Growing Potted Plants
You will need to know the proper soil, lighting and temperature for the plant you want to grow, as well as devote time and commitment to the project, in order to enjoy the hobby of growing plants indoors. In addition, there are several methods for growing plants in pots.
Inspect the area in which you plan to grow your plants before you do anything else. The potted plant must be placed in an area where it will receive natural light several hours a day. You can also use artificial lighting if you have the budget for it. Special indoor lamps and lights that you can use to replace natural sunlight are on the market. Ensure that your home’s temperature is ideal for the plant, since this is the easiest factor to control.
Match your potted plant with an appropriate container. If a plant is large or will grow large, your container should be able to accommodate it. Putting a big plant in a small pot can result in the plant not being able to breathe properly or the roots’ growth being stunted. Similarly, using a large pot for a small plant will look odd — although the plant may eventually grow to fit the pot. Instead, you should start your plant in a small pot, transplanting it to a larger one when it outgrows the smaller size. Various styles and sizes of pots are also available. The diameter of the container should ideally be half the plant’s height. Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot so the roots will not drown.
The next step is to look for the proper soil or growing medium. Because it is unable to drain properly, garden soil is typically unsuitable. It might also contain insects or fungi that can be harmful to your plant. To retain moisture and aerate the roots, choose a packaged potting soil.
Several factors can affect when the plant should be watered. These factors include wind, rain, sun, heat and the plant type.
You should regularly water most plant, although not to the point of drowning. That said, desert plants like aloe vera and others tend to do better when they’re allowed to dry out rather than being flooded with large amounts of water. This makes some desert varieties ideal for people who have a hard time remembering to water their plants regularly. The amount of water any plant needs can vary each day.
Plants grown in pots dry up more quickly than those that grow in the ground. You can determine if the plant needs to be watered by sticking your finger into the soil. If it is dry, then it needs to be watered.
Potted plants generally require fertilizers every two weeks. When you water a plant, it flushes the nutrients from the growing medium. If you have children or pets in the house, are growing edible plants, or are growing plants for personal care or medicinal purposes, your best bet is to use organic fertilizers.
As a note, some plants are poisonous to animals or humans. Before you bring a plant into your home, thoroughly research it if you have children or pets in your home. (See Pets and Plant Poisoning for more information on this.)
When you grow a plant in or around your home, you should do what you can to protect it from destructive pests. Insects can enter your home and destroy your plant even if you house it indoors. Use one of the organic pesticides on the market to combat this problem.
Growing potted plants can be worthwhile and rewarding whether you grow them in a window box, on a balcony or patio, or in an outdoor garden. Whether for decoration or fragrance, as edible fruits and vegetables, or for teas and natural remedies, potted plants have endless uses.
As is the case with any gardening project, growing indoor plants does require a bit of study and application of standard practices and proper growing techniques, but this will become easier with practice, and will be well worth the trouble.
About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live greener and more environmentally friendly lives. Find out more about sustainable living at her blog on Green and Resourceful Living.
This article was originally posted at Grow Plants in Pots Easily.
