Thursday, September 19, 2013

Indoor Gardening Is Going Vertical

By Doris Senters


There are a lot of ways people can arrange vertical gardens outside, but what about inside? Indoor plants give weekend gardeners a way to continue their hobby all year long, plus plant arrangements make unique presents throughout the holidays.



There are plenty of options when making indoor vertical gardens, however, you should beware about the types of plants you choose and the container you use. There are no set guidelines when it comes to plants or vertical garden containers, but following these three tips from skilled gardeners can help make your indoor project easier and less discouraging.

1. Use the Right Kind of Plant

First of all, use varieties that like growing indoors. This typically means tropical plants or succulents. You can likewise plant some herbs too, but it is a good idea to keep your planter near a window or bright area.

2. Select an Area the Plant Will Like

Second, place is important as well. Indoor plants usually are healthier in a location where they receive more natural sunshine than not. If you don't have space near a window or skylight, think about positioning a mirror to reflect light to your location of choice. This can sometimes work.

Also consider where heater vents are located in the house. Plants can dry out fast, and tropical plants especially prefer a more humid climate. Situate your vertical garden away from heater vents if you can.

3. Set Up a Simple Drainage System

Third, plan your drainage system before setting up your garden. You don't want water dripping out of the base of your container onto the floor or down a wall.

Succulents don't require a great deal of water, so they can make a great, hassle-free indoor vertical planter. Other plants, like tropicals, will require regular watering and proper drainage. There is actually an easy solution for this.

There are kits designed for planting indoors that include a drainage binand a watering system that re-circulates the water. This means that your indoor garden can get watered automatically, and about one time a week, you can look and refill the basin with additional water. This can be a simple way to fertilize plants too.

After reviewing these suggestions, you might think that you're really limited. Nevertheless, incorporating a few creative strategies opens up a lot more options.

Use Fake Plants

I know, this alternative may not be ideal for all gardeners, but it gives you the choice to put your container in a room without windows, next to a heater vent and you never need to worry about watering it or installing a drainage system. You can also add silk flowers that let your arrangement remain in full color throughout the year.

Using silk plants also allows you to abandon the dirt and water and use floral foam instead, making your planter much lighter in weight. You may even consider designing a larger garden.

Use Traditional Planters in an Untraditional Way

Use an assortment of regular flower pots connected to a wall or placed on shelves. This concept is similar to how ceramic pots are attached in rows or a pattern on a fence or outdoor wall.

Obviously, you need to design a drainage system, and a quick is to utilize pots that do not have a drainage hole at the base. Beware not to water too much and you ought to be ok.

Using plants that hang, like philodendrons or spider plants can work quite well in this design, since they can eventually cover the entire container, giving the appearance of growing out of the wall.

Whichever way you choose to make your indoor vertical garden, this can be a fun winter activity and an imaginative gift-giving idea for the holidays.




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