Gardening Tips Pro » indoor gardening supplies

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.

INDOOR HERBAL GARDENING

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:03:01 +0000

Getting started: indoor herb container gardening

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:03:02 +0000

Indoor herb container gardening is the ideal solution for anyone who wants to get into, or continue gardening but lacks large outdoor space. Also, if you love your fresh herbs but you?re being driven indoors because of winter, never fear, you can still plant your herbs. The solution to all these issues is indoor herb container gardening.

Indoor herb container gardening, as the term suggests, is the planting of herbs inside in containers. To get started all you need are:

? Containers
Just about any container can be used for indoor herb container gardening. The most important factor is that there should be some amount of drainage so that the herb plants do not become saturated. Periodically you can get away with containers that do not allow drainage by watering only after you have allowed the soil in the container to dry out between watering.

You can opt to plant a number of herbs in one large container, this arrangement can be quite a conversation piece because of the attractiveness of the different herbs. You can also plant each individual herb in its own container, the choice is yours although available space may also play a role.

? Herb seedlings or seeds
If you don?t really have a green thumb or you want quick results starting with seedlings is the best option. If you want the whole experience consider starting your indoor herb container gardening experience by sowing seeds.

If you buy seedlings try to get them from a reputable source, likewise if you are growing from seeds check to make sure their expiry date has not passed.

Some recommended herbs for any indoor herb container gardening project are thyme, parsley, dill, chives, rosemary, lavender and mint.

? Growing medium
Although it is not advised to use garden soil for your indoor herb garden, some gardeners have done so with great success. The best potting medium however is the commercial type sold in gardening stores.

? Location
Ideally you should place your containers in the sunniest area indoors, so an area such as a window sill that gets a fair amount of sunlight is the best place. Also, because you will be growing herbs, placing the garden in or near the kitchen is always the first option.

Maintaining your own indoor herb container garden will save you money in the long run as your shopping bill will be less once your herbs are ready for use. Also, you will begin to eat a lot healthier plus you will always have fresh herbs ready to add flavor to any meal.

WINTER INDOOR GARDENING

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:03:02 +0000

Indoor gardeners who live in regions that have cold winters must keep in mind that although their houseplants are protected from the snow and the icy winds, there are still precautions they must take and adjustments they must make for winter indoor gardening. There is much more involved than just turning up the thermostat.

First, if you buy any new plants during the cold months, make sure they are well wrapped in paper bags or newspaper for that short trip from the store to the car, and from the car to your home. Even a brief exposure to the cold can damage or even kill some indoor plants. Do not put them in the trunk of your car. Put them in the front of the car, and turn on the heater.

You control the climate in your home to a considerable degree, but your home is still going to have warm spots and cool spots, and dry rooms and humid rooms. In winter indoor gardening, different plants will respond in different ways to these conditions. Remember, during the winter, indoor heating often causes the air in the home to be dry. Some plants, like the baby rubber plant, the baby cast iron plant, the heartleaf philodendron and most cacti tolerate dry air quite well. Many other winter indoor gardening plants do not like dry air at all. You can tell if a plant is undergoing stress due to dry air by several symptoms. The leaves become brown or curled, the edges turn yellow, leaves drop off prematurely, flower buds become ?blasted?, and the plant needs more than the usual amount of water. You can move the plant to a more humid part of the house, like the basement. But here you will have to compensate for the loss of sunlight. You could also leave the plant in its original location, and install a humidifier. If that option is too costly, try making your own humidity tray.

To make a humidity tray, line a shallow, waterproof tray with stones and pebbles. Pour enough water into the tray to cover the bottom half of the layer of pebbles. Place your potted plants on the tray. The pebbles draw the water up, and a tiny humidity zone is created as the water evaporates. Be sure to maintain the water level in the tray.

During winter indoor gardening, keep plants away from cold drafts. Some plants might even have to be placed near a heat register. Always remember about providing artificial light if necessary. Make sure there is good air circulation in your home. If your winter indoor gardening involves bringing outdoor plants into the house, do not leave it until the last minute. The first frost might kill them. If you do your winter indoor gardening with care, you will have your own little Eden in the house, even while the storms rage outside.

