Indoor gardens

With appropriate care and attention, there are many species of plants that can be grown indoors. An indoor arrangement may offer the best solution for an enthusiastic gardener living in a small apartment with no yard or balcony. Healthy indoor plants with luxuriant foliage are routinely used to brighten offices, hotel receptions, shopping malls and restaurants. And there’s no reason why, with a little thought and effort, organic principles can’t be applied to the rearing of plants indoors.

Getting started

Beginners might prefer to choose indoor plants that are easiest to maintain using organic principles. In general, plants with thick glossy leaves tend to regulate their moisture requirements, thus enabling them to better adapt to indoor conditions. Other popular species have originated from rainforests where they are naturally found growing in shade below the foliage canopy of taller vegetation. The tropical varieties will prefer a certain amount of warmth and humidity.

Some nice examples of indoor plants for the beginner would be any of the spider plants, madonna lilies, ornamental bamboos, various species of fern and perhaps a young tree such as the rubbery fig or avocado. Many of the flowering plants are particularly sensitive to errors in lighting, temperature, and soil chemistry and may therefore require special equipment like filtered lamps and heating pads. African violets, tuberous begonias and several of the hardier orchid species are relatively easy to maintain and appear visually impressive when healthy and flowering.

Growing conditions

It is essential to provide indoor plants with good quality light but preferable to avoid direct sunlight. Most indoor plants will benefit from being placed in a shaded and sheltered location outdoors for a period of two or three weeks at least twice a year. Spring and autumn are good times to give plants a change of conditions and hopefully a little extra zest of life. On being returned indoors the plants will benefit from a small dose of organic fertiliser such as a liquid manure or seaweed extract.

The ambient indoor temperature should be evenly maintained, remembering that most plants will adapt to slow changes in temperature but cannot cope with extremes or sudden shifts. Providing a suitable humidity for indoor plants can be challenging since the inside of a house can be very dry, particularly when centrally heated or air conditioned. In dry situations, additional humidity can be created by standing potted plants on pebbles above a tray of water and spraying their foliage with a fine mist of water particles. Grouping several plants together is also a good strategy since their massed foliage will help to create a localised microclimate of higher humidity. Some indoor plants like ferns and creepers prefer to be located beside a source of fresh water and do well in bathrooms or on a ledge above the kitchen or laundry sink.

Watering

The correct watering technique for indoor plants is a skill that comes slowly to most through practice and error. Due to their immediate accessibility, it is a common mistake to over water indoor plants. Sometimes a lack of communication will lead to several people repeating the task until the soil is clogged and the plant roots simply suffocate. Leaves that turn yellow then fall are a strong indication of over watering. In very dry weather it may be appropriate to water each day but usually once a week will be sufficient. In cooler weather try to use tepid rather than chilled water particularly for the tropical plants as these have sensitive roots.

With some practice it will be possible to evaluate a plants immediate water requirement from the condition of its potting mixture just below the surface. A good quality organic mix will absorb a reasonable quantity of water without feeling moist or soggy to touch. Ideally it should feel ever so slightly moist and spring back after being pinched gently between the thumb and forefinger. If the mix is allowed to turn dry and crusty, the plant will be in danger of dehydration.

Indoor plants with glossy or waxy foliage tend to collect dust and other particles which not only dull their appearance but affect their respiration and metabolism. Large leaves can be gently wiped with a damp cloth and smaller fronds can be brushed with a soft paintbrush. Time spent dusting is a good opportunity to check plants for any signs of disease or pest infestation. The commonest pests to attack indoor plants are aphid, scale, and mites. These can be treated with organic white oil or simply placed in the garden for a few days to attract the natural predators like ladybugs.