Winter and gardening aren't usually synonymous with one another, but if you're creative and enterprising, you might enjoy the introduction of some fresh greenery to your home's interior this year. Cultivating an indoor garden is the best way to make it a reality. The good news is that you can absolutely create a thriving setting that gives your home color and character during some of the coldest months of the year. Here's how to get started.
Focus on Lighting First
Regular plant care maintenance continues during the winter, but because sunlight is at a premium this time of year, good lighting for your plants takes on particular importance. There's not a lot of time to expose your plants to light since the sun sets so early each day. So, the most important step you can take as you plan your indoor garden is selecting a suitable spot in your home.
Ideally, you should choose a spot that receives a sufficient amount of daily direct sunlight. Usually, that's in a southern location of the home. Even with this setup, you may find that your plants don't receive quite what they need to thrive.
To resolve that concern, you might need to consider using grow lights. You can select from a range of styles, each designed with efficient performance to give your plants the amount of light they need to succeed. You'll find this is crucial during fall and winter, so you may want to purchase your lighting during late summer so you have a chance to discover the best lighting system for you.
Choose How to Grow
There are different ways to get your indoor garden started. If you choose to start from seed, it's smart to begin in the fall, so you have some time to devote to the plants throughout winter. Your plants should begin to look spectacular by springtime.
If you want something that's already established, you can always bring one of your hardy plants from outside into your home. Good options include calla lilies, dahlias, gladiolus, and geraniums, all of which will brighten your home nicely during winter. Simply set it in a clean pot that has drainage holes, and make sure the root-soil ball is present.
Give Your Indoor Garden TLC
Indoor gardens require TLC year-round but take the time to show them some more love during these cooler months. If you need to have the furnace on throughout the cold season, you can be sure that your indoor air quality will suffer. The drier the air, the more likely your plants will lose their integrity unless you introduce the vital moisture they need to stay as vibrant and lively as possible throughout the fall and winter.
That's where a little bit of light misting is useful. Simply fill a spray bottle and gently mist them each day. You don't want to go overboard and risk soaking your plants too much, a problem that could ultimately damage the roots and lead to rot. It's also helpful to group your plants together to create a tropical-like environment that encourages higher humidity levels in the room. As another measure, you can add a humidifier on a low setting to the room.
You'll also need to water your plants regularly — but again, you don't want to overdo this. The best way is to place a finger about an inch into the soil. If the soil feels dry, it's time to water. If it's still damp, wait until it dries out before you water again.
Taking the right steps can make all the difference when it comes to nurturing your indoor garden this winter. The trickiest area to master is the lighting situation. Once you get that set, you can expect your plants to thrive and look beautiful all season.
