Gardening Tips Pro » indoor garden

Hydroponics to grow an Indoor Herb Garden

Gardening Tips — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:27:12 +0000

If you've heard of hydroponics or other techniques of growing plants without soil and want to try it out at home, your are able to. Hydroponics are a superb technique for developing an indoor herb garden. Hydroponic gardens are easy to care for and set-up at home. There are materials you can purchase or some you could be capable of finding around the house.

The mud or soil that you use to grow plants in a standard system is substituted for a growing medium (full of nutriments the plant needs to grow) in hydroponics gardening. The growing medium is fed to the roots by method of a drip-feeder. The system can be automated and the gardener can control how many drips the roots receive in a stipulated timeframe. The more of the growing medium the speedier the plants grow.

Since the system can be automated, the quantity of time and energy that is needed to maintain a hydroponics garden is less than with a traditional garden. So long as enough water is present and growing medium the plants can get left unwatched for a longer period.

A home-based hydroponics garden can grow vegetables year round. The concern about pests and the composition of the soil aren't a problem with this sort of gardening. Another bonus with this type of gardening is how quick you may have mature plants inside (by inflating the amount of growing medium).

The types of plants that are the best for hydroponics are ones with thin spider-like roots. Plants with a bulb root system are still best grown in the standard soil technique within a pot or outside. When you're ready to begin, sprout the seeds for your plants like you routinely would. When the seed has now begun to sprout and has roughly 2-5 millimeters of expansion it is ready to transplant to the hydroponics container and begin growing.

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden . Take a look at the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden .

Watering and Feeding your Indoor Herb Garden Plants

Gardening Tips — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:49:02 +0000

Unless it is the middle of summer and there has not been enough rain, watering your outdoor plants is mostly not mandatory (or not very often). But indoor herb garden plants depend on you as a source of water and additional nutriments in the shape of fertilizer. It's really important to understand the individual water and nutrient requirements of each plant to keep them healthy.

As discussed, individual plants will need different amounts of water to keep them growing optimally. But what all plants do like is wet soil. If you are worried about over-watering your plant, make sure that the pot you select has a good drainage system. With holes in the base of the pot or gravel within the pot the soil and plant will suck up the required water and the surplus will run out thru the bottom.

If your houseplants aren't thriving regardless of what you do, there are 2 things to look into. If you're using tap water to water your plants there could be too much chlorine or salt present. A solution to this is to use distilled or filtered water or you can leave a container outside to gather rainwater. Either option is sufficient and might be the change you want to make to grow healthier plants.

Choosing to fertilize your plants is an alternate way to give them a boost. Fertilizer contains nutrients and elements that plants need to grow. Inside plants don't want as much manure as their outdoor counterparts do. Due to a gentler rate of expansion, feed your plants nominal manure. In winter time you can most likely skip over this step altogether.

The spring or summer time is the ideal time to fertilize indoor plants. This is during their growing phase when they need the additional nutrient elements the most.

Joseph Robertson loves to help folks grow their own indoor herb garden. Check out the blog for more on growing your own indoor herb garden.

Choosing an Indoor Houseplant

Gardening Tips — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:20:19 +0000

When you are choosing a house plant you need to go beyond the appearance of the plant although that is a good place to start. If there is a certain kind of plant that you want to have look into the care instructions first. Some plants need more care and others are best left to an expert gardener as opposed to a novice one. If you fall into the latter category of gardeners you will want plants that are easy to care for, are hardy, and have a low maintenance schedule.

Ferns are a popular choice for indoor gardens as they are easy to care for, do not require to be repotted very often and are attractive. There is a wide range of fern varieties available and each one has a unique look. Some of the different ferns great for houseplants are:

*    Maidenhair Ferns
*    Davallias
*    Fishbone Ferns
*    Cretan Brake Ferns

Begonias are a great choice for the indoors too especially if you do not have a great light source. This plant can survive on very little light each day. Some will flower indoors but the leaves are beautiful on their own too. They also don’t mind cooler temperatures either, but it should not get colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). A few the begonia varieties available:

*    Rex Begonias
*    Iron Cross Begonias
*    Begonia Masoniana

The fern and begonia aren’t the only breeds of houseplant that will survive even the newest of green thumbs. Here is list of different kinds of plants you can try too:

*    Spider Plants
*    Devil’s Ivy
*    Cast Iron Plants
*    Chinese Evergreen

Once you have a few plants in your indoor garden and are comfortable with the care required, you will have the skill and confidence needed to take care of a higher-needs variety.

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Growing Herbs Indoors from Seeds

Gardening Tips — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:01:50 +0000

You do not have to start your herb garden from seeds, but if you want to get a head start on the season and lengthen the time you’ll have for harvesting your herbs, start from seeds. You can get seeds in a package or use seeds left over from last year.

