponics are ones with thin spider-like roots.
Plants that have a bulb root system are still best grown in the traditional soil method
inside a pot or outside. When you are ready to begin, germinate the seeds for your plants
like you normally would. When the seed has started to sprout and has approximately 2-5
millimeters of growth it is ready to transplant to the hydroponics container and begin
growing.

Humidity: The Destroyer Of Household Plants

Though humidity is rarely found in the house, it is always good to keep an eye out for a plant that is being affected by humidity. If you notice rot, mildew or mold, it is time to get some ventilation in the area or else lose your precious indoor plants.

Contrary to high humidity low humidity could also adversely affect the plants by sapping them of their water content faster than they can replenish it.

Some of the signs of low humidity are brown leaves, wilting, buds dropping, and low humidity which is especially prevalent during the winter months, especially if it is too cold and you use heaters in the house.

If you follow the few ways to regulate the humidity at proper levels you will have a beautiful and healthy indoor collection of plants.

” Do not keep to a schedule to water plants. Check the soil in the pot before adding water. Water when you feel it is necessary not because it is time to water the plants.

” Use a mixture of soil and fertilizer that will hold water for longer periods. A sandy mixture will allow water to drain out easily.

” For low humidity, install an electric humidifier to raise the humidity level and a dehumidifier if the humidity level is too high.

” Keep plants in a place that is free from a draft. Such a location is bound to dry the plant.

” If you have many small pots of plants or flowers, make a large tray and fill it with marbles or pebbles. This will keep the pot above the water and the evaporating water will rise and wet the plants.

In the end, you will notice by regulating humidity levels you will have healthier plants.

Household Plants And Pests

Household plants are used to add beauty to the indoor environment. The term household plants does not mean that the plants have to be in a home, they cold be used to decorate a hotel, lobby or an office as well. A lot of care needs to be taken of these plants and prevent pests from infecting the plants.

Plants are usually infected with pests when they are put outdoors for sunlight or they may come infected with mites, insects or their eggs.

Many pests are easy to get rid of with non-chemical means, however, if you are having a problem with your household plants being attached by pests you could get an insecticide spray that is quite easy to use and rids the plant of the pests in a couple of days.

It is always better to prevent infection rather than let it happen and then look for a cure. It is always better to inspect plants before you purchase them.

Even after you examine the plants it is possible for you to get a plant with a disease or pest infestation. So when you get a plant to the house or office, keep it isolated for a couple of weeks to observe any infection. This will prevent the pest from infecting the other plants as well.

To prevent pests from infecting your plants it is best to insect them periodically and spray the plants with fresh clean water regularly. Never use a feather duster to clean the plants; this is a sure way of transferring insects to the plant.

Spray your plants at least once every two months.

Growing Cacti in an Indoor Garden

The homeowner who wants to start a home garden that is light on the maintenance
needed may decide to buy cacti. This is a good plan because they need less water than
most plants and are quite hardy. Although there are still care instructions that need to be
followed to increase the life and longevity of a cactus.

Cactus plants are used to the heat and being dry, for this reason putting them in a
windowsill with full sunlight is optimal. Depending on the cactus and the amount of heat
it is getting you may not have to water it for weeks at a time (once a month is the
recommended watering schedule). Cacti like coarse soil, it is recommended to use a soil
that is meant specifically for a cactus instead of a generic mix. When a fertilizer is
needed you should also purchase a fertilizer that is just for cacti.

When watering a cactus, you want to be careful not to over water it. A good tip to
prevent this from happening is to place the cactus pot in a shallow dish full of water. The
plant will soak up all of the water it needs through the drainage hole in a period of 1-2
hours. Complete this task and dont worry about it again for another month unless the
plant is starting to get a shriveled look.

When handling your cactus, be careful they can hurt. If the pot is not large enough to
hold onto without your hands getting to close to the prickly part of the pant use a folded
newspaper and place it around the plant. This will protect both your hands and the plant
when moving it. If you do get a piece of a cactus in your finger, remove gently with a
pair of tweezers or a piece of strong tape.

Giving your Indoor Plants Enough Light

The three things that all plants need to survive are food, water, and dirt. The food for
plants is created when enough light is provided. The water and dirt part of the equation
are pretty straight forward as long as you follow the recommended care instructions and
dont forget to water your plants. But how do you ensure that your indoor plants are
getting enough light? Finding the right location in your home may require some trial and
error before you find the perfect spot.

Before deciding on what type of plants you will have in your house, look into the light
requirements. The four categories that describe the different light requirement for plants
are low, medium, high, and very high. If you have a sunroom or skylights in your home
and can position your plants in or under them you can purchase plants that need high or
very high light exposure. Be aware that some plants can get too much sun, in which case
the light that comes in from a regular window should suffice.

There are options you can utilize if you want a certain type of plant and know that your
house is not going to provide it enough light. You can purchase specially designed grow
bulbs to supplement the amount of light the plant is getting. Be aware of the light
requirements for your plants when choosing this lighting method. Although plants
require a lot of light to grow there is such a thing as too much light too. The exact ratio
for your plant may differ but a good guideline to follow is 14 hours of sunlight to 10
hours of darkness.

Your plants will let you know if they are getting too much or not enough light (either
they will begin to look dry or will become limp). Try different locations in your home to
find the best place for them.

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