Gardening
Indoor Gardening Design Ideas
Designing a space for your indoor gardening chores may include transforming an existing sunroom or screened-in porch, or creating a space in your basement dedicated to potting and planting.
Whether you tile your sunroom, add rustic elements to your porch or decorate a shabby chic garden spot in your basement, consider an extra seating area for gardening, relaxation and conversation.
Sunroom
Tile the floor in your sunroom to create a space for indoor gardening. You could build potting tables along two of the walls and cover them with tile to coordinate with the floor.
Build storage underneath for your gardening supplies. It’s easy to tile a table top, simply spread thinset on the surface with a trowel and press the tiles into the adhesive. Tile spacers between each tile will give you an even grout line. Spread grout into the crevices, after the adhesive has dried.
Remove the excess grout from the surface of the tile before it dries. Indoor gardening is so much easier with a handy water source, so separate the two tile tables with a sink in the corner. Take advantage of the sunroom windows and design hanging rails across the top so you can accommodate as many plants as possible.
Place a table with seating in the center of the room and a comfortable sofa along one wall so you can enjoy the sunroom for relaxation as well as indoor gardening.
Screened-In Porch
Turn your screened-in porch into an indoor gardening room in the style of a rustic potting shed. Build a potting table from treated wood and hang wrought-iron hooks from a wood paneled ceiling.
Rough-hewn lumber along the inside walls as a frame for the screen will also add to the rustic decor. Add a farm-style sink along the wall of the house with an old metal table alongside for convenience. Hang a pegboard behind the metal table to help store your gardening tools as well as to add to the overall feel of a potting shed.
Distressed wooden rockers, placed side by side with a small distressed table in between, offers seating for visitors who like to watch you work. Add another small table with two chairs in the center of the room for a seated planting area. Read the rest of this entry »
Guide to Indoor Gardening
Growing plants indoors can provide satisfying work and fresh produce for idle gardening hands in the winter.
It is also a good choice for apartment dwellers who do not have access to a yard or community garden, or for elderly or disabled people who may not be able to take care of a traditional garden outside.
Successful indoor gardening requires little more than good light, high quality soil, the right plants and regular watering.
Plants
Decide what you would like to grow. If you’re merely looking to add a little greenery to your dwelling, there are dozens of species of houseplants that thrive in an indoor climate, which tends to have low light and humidity levels.
Some good choices include pothos, spider plant and bromeliad, as well as many succulents like cactus and aloe.
If you would like to grow something edible, herbs such as parsley, rosemary or sage are a good choice for beginners, since they tend to be tougher than most fruit or vegetable-bearing plants.
However, you can also grow vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce and spinach indoors, if you’re able to provide enough light and fertilizer. You can also grow flower bulbs such as daffodils, tulips or hyacinth indoors.
Containers and Soil
Nearly all plants will benefit from a container that offers good drainage, so that the roots don’t sit in waterlogged soil and rot. Garden centers sell specially-designed containers made to allow for drainage and prevent over-watering, but any pot with a hole in the bottom will do (make sure to keep a platter or dish under the pot, in case any overflow leaks out).
Drainage can be further improved by adding a layer of stones to the bottom of the pot. Choose a high-quality soil designed for whatever plant you are growing—cacti, orchids and herbs all require different types of soil. When in doubt, ask the staff at your local garden center or nursery for advice. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Gardening | 
Tags: Growing plants indoors, Houseplants, Idle gardening hands, Indoor gardening | 
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