How to Set Up an Indoor Garden in Your Apartment
One of the many woes that some apartment dwellers experience is the belief that they cannot have a garden in their home. They think that to have a garden, one must have a plot of land – a backyard or a front yard, perhaps – where they could plant a few seedlings and coax them to grow. But you do not really have to have a plot of land just to have a garden if a garden is what you really want. If you want to grow a few plants, you can set up an indoor garden in your apartment.
It is not really that difficult to start an indoor garden in your home. You can successfully grow a few plants even if you think you do not have a green thumb. There are plants that will still thrive without you fussing over them as long as you choose a good location for them, water them daily and fertilize them occasionally. Here are a few steps to help you on how you can set up an indoor garden in your apartment that will not require constant care.
1. Decide on what plants to grow
Each plant has its own requirements for growing, and your own choice of plants will greatly affect how you will set up your indoor garden. If you have a lot of time to spend on your garden, then you can get any plant that will grow indoors. If you are too busy and you just want a few plants that will improve the air quality and aesthetics of your home, plants that are easy to maintain are what you need. You can also grow an indoor vegetable garden or herb garden if you cook at home often.
2. Choose a perfect spot for your indoor garden
As mentioned above, each plant has its own requirements for growing. Depending on the plants you have chosen, pick out a spot in your apartment where they will thrive. It has to be a place that receives sunlight, but not enough to burn or dry your plants. It should not be too dark or humid, or your plants will get moldy and rot. It should also not be a place where they will be disturbed by sudden drafts, such as near doors.
3. Buy pots that drain well
Pots for indoor plants come in many different forms, shapes and finishes. But whatever pots you choose for your indoor garden, choose one that has a drainage hole at the bottom. If it does not have one, you can drill a couple of holes underneath. These drainage holes will let the excess water from the soil out of the pot when you water your plants. If the soil in your pots becomes too moist from lack of drainage, the roots of your plants will rot.
4. Keep a gardening journal
A gardening journal is very handy in helping you remember things about your indoor garden, such as the proper care of your plants, when you fertilized them last, or when you repotted a plant. Your gardening journal does not have to be something fancy. Just buy a notebook, stick in the care tags you got from the nursery when you bought your plants, and make note of when you fertilize or repot them, as well as other details you may need to bear in mind when it comes to your indoor garden. Having a gardening journal will help you take better care of your plants.
Setting up an indoor garden is not as difficult as you think. Also, it will be beneficial for you to have an indoor garden in your home, even if it is just a tiny apartment. You are guaranteed to have clean air, temperature control and something beautiful to look at when you maintain an indoor garden in your apartment.