Lockdown Day 21: Bring nature into your Apartment

With the lockdown being extended, we are going to spend more time indoors than ever before. When you are confined to the indoors, it can increase your need for plants and flowers. That little spot of colour helps to lift your spirits and remind you that good times will eventually return.

What is indoor gardening?

Growing houseplants within a residence, building, greenhouse or in a conservatory is called indoor gardening. Indoor gardening plan suits well for city dwellers where space for garden is limited. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, indoor gardening helps to improve freshness quotient in air and increase beauty of your room.

Choosing Right Plant

Secret of successful indoor gardening is choosing a right plant that suits your room temperature and climate. Here are some tips for you to choose right plant for your indoor gardening.

• Sunlight: Sunlight is important for plants and flowering plants require more sunlight. While choosing plant for your indoor you need to decide where you are placing them and will they get adequate sunlight. Outdoor plants require 6 to 8 hours sunlight for better growth and indoor plants need 1 or 2 hours sunlight for it to grow.
• Avoid dark place: Avoid keeping your plants in dark place of your room and in air conditioned room. If your room is setup with cooler or air conditioner, keep the plants near window where it gets sunlight or keep them outside for one or two hours a day.
• Purchasing plant:  While purchasing indoor plants, select only those plants that will be able to grow in the climate and condition of your room. Purchase plants that appear pest free and with healthy foliage.
• Time required: While choosing plant you need to know how much time you should spend to take care of your plant. Some plants need more care and some other needs no extra care. While choosing plant for your indoor know the time required and whether you want to display them year round.
• Caution: While choosing indoor plants, remember that some plants are poisonous in nature. Keep in mind if you have small children or pets. Remember to take care of same when choosing plants with thorns.

Starting an Indoor Garden

Before you setup an indoor garden you must know the basic things required for thrive of indoor plants. Plants need adequate sunlight, water, soil and fertilizers for its growth. Indoor plants need more attention and care than an outdoor plant. You need to organize artificial heat and adequate atmosphere for the growth of indoor plants.

You can either start your indoor gardening with seeds or plants bought from nursery. Nowadays supermarkets and others stores come up with seeds and indoor plants. You need to check the date for seeds and plants are free from pests. Make sure your plant gets enough sunlight. If your room is not getting enough sunlight, you either plants that grow in medium or low lights or you can provide artificial heat for your plant. Pour enough water and bathe your plant occasionally. You can buy good container soil for your plant than taking soil form outdoor which may also risk of insect and other disease.

Container garden in indoor gardening

Container garden is practice of growing plants in containers or in pots. You can enjoy the nature in your home with container garden. You can setup miniature garden and develop your skill gardening skill in the limited space. Container garden helps you to grow your favorite herbs, flowers or vegetable in your apartment. Here are some advantages of container garden in indoor gardening.

• Size and shape of container: Container is available in various shapes and size that suits your need and for growth of your plant. You can choose any shape and size for your plant considering space available in your room for indoor gardening
• Easy movement: Container garden provides easy movement of plants. You can move plants from one place to another without disturbing the growth of your plant.
• Pest free: Container garden helps to stop pests and if your plant is infected by pests, you can treat those containers with appropriate spray without disturbing other plants.
• Saves Space: One of the advantages of container garden is it helps in saving space. Container is available in various size and shape, you can choose container that suits best for your apartment or space available.
• Proper nutrition: In outdoor gardening usually fertilizers fed for plants are either drained off or absorbed by nearby plants. In container garden plants are well fed.

Popular Indoor Plants

You can choose plants that suit the theme of your room. Indoor plants purify air and reduce pollutants in the room. Here are some plants used for indoor gardening.

	Chinese evergreen:These plants grow in low light, dry air and in drought. Chinese evergreen has silver gray and dark green leaves. It is one of the durable indoor plants
	Ponytail Palm:This one of the indoor plants which needs a little attention for maintaining its beauty. The foliage of these plants arises from an unusual swollen trunk and best suits for those who forget to water. Ponytail Palm can thrive for one or more day without water.
	Amaryllis:Amaryllis is easy to bring to boom and comes in various beautiful colors of red, white, pink etc.
	Tropical combo Bonsai:You can get taste of tropic right and can be cultivated in any small corner.
	Rosemary:Start with a cutting of rosemary, and keep it in moist soil less mix until it roots. It grows best in a south-facing window. Rosemary is also a natural mosquito repellant.