If you’re interested in starting your garden from seeds keep in mind that some herbs work better than others when you cultivate them at home from seeds.

First, soak your seeds for at least three hours before planting them so that they will have an extra advantage. You can also pre-sprout your herb plants by soaking them, folding them up in a moist paper towel and then sealing them in a freezer bag. Keep the bag at room temperature and out of direct sunlight until you find sprouting seeds when you open the paper towel. Once your seeds have germinated, you are ready to plant them in some rich, moist earth.

I have said it before and I will say it again, read up on your herbs before you get the seeds or begin the germinating process, because that might not be enough. Some kinds of seeds need to be scratched up before they can germinate. Other types will need to be heated up (from natural light, not the microwave, stove or oven) before you cultivate them. Good examples of these include the chili pepper and citronella herbs.

Once your seeds have started the germinating process you should focus on controlling their growing environment. The germinating process can be as little as five days, such as some types of basil, catnip, chives and parsley, or as long as 36 days or more, as in hyssop.

Go purchase one of the soil mixes designed for growing seeds—the better ones usually contain vermiculite and sphagnum moss.

Although there are a number of many fantastic herb plants that you can grow from seeds, here are a couple of my favorites:

Caraway: You can plant caraway straight from the spice jar, which I think is wonderful and easy. Germination won’t take long, and before you know it, you will be planting it in your favorite flower bed or container. Caraway is a popular plant for both German and Indian dishes.

Lavender: There are a number of varieties of lavender to select from. My vote goes to the one called Lady because it grows pretty fast. This fragrant kind of lavender can certainly grow on you.

Nasturtium: These beautiful and edible herb plants are so easy to grow from seeds that you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Soak the seeds overnight before planting for the best outcomes when you plant them in your well-drained earth. You can even cultivate the mature plant inside, and for extra color you can use as a bonus in your salad greens.

Shepherd’s Purse: Spice up your next salad with a little shepherd’s purse, especially if you are using a peppercorn ranch. This herb, which many folks believe is a weed, smells a bit like pepper, but tastes much richer. As an added bonus, the fresh leaves are wonderful for a heavy dose of vitamin C and A. To grow shepherd’s purse, simply sprinkle the seeds on top of the earth, water it and watch it grow.

And those herb plants are just a few. Some other good ones include anise, hyssop, basil, German chamomile, fennel, lemon balm and sorrel.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Mini Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

Diagnosing your Sick Houseplant

Gardening Tips — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:55:47 +0000

Your indoor plants are going to let you know if something isn’t right. The leaves will fall off, turn brown or some other symptom will manifest itself. The are various causes, some that can be rectified and others that cannot. When you are trying to figure out what is wrong, start with the simplest solution as a starting point.

The most common cause of a sick houseplant is watering, either too much or not enough. If the plant’s leaves are starting too look wilted or are drying up, check the soil and if it is dry add a good amount of water to wet the dirt and leave it moist once the water has run through. If you have over watered a plant, make sure the drainage hole is not clogged and if you have a dish that catches excess water, empty it out to make room for more water to drain out of the pot.

If the edges of the leaves are turning brown and are starting to look dried out it is from too much heat. In this situation it is best to remove the plant from direct sunlight, adjust the temperature inside the home if possible. These symptoms can also show up if there is not enough humidity in the house. As a quick fix you can put a small dish of water near the plant and as it evaporates the plant will soak it up.

When a plant looses its leaves it could be because the roots were damages from over watering, the plant is not getting enough water to support the amount of foliage, or it is too hot. Assess the plant’s environment to begin nursing it back to health and giving it what it needs to get better. If you need more information you ask the experts at your local gardening center.

Things You Should Know About Aloe Vera

Gardening Tips — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:04:31 +0000

Many families have grown up with an aloe vera plant in the kitchen. This succulent plant is great for indoor gardening as it is hardy and easy to care for. Moreover, they are great for skin care and minor cuts and burns that can happen in the kitchen while cooking. To use as a first aid item, cut a portion of one of the leaves and squeeze the inner gel onto the hurt area. With repeated use, the aloe vera will aid in healing and sooth the pain.

In addition to the aloe vera plant there are other helpful plants that are good to have around the house. An herb garden is a convenient way to add flavor and natural ingredients to many dishes. From fresh dill in a homemade tzatziki sauce to chives mixed in with cream cheese for a delicious bagel.

Many herbs can be dried and used for loose leaf teas not only a relaxing beverage, some herbs are known for their medicinal qualities too. Some herbs that can be used as tea leaves or as part of a mixture are peppermint and ginger.

There are many edible plants that you can grow indoors to aid in digestion. They can be broken of the plant as needed or some may need some preparation first.

