You will need to know the proper soil, lighting and temperature for the plant you want to grow, as well as devote time and commitment to the project, in order to enjoy the hobby of growing plants indoors. Additionally, there are several methods of growing plants in pots.

Inspect the area in which you plan to grow your plants before you do anything else. The potted plant should receive natural light, several hours per day. If you have the budget for it, you can also use artificial lighting. Special indoor lamps and lights that you can use to replace natural sunlight are on the market. You can ensure that the temperature of your home is ideal for the plant yourself, since this is the easiest factor to control.

When you grow a potted plant, it’s important to choose a container of the appropriate size. If a plant is large or will grow large, your container should be able to accommodate it. Stunted growth of the roots and the inability to “breathe” properly can result from putting a big plant in a small pot. Similarly, using a large pot for a small plant will look odd — although the plant may eventually grow to fit the pot. Alternately, you could grow your plant in a smaller pot and then transplant it to a larger one when it grows to large for the smaller one. You can also choose from various styles and sizes. The diameter of the container should be half the height of the plant. Further, make sure the pot has drainage holes in its bottom to prevent the roots from drowning.

Look for the appropriate growing medium or soil type next. Garden soil is usually not suitable, because it doesn’t drain properly. Further, garden soil could contain fungi or insects that are harmful to the plant type. Instead opt for packaged potting soil, which can aerate the roots of the plant and help it hold moisture.

Several factors can affect when you should water the plant. These factors include wind, rain, sun, heat and the plant type.

You should regularly water most plant, although not to the point of drowning. That said, aloe vera and other desert plants tend to do better when you let them dry out a little instead of flooding them with water. Desert varieties, therefore, are often better choices for people who have a hard time remembering to regularly water their plants. The amount of water any plant needs can vary each day.

Plants grown in pots dry up more quickly than those that grow in the ground. To find out whether a plant needs to be watered, you can stick your finger into the soil. If it is dry, then it needs to be watered.

Potted plants generally require fertilizers every two weeks. When you water a plant, it flushes the nutrients from the growing medium. If you have children or pets in the house, are growing edible plants, or are growing plants for personal care or medicinal purposes, your best bet is to use organic fertilizers.

As a note, some plants are poisonous to animals or humans. Properly research a plant’s risks before you bring it into your home if you have pets or children. (See Pets and Plant Poisoning for more information on this.)

When you grow a plant in or around your home, you should do what you can to protect it from destructive pests. Insects can enter your home and destroy your plant even if you house it indoors. There are several organic pesticides you can use to combat this problem.

Regardless of the environment (in a garden, inside the home, on a balcony or patio), growing potted plants can be worthwhile and rewarding. In addition to their beauty, potted plans can be used to make natural remedies or teas, provide fruits and vegetables, emit fragrance, or as decoration.

As is the case with any gardening project, growing indoor plants does require a bit of study and application of standard practices and proper growing techniques, but this will become easier with practice, and will be well worth the trouble.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live cleaner lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Green Resourceful Living.

Source Article: Grow Plants in Pots Easily.