An Inside Vegetable Garden

Photo: Flickr

Houseplants and herb gardens are well-known as common plants that are grown indoors.  But they are not the only plants that can be grown indoors.  By using the right containers and having the ability to mimic the ideal growing conditions you can also have an indoor vegetable garden.  The benefits of having one go beyond the beautification of your home or the relaxation you get from gardening, but you can also pick your own vegetables right in your kitchen.

Carrots, tomatoes, and radishes are three of the easiest vegetable to grow indoors.  Each grows differently and will need separate containers but with some research, this is not a problem.  A south-facing window is the best source of natural sunlight for your vegetables to grow in.  If you do not have the right exposure, you can invest in an artificial bulb to provide supplemental light.

As with any container you choose to grow plants in, making sure there is enough drainage is key.  If your plants sit in too much water they are not going to survive.  If the pots you choose do not have holes in the bottom be sure to put a layer of gravel or wood chips to allow the water to run out of the soil.  The flip side of this is not to ensure the water does not run out too quickly either.

When choosing the types of vegetables to plant, follow the same guidelines as you would for outdoors.  On the seed packets, it will give recommendations on when to plant, the amount of light and water that is needed and the spacing requirements.  Tailor your water schedule according to the condition of the soil, make sure it doesn’t get too dry or stay too wet either.

By the end of the summer or early fall, you should be able to harvest the vegetables grown inside your own home.

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Taking Care Your House Plants During Winter

Chlorophytum comosum. Common names: Spider Plant. Hen-and-Chickens. - Photo: Wikimedia

Many people do not know that plants need a special care during the winter. How can you tell that it is time? One touch of your fingers to that window glass will tell you just how cold it is outside. If your houseplant lives in a sunny window, you may want to move it 6" from the window. Any leaves in constant contact with that cold will not do well at all. Your houseplants can be decimated by a cold draft as well. 

Moreover, your indoor air becomes dry in the winter from running your heater. Doesn't your own skin feel a little dry? The answer is not to water more often although you may need to do that also. The real answer is to mist the plant at least once a day. It is important that your houseplant leaves are clean. 

You are better dust the leaves before you start misting those plants. Plants breathe through their leaves and a layer of dust can be suffocating. Plants really should have their leaves dusted at least once a week. Smooth leaves can be dusted with a soft cloth - no furniture polish, please. Fuzzy leaves such as the African violet can be dusted with a small paintbrush. 

Hanging plants like the beautiful Spider do well with a monthly shower to clean their leaves. Make sure you use a gentle spray of water. Philodendron leaves can be cleaned with a solution of milk and water - very light on the milk. It will make the leaves shine. 

If you have space try putting a layer of rock in a pan - an old cake pan or pizza pan - fill the pan with water and set your houseplants on top of the rocks. Instant humidity. If you don't have space for a pan, set out some decorative vases filled with water. You may just find that your own skin is feeling a little less dry. 

It is better to check the light your houseplant is receiving. Days are shorter and you may need to supplement with artificial light if your plants are looking a little sad. 

There should be a resting period for your plants as all plants need it. So you should stop the fertilizer for a couple of months. Trim off any yellowing leaves. 

In summary, in houseplants different from outside plants will mainly get an impact from dirt.

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Household Plants And Pests

Houseplants in a room - Photo: Wikimedia

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 could 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 attacked 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 sprays 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.

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COLEUS, The Most Beautiful Houseplant.

Coleus - Photo: Wikimedia

Many of us have done vegetable gardening at some time in our lives and some have carried this pastime hobby indoors. One plant which can spread beauty throughout one's home or apartment is the Coleus, the most popular, known as Coleus Hybridus (painted nettle). A much more vibrant Coleus plant, simply called "Rainbow Mixed Colors" on the seed package is unbeatable in color variations. Easy to keep alive through even lengthy attendance and very simple propagation techniques, it can bring much joy to the plant enthusiast.

Because of the high level of regeneration of the Coleus plant, you could easily propagate a single nursery bought a plant or one started from seed into several totally new plants. It's simple! Once the plant has blossomed to a beautiful foliage, cuttings can then be taken. Begin cutting near the bottom. Trim each to about 6" in length, then trimming 4 to 6 of the lower leaves. Place cuttings in a jar or glass, about 1/3 filled with simple tap water. Several plant cuttings can be placed in the same jar, but the water level will have to be monitored more closely. The Coleus gets pretty thirsty and could drain your plant's water supply in a very short time. Store in a low-level lighted area for several days, or until roots are produced at the base of the cuttings. Wait until new roots have produced at least half a dozen and the longest have reached about 1". Now they are ready to be transposed into a more permanent growing media.

At this juncture, one must be a little more selective, at least in choosing the type of growing media in which our new botanical jewels will spend their maturing lives. First, one can easily find soil that will grow our new cuttings and keep them in their healthiest state throughout their adult lives and produce the brightest of color variations in their ever-changing leaf patterns. The soil should contain the greatest amount of organic material as possible along with self-contained nutrients within the organic growing material. We should select a growing pot which would accommodate a progressive growing stage, so we could probably begin with a 4" wide pot since this is usually the size that would hold our cuttings which are by now well rooted. Each individual plant should have ample room to remain in this size pot for about 2 months. When the Coleus has outgrown its original pot, it's time to move it to the 8" pot size. This should last for the rest of its natural life...but now the process can be started all over again and you will have a house full of the beautiful Coleus plant.

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