INDOOR PLANT GARDENING

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:03:02 +0000

No matter where you live, out in the country, in the big city, in a house or an apartment, in the tropics or near the Arctic Circle, you can enjoy the pleasures of indoor plant gardening. You can treat it as a small hobby with just a few houseplants, or you can really indulge yourself and fill your home with a great variety of plants and flowers.

There are a lot of benefits to be gained from indoor plant gardening. For one thing, it brings nature into your home, which may be especially important to you if you live in an urban area. Indoor plant gardening adds beauty and fragrance to your home, and the plants can be an integral part of your overall d?cor. Combined with lighting, furnishing and whatever art with which you enhance your rooms, your plants can help make your home a real showpiece.

There are a variety of reasons, besides beautifying the home, that people take up indoor plant gardening. Some people do it simply because they love to make things grow. They take great pride in seeing the plant they started from a seed or a cutting blossom in its full glory. They find the quiet hours they spend tending to their plants a welcome escape from the worries and stresses of everyday life. They also like the fact that indoor plants help to purify the air in the home. Remember, plants absorb the carbon dioxide humans exhale, and replace it with oxygen.

Some people find that indoor plant gardening answers the creative urge. To them the home is like a painter?s canvas and the plants are the paint. Other people do indoor plant gardening for more practical reasons. They grow plants such as herbs because they can use them in cooking and for health and medicinal purposes, among other things. Still other indoor gardeners like to collect plants the way some people collect stamps or coins.

Indoor plant gardening does not have to be expensive, although some plants are of course more costly than others. You do not have to be an expert horticulturist or even have a ?green thumb? to be a successful indoor gardener. But there are some things the prospective indoor gardener must take into consideration. He or she must choose plants that are most likely to thrive in his or her home. Are there animals in the home? Are there small children? If so, will this cause complications? Does the indoor gardener want foliage plants or flowering plants? Do some plants require greater care than others? Give some thought to these questions and any others that may arise before you buy your first plants. You will have taken the first step toward having a beautiful indoor garden.

INDOOR GARDENING WATERING SYSTEMS

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:03:02 +0000

Indoor gardening watering systems determine how much water you give your houseplants, and how often. There are different indoor gardening watering systems for different types of plants. You must also take into consideration such things as the temperature and humidity of the room the plant is in and even the type of pot the plant is in.

Plants require plenty of water if they are actively growing, have thin and delicate looking leaves, are in a very warm room, have many large leaves, have a mass of large and healthy roots, are in relatively small pots, are in dry air, are from bogs or marshes, are in clay pots, or have budding leaves and blossoms.

Plants need less water if they are resting or without buds or flowers, have thick leathery leaves, are in a cool room, have recently been re-potted, are in a humid room, are in a water-retentive potting mixture, are in plastic or glazed clay pots, have thick and fleshy roots, or are naturally adapted to storing water for long periods of time (cacti).

Indoor gardening watering systems have three basic methods of applying water. With top watering you pour water onto the surface of the potting mixture. This gives you better control of the amount of water the plant receives. It also flushes away accumulated excess mineral salts. With watering from below, you pour the water into the saucer in which the pot sits. This method forces mineral salts to the upper layer of the potting mixture. You can flush them away with occasional top watering. With large open plants, use bromeliad watering, which means using a narrow spouted watering can to pour the water directly into the ?cup? at the centre of the plant.

You can usually use ordinary tap water for indoor gardening watering systems, but it must be tepid, not cold. Allow the water to stand overnight in a container so it reaches room temperature. This will also allow some of the chlorine to dissipate. If the water has a high lime content, boil it first. Do not use water from a water softener, as the chemicals will damage your plants. Rainwater is good in rural areas, but rainwater in urban areas is often polluted. Distilled water is lime free, if you want to go to that expense.

Indoor gardening watering systems require you to use water sparingly, moderately or plentifully, depending upon the type of plant and the plant?s environment and stage of growth. If you water sparingly, barely moisten the potting mixture. If you water moderately, moisten the mixture all the way through, but allow the top layer to dry out between applications. If you water plentifully, keep all of the mixture moist, including the top layer.

