Having plants at home is one of the most enjoyable ways to add life and color to your living space. Be it in the form of houseplants, kitchen garden or indoor vegetable garden, having some form of greenery at home sets the pace for a peaceful and relaxed experience, with a part of nature, right within the comforts of your home.
While all of that is true, maintaining indoor plants also requires its fair share of effort. A flourishing home garden requires commitment and toil from planting the right seeds, using the suitable soil, to watering the plants regularly, and caring for them. But the happiness it brings far outweighs the difficulties that go into bringing up your own indoor plants. So, if you have made the decision of having indoor plants or a kitchen garden, here are some tips that may help you.
Tips for Maintaining Houseplants
1. Plan for Your Houseplants
While the excitement to go and buy different kinds of plants from the nursery is completely understandable, it is crucial to the first plan for your houseplants. Take a good look around your home or working space, and figure out where exactly you want a particular plant to go. Assess the area for the amount of sunlight, moisture, and space it provides. This way, when you go into the nursery, you can get plants whose requirements fit your space.
2. Pick and Choose Carefully
While you’re at the nursery, picking out plants for your indoor garden, make sure to check for any bugs or insects that might potentially infect the plant. Make sure you check the plant’s roots by gently removing them from the pot so that you can buy a larger container if the roots tend to grow larger over time. Make sure to ask the assistants at the nursery for advice and help if you are setting up an indoor garden for the very first time.
3. Make Space for Drainage
Whatever plant pots you choose to plant your houseplants in, make sure that it has adequate space for drainage. Water percolating at the bottom of the flower pots can cause the roots to rot, which means the plant could die. So it is vital to ensure that your vessel has holes at its bottommost part so that the excess water can drain out from them.
4. Repotting
Now that you have bought the plants and prepared the pots, the next step is to take them out of their nursery containers and transfer them to your pots. The best way to do this is to take a little bit of moist soil and layer the flower pot with it. Then, gently remove the plant from its container and place it in your container. Wet the soil with a little bit of water, and you should be good to go.
5. Watering the Right Way
Overwatering or underwatering can both cause your plants to wither away. Every plant has a specific water requirement that can be found out from the nursery you bought them at. However, there are a few general rules that you need to understand to follow it. The first is to make sure that the soil has gotten dry before you water it again. Checking with your fingers a few centimeters into the soil can be a good idea. Plants require different quantities of water depending upon the season. Also, make sure to observe your plants and drain out any excess water that might collect in the pots.
6. Grooming Your Plants
Insects and bugs thrive on rotting leaves. So, make sure that you take away any fallen leaves from your pots. If you notice leaves that are visibly dying, make sure to prune them so that they don’t steal essential nutrients from the other leaves.
7. Insects and Bugs
Take the time to inspect your plants for insects and bugs from time to time. You could deal with them by using anti-bug solutions available at nurseries, or you could also use a soap and water solution to wipe the plants clean. Make sure to consult your local nursery guide before experimenting with a plant that has already faced an infestation.
8. Be Consistent, but Don’t Worry
Caring for plants is an enduring commitment. And while it can bring immense joy, sometimes, some plants just die out. So, if you try something new with your plants and it doesn’t work, don’t worry, you can always try next time. Make certain to ask for help when you need it, and if you’re just starting out, try to bring in plants that do not require as much maintenance so that you can learn at your own pace.
Some ideas for an Indoor Vegetable Garden
When cultivating an indoor vegetable garden, it is essential to study the circumstances and the kind of vegetables that can be grown inside. It is a good idea to consult someone who has been growing a vegetable garden for quite some time or look up information online. If need be, reassure to consult a professional before you start growing your own vegetable garden.
It is also necessary to pick and choose vegetables according to your liking and choices. Plants like herbs, scallions, celery, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, lemons, radishes etc., tend to grow pretty well in indoor spaces. Depending upon the frequency of use, and the area available, you can choose the number of seeds to use for your garden. An easier option would be to purchase pre-planted plants from the nursery, making your job simpler. Whatever you choose to grow, make sure you ask for guidance and make informed choices along the way.
Conclusion
Growing a garden can be a mix of stressful and happy emotions. If you make the decision to have an indoor vegetable garden, know that help is always available, and you can keep trying until you have the perfect green zone at home or work! While it can be complicated and overwhelming initially, a garden can bring a lot of joy and peace into your living or working space.
Also Read: Indoor plants are easy to grow and purify the air inside your home, so that you breathe fresher, purer air every day.