Anise is a popular and widely used for aiding in digestion and easing colic in infants.
Coriander in addition to helping with digestion it is also a tasty addition tosalsa.
Fennel oil is used to ease upset stomachs too. It is also used for increasing the amount of breast milk produced in mothers.

This is just a brief look at some of the other uses for houseplants. It is recommended to research your plants before ingesting any to ensure they are safe and useful.

Growing An Indoor Herb Garden Is Easily Done

Gardening Tips — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:36:02 +0000

Indoor Herb Garden

enormous outdoor herb garden consider planting a nice indoor herb garden instead~If you are thinking of planting a colossal outdoor herb garden you should rethink it and consider putting one inside the house and grow an indoor herb garden instead~When you are considering growing a big outdoor herb garden you should weigh the pros and cons and reconsider growing an indoor herb garden in lieu of~If you are considering putting out a extensive outdoor herb harden you should first think about growing an indoor herb garden instead}. Many smaller {varieties and dwarf assortments of herbs grow quite well in small pots that can be placed on a kitchen window sill~If you are looking for a smaller collection there are the dwarf assortments of herbs and they do grow quite well in small pots that can be placed in a kitchen window sill~When choosing to grow the smaller dwarf varieties of herbs they do grow quite well in small pots that can easily be placed in the kitchen window sill~You will find that smaller assortments such as dwarf varieties of herbs do seem to grow very well in small pots and are easily placed on a sill such as in a kitchen or any other lighted window~The most popular}. If you are going to need cooking herbs to add to your cooking you will not have to run to your outside garden to pick anymore. It’s great you can actually literally turn around and grab whatever spice you need just grab a few leaves!

Growing your own indoor herb garden is easy. Many kits are available that have everything that you need to get started. If you want to get the whole family involved in growing indoor herbs you can try the chia plants for the kids it makes growing herbs fun for the family. You may not realize it but there are a few distinct advantages to growing an indoor herb garden.

Advantages Of An Indoor Herb Garden; With an indoor herb garden you can easily monitor your plants. When they need maintenance you will know right away that they need something. The least amount of effort you will find is misting you can accomplish that will very little effort. If you are growing an outside herb garden don’t forget to check on it a lot more frequently to keep it flourishing.

Indoors you will not have issues with bugs eating the leaves of your herbs. When growing an indoor herb garden you will not have to contend with trying to find a safe chemical to treat your herbs to keep bugs off your plants. The time will come to harvest all of your fresh herbs when the time comes you can do it within the comfort of your own home. If you don’t like mosquitoes that is another benefit to growing indoors, you do not have bugs or mosquitoes in the house because of the plants.

The ping of the wonderful fragrance you will smell when you plant an indoor herb garden. You will really like the great smell of fresh basil or rosemary that will take over your kitchen. If you like to be surrounded by the aroma of fresh herbs for inspiration, you are the type of cook that would grow an indoor herb garden. Any meals you do cook will now taste even better as you will be able to add fresh herbs instead of dried herbs that have been sitting in a cabinet.

Having an indoor herb garden will also protect any other plants that might be in your garden. Some species of herbs are known to be extremely invasive. Once they start growing they are hard to stop and before you know it your herb garden has taken over. small individual pots are what you need to plant your herbs in if you want to control its spreading.

Herb plants can make your home smell good and can make those empty open spaces feel more useful when choosing your area to grow an indoor herb garden. Why not add a few practical plants to your kitchen to achieve the same result. If you want happy plants you should try to generate an inviting atmosphere while growing herbs to use during cooking.

INDOOR HERBAL GARDENING

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:03:02 +0000

People all over the world have been gathering and cultivating herbs for thousands of years. They have used them to flavour food, for medicinal purposes, because they smell nice and for decoration. Some people have even believed certain herbs have magical qualities. Fortunately, you can grow these versatile plants indoors as well as outside. Indoor herbal gardening, however, has special requirements. For one thing, the plants must grow in containers.

Light is the most important ingredient for indoor herbal gardening. If you have a sunroom or a greenhouse window, you can grow just about any kind of herb. They need no more than six hours of direct sunlight a day. If you must use artificial light, you can buy fluorescent lighting systems specially designed for indoor herbal gardening, or you can rig up your own combination of warm white and cool white fluorescent tubes. Make the shelves that hold the lights of the plants adjustable so they can be moved as the plants grow. The plant tips should always be five or six inches below the tubes. The plants require fourteen to sixteen hours of artificial light a day.

Use porous soil for indoor herbal gardening. It allows easy air circulation, holds water well but drains easily. A good commercial potting soil is fine, but you can cut down on expenses by making your own. To make two bushels of potting soil for indoor herbal gardening, mix one bushel of milled sphagnum peat moss, one bushel of horticultural grade perlite, ten tablespoons of ground limestone, five tablespoons of single superphosphate, two tablespoons of potassium nitrate and one teaspoon of iron chelate.