INDOOR GARDENING HOUSEPLANTS

Sun, 24 May 2009 13:03:01 +0000

Indoor gardening houseplants are almost as varied as the plants that grow outdoors. Horticulturists say ?almost?, because some species of nature?s flora are not suited to be indoor gardening houseplants. Some are too big, not very attractive, or produce an unpleasant odour. There are basically two categories of indoor gardening houseplants, foliage plants and flowering plants. Foliage plants are mostly leafy, like the rubber plant, although some do produce flowers. Flowering plants are those that are prized for their blooms, like the African violet, but they can also have very attractive leaves.

Indoor gardeners who are just beginning often find foliage plants the better ones to start out with, because they are generally easier to grow and do not require as much light. Some varieties, like the heartleaf philodendron, are excellent plants for hanging baskets.

Horticulturalists recommend several varieties of foliage plants as good indoor gardening houseplants for beginners, but these species are also popular with experienced indoor gardeners. These are hardy plants that look good in any home and can survive the occasional error of the novice gardener. The arrowhead plant has dark green, arrowhead shaped leaves that sometimes have silver, cream or pink veins or shading. It can grow to lengths of eight inches to three feet. It grows best in good light, but can get along well with medium light or even low light. You can grow it in a hanging basket, or in a pot on the floor or a table.

The beefsteak begonia has large heart-shaped leaves that are dark green on top and deep red underneath. It does produce small pink flowers, but is valued mainly for its leaves. This plant does well in medium or bright light and is very robust.

The Chinese evergreen has dark green, leathery leaves with sliver marbling. It sometimes produces pale green flowers and red berries. This easy-to-grow plant can reach three feet, and is great for floor or table display.

Flowering plants require more care than foliage plants, but their blooms make the time and effort worthwhile. Some species are less demanding as indoor gardening plants than others. The angelwing begonia is one of the easiest of the flowering plants to grow. It produces clusters of deep-pink flowers and can grow up to six feet.

The Lady Jane anthurium is a hybrid that blooms continually all year. This plant is as easy to care for as a foliage plant. It produces a uniquely shaped pinkish flower. The peace lily is also one of the easiest indoor gardening houseplants to grow. It produces a white bloom that is very fragrant at night. This flowering plant comes in dozens of varieties that range in size from one foot to over four feet.

There are thousands of other indoor gardening houseplants for you to choose from, whether you?re a new gardener or an experienced one.

What are organic indoor gardening products?

Fri, 15 May 2009 13:03:02 +0000

The move towards wellness and natural health has found its way into the gardening circle, giving rise to organic, indoor gardening products. Many agricultural products are now marketed as being all-natural or organic. Before even thinking about organic, indoor gardening products, it is necessary to define what is meant by organic gardening. The meaning of organic varies depending on the source, but generally it refers ?to gardening without the use of harmful chemicals.?

So what exactly qualifies as organic, indoor gardening products? Any products that use things from nature, that is, natural ingredients instead of man made chemicals are referred to as organic products. Instead of chemicals to deal with insects or plant diseases, natural products are used.

The end result of the gardening can also be referred to as organic, indoor gardening products. These end results are the vegetables, herbs or decorative indoor plants that are produced from your efforts.

Organic vegetables are all the rage these days with almost everyone doing what they can to remain healthy and active into old age. Organically grown vegetables that are planted in containers inside a home are chemical-free which is a big plus. It is believed that vegetables and fruits grown on regular farms retain some amount of chemical residue. Additionally, it ensures an almost constant supply of vegetables, especially during the winter months when outdoor gardening is impossible. Most vegetables, especially those that do not require large amounts of space can be grown indoors. Organic indoor gardening products such as vegetable seedlings can be purchased from nurseries that grow only organic plants. If there are no nurseries close at hand there is always your neighborhood gardening store.

Like vegetables, herbs are another great type of organic indoor gardening products. Plant your own herbs in containers in your kitchen, on a windowsill or in any available space and have a ready supply of herbs to add flavor to any meal. Like organic container vegetables, herbs grown in a similar manner are just as healthy and fun to grow.

Even your indoor plants can be organic. All it takes is a decision to not use synthetic fertilizers on them; use kitchen waste to provide the necessary nutrients. Just make sure that they are given the right amount of water and sunlight, whether natural or artificial.

The internet is full of information on all things organic, indoor gardening products included. So if you want to do something for the environment while eating healthier, consider going organic, you won?t be alone.

Gardening Tips Pro » indoor gardening supplies

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