Contents
In today’s post, we will look into the basic principles and basic components of indoor gardening. The important factors for indoor gardening are:
Moisture
The moisture of the plant is related to the hydration of the soil, which is achieved by simply watering the plant. Here, you must take care not to commit the mistake of overwatering or underwatering. Use the finger dip method to check moisture before watering. Watering a plant by the calendar is not recommended. The watering requirement varies from plant to plant. For instance, succulents or xerophytes require very infrequent watering, like once a week.
Light
This is another major factor required for plant photosynthesis. This can be achieved by two methods:
a) Natural Sunlight – Placing your plants on your balcony, near a window, or under indirect bright light in a bright spot in your home.
b) Grow Lights – This is an artificial source of light for plant photosynthesis. These plant grow lights are substitutes for sunlight, and present-day technology provides high-quality LED grow lights emitting the electromagnetic spectrum appropriate for photosynthesis. You can grow any plant, including vegetables and even flowering and fruiting plants, under LED grow lights. We will discuss this in another detailed episode on grow lights – such as choosing the right intensity, bulb, and color.
Soil
For house plants to thrive successfully indoors, special care needs to be taken with the kind of soil they are planted in. The soil used for houseplants is different from the natural soil that plants usually thrive in outdoors. We will discuss in detail the indoor plant potting mix recipes in our next episode.
Fertilizers
Naturally, outdoor-grown plants receive nutrients from the ground soil. However, potted plants have to be fed regularly to meet their requirements and sustain growth and yield. This includes the major NPK elements – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, as well as trace elements required for proper plant performance. Nitrogen provides the plant with its green and leafy growth, Phosphorus is essential for flowering or fruiting plants, and Potassium is essential for strong roots and increased nutrient uptake.
We always prefer organic fertilizers like vermicompost, decomposed cow dung, bone meal, neem cake powder, and similar materials for our indoor as well as outdoor gardening. We always say “No to Chemicals”.
Containers
Choosing the right container for indoor gardening is important, especially using the right size for a particular plant. You can use plastic, cement, ceramic, or even wooden containers for indoor planting. Plastic is commonly used as it is relatively cheaper and lightweight. Make sure you have drainage holes and cover the holes with a mesh at the bottom, and also use a plate under the container.
Other Factors
Other important factors like humidity, temperature, air circulation, and plant support are also important in indoor gardening. Variations in these factors can be responsible for leaf drying, leaf drop, fungus, and many other problems.
Watch this video below for an introduction and basic principles of indoor gardening.