Plants cultivated by indoor herbal gardening do not have the deep root systems of plants in outdoor gardens, so the soil must be kept moist, even for the hardiest varieties like rosemary and sage. Keep the soil moist, but do not over-water it. If you must use a heavy garden soil, use a mulch to keep the surface from caking.

If you use a commercial potting soil for indoor herbal gardening, read the package to see if it already has nutrients added. If it has not, or if your soil has become worn out, the leaves on your herbs will turn yellow and growth will slow. You will now have to use fertilizer. Follow label instructions, and start by using only half the recommended strength to see if that works. The oils of over-fertilized herbs lose flavour and fragrance.

Herbs are generally not very susceptible to pests, but your indoor herbs might be targeted by mealybugs or whiteflies. If you see these pests on your plants, don?t panic. Rub them away with cotton swabs or just your finger. If the infestation is large, rinse it away with slightly soapy water. Cut off infected stems. Your indoor herbal garden will quickly recover.

Indoor gardening tool: All you need to know

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:03:02 +0000

All workmen, in this case, gardeners, need to have the tools of their trade to work well. Like traditional gardeners who work outdoors, gardeners who work indoor also need their tools. For each job there is a special indoor gardening tool that can make the job easier or quicker. Additionally the right tools will minimize clutter as you will need less if you spend time on selecting just the right gardening tools.

There is a wide selection of indoor gardening tool on the market to choose from; so large that some are not even known by avid indoor gardeners. Tools range from common items like rakes to the little known such as finger gloves, feed spoons for fertilizer as well as accessories such as ?grow light? to ensure enough light for proper growth.

Why is there a need for specific indoor gardening tool? Simply because indoor gardening is generally container gardening and therefore the space being used is much less than that of an outdoor garden. Few, if any regular sized gardening tools can be used safely for indoor gardening. The small, confined area of the containers used as gardening space just does not allow this.

With everything being ergonomically correct, you can rest assured that even these ?baby? tools are designed to minimize wrist and hand strain. A good quality indoor gardening tool is normally a lot stronger than their small size may indicate. Getting your indoor gardening tool is as easy as turning on a computer, finding an online gardening store and ordering what you need. Once you have bought the tools you need, you must take care of them. Here are a few standard maintenance tips for any indoor gardening tool (works for outdoor tools as well):

? Always remove the dirt from any tool after use
? Dry all tools before storing them
? If any chemical such as fertilizer is on the tools pay special attention when washing them off

Taking proper care of your indoor gardening tool not only keeps it looking good but will also increase its durability. Cleaning before and after use also ensures that you do not transfer any possible contaminants or pests to other plants.

Your indoor gardening tool, regardless of purpose can also be a great conversation piece. They are often so tiny and attractive that people are always fascinated by these miniatures. Jazz up your gardening tool area with the appropriate tools for the job instead of using makeshift implements. They also make great gifts for the gardener in your life.

Indoor water gardening

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:03:02 +0000

Starting an indoor water gardening project is easier than it may at first appear. To top it all off an indoor water gardening project is normally much less work than an outdoor water garden. An indoor water garden is also much easier to set up. To create an indoor water gardening environment you need an area for the pond (if you will be using a very large area) or a container. The choice of a container is up to you; give your creativity free reign.

Secondly, you can choose to set up using a commercial indoor water gardening kit. These kits are becoming quite popular and have everything you will need for a fantastic indoor water gardening setup. Some of these kits are low priced and yet offer some very attractive choices in containers such as wooden kegs and ceramic bowls. If you want to select the individual pieces for your indoor water garden, this can be quite exciting. This option allows you to bring your own unique taste and personality to the project. It does not have to be expensive to set up an indoor water garden since everything is generally so much smaller.

Indoor water gardening except for the size of the water source can be almost a replica of an outdoor water garden. There are a wide variety of water fountains that are designed especially for use indoors, some just a few feet wide and tall. Some are quite intricate, imitating waterfalls, some flowing over stair-like tiers, starting in size from as small as 8 inches by 5 inches. Some manufacturers even include outdoor sounds with their creations such as bird calls, the sound of the oceans, bubbling brooks and woodlands.

Like an outdoor water garden it is also possible to include aquatic fish in an indoor water garden. The choice of aquatic plants is wide and you can play around until you find the look you want. With a water pump you can help control the breeding of mosquitoes in your creation. Mosquitoes tend to breed in water that is not moving so the circulation of the water by the pump will partially deal with this issue.

An indoor water gardening setting is not just attractive, but is also a great source of pleasure and relaxation for everyone. Water has always held great charm for mankind, so it is not surprising that many persons love being able to take this little bit of nature inside with them. Indoor water gardens are used frequently to set the mood in massage parlors or in aromatherapy.

Gardening Tips Pro » indoor garden

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