Indoor plants or houseplants are grown or put inside the premises of a house, office or any other enclosed building which is not a natural environment for keeping plants. Indoor plants are known to be great air purifiers, and they help maintain a positive outlook. Less maintenance and low wastage are what makes these plants suitable for such an environment. Most indoor plants require less sunlight and can thrive with minimum water which makes them a popular choice yet they need to strategically placed near a window or an opening which lets the sunlight come in and watered in such a way that neither do they die of thirst or of rotting. Different houseplants have different requirements. Generally, plants from a tropical setting thrive well in indoor environments which include plants like spruce, dumb cane, bird of paradise and kentia palm.
If you are a beginner, you can start with the tropical type and slowly proceed to make an indoor garden with varied species of plants. Beginners will also need to decide if they want to start gardening, germinating seeds and planting the saplings themselves or they can get a full-grown indoor plant from a store and care for it. The best way to start is to get some plants from a store and plant some yourself; that way you’ll be engaged in the gardening process and will not be pressurised by the maintenance time which an active indoor garden takes. It is essential to set your priorities first. Having plants at home is like having pets at home, they need regular care, love and most importantly, food. If you are one of those who travels most of the time, then an indoor garden might not be such a great idea. A garden needs supervision and safety from insects, pests and pets, it asks for commitment. So if you are ready to devote time and have a green ecosystem in your house, here is a tried and tested method of getting a beautiful indoor garden.
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO
If you don’t have any experience with plants and want to create an indoor garden, you must begin with research. You should know which plants will be best suited for the place you live in, what’s the climate like, does it stay too hot or too cold, does it rain a lot or is it a dry atmosphere, you need to select the plants depending on these factors. If plants are in their natural habitat, they will grow well with minimum interference. Read about each plant that you will be getting and allot spots to them depending upon the requirement. Some might need more sunlight so place them in the balcony or near the window, some might need the best led grow lights, some will be delicate so hang them on walls, away from pets, while some plants will require more water, place them in a place which has a functional drainage area. You will need to plan everything so that your struggles can be minimised. To make a bond between the plants and yourself, you can name them like pets and water them on time. Make sure that your house is well ventilated, just like you, your plants breathe too, and an airtight house will become a barrier in the whole process.
MAINTAINING GROWTH
Unless you want your house to become like a scene from Jumanji, always mark your calendar for pruning, trimming and grooming of the plants. To achieve a symmetrical and aesthetic growth, the plants will need to be cut once a week, or they will grow in whichever direction they feel like. You will also need to keep in mind that as these plants grow, they will need to be shifted into bigger pots and will require more nutrition. Use a mild fertiliser and mix it with the soil before potting your plant and read up on how much fertiliser is enough as different plants have different requirements. It is advisable to use terracotta pots, but you can opt for plastic tubs or whip up your DIY pot, that way you will feel more engaged with the activity of gardening. It is vital to change the soil in a few months and keep checking for pests and insects which might infect your little forest.