Indoor plants have different lighting, water, and air requirements than growing outdoors. Following these fundamental indoor gardening advice will help you have happier and healthier plants as well as high-yields if growing vegetables, such as tomatoes, indoors.
Indoor plants are not directly exposed to the elements such as sunlight and wind. Therefore, they lose water from their soil and leaves slower than outdoor plants.
Watering too frequently will choke air spaces in the soil where the plants have been planted and can lead to disease and root rot. Water indoor plants lightly once or twice a week. Make sure the soil is on the dry side before watering.
Specific watering needs will vary between plants as well. An African Violet, Orchid, or Succulent prefer to be on the drier side and are sensitive to root rot. Whereas a Bamboo must always have wet roots.
Take time to research the specific water needs for each type of house plant you have. Aside from plants emerged in water, such as Bamboo, err on the side of caution by letting your plant’s soil be dry to the touch before watering.
If you are looking for an efficient way to provide a steady water supply for your plants, use ice cubes. Add two or three on the pot and leave them to melt.
Alternatively, look into self-watering pots and planters. Our favorite self-watering pot brand is Aquaphoric which are cost-friendly, come in varying sizes from 3.5″ to 11″, and many adorable colors to choose from. You can buy their products directly on Amazon.
Find the best spot to position your indoor plants. For tropical plants, place them in front of a window that faces east or west. For sun lovers, position them in front of a window that faces south or southeast.
Be aware if your plant prefers indirect light such as Bamboo and place them in a bright room away from the window. Some other plants that prefer in-direct light include African Violet, Orchids, and Aloe Vera.
Also, never place your plant near air-conditioning outlets or ducted heat. This will dry your plants out very quickly, requiring more frequent watering, and stress plants that prefer humidity.
If your plants are on a plant stand, make sure to place this away from air vents even if the plants are elevated off the floor.
A crucial piece of indoor gardening advice is to apply small amounts of fertilizer to keep your plants nourished. This may be done every 2-4 weeks.
Reduce fertilizing to every 4-8 weeks during cold winter months when plant growth slows down.
Make sure you have the right fertilizer for your plant as some plants like African Violets and Orchids will need different fertilizer than tropical plants or vegetables.
Pro-Mix and Schultz are our favorite brand for plant food. Schultz makes a great African Violet fertilizer that you can buy at your local garden store or purchase on Amazon.
If you want to grow herbs and vegetables, whether in your house or a greenhouse, then make sure you follow the above advice from your house plants with your herbs and vegetables as well.
Growing herbs and vegetables indoors is actually very straight forward. The key is lighting and you will likely need to supplement your plant’s lighting. This is also great to do for some houseplants like succulents as well.
We use Sunblaster LED Grow Lights for our indoor gardens. They have aluminum wings to reflect the light down onto your plants, are full spectrum, and come in varying sizes that can be linked together. Sunblaster’s lights are also compatible with timers which is a must. Set your timers for 8-12 hours
Whichever grow light you choose, make sure they are full spectrum as your plants will need both blue light for growth and red light for blooms.
Also, LED may cost more up front, but they are worth it in the long run as they use less electricity and produce minimal heat.
