An introduction to indoor gardening
Given the rising cost of food, growing your own edible plants is a great idea. Perhaps you are out in the suburbs putting in vegetable patches, digging up lawns and looking forward to the opportunity to win bragging rights when the crops arrive. Maybe you’re 14th-floor in a high-rise city building and have serious plant envy.
Are you able to grow edibles that thrive in such cramped spaces? You might be able to, if you adjust your expectations and keep in mind the effort/reward ratio.
It’s important to understand that plants are hungry and want to be fed.
- Sunlight is the fuel for plant growth. Even the sunniest window sill will not be able to match the intensity of sunlight outside. Ordinary glass is 50% less strong than outside because it reflects and diffuses direct sunlight.
- The majority of houseplants that we grow are tropical, understory plants that can withstand low light levels. Plants that produce starches and sugars for food and flavor require a lot more sunlight.
Tomatoes and eggplants are two examples of plants that crave heat and humidity. These plants will not tolerate a condo that is well-ventilated. You can’t pollinate these plants if there aren’t any insects or wind outside.
- Water is essential for plants. However, giving them water is not the same thing as filling up a glass. Because plant roots require air to grow, water must be drained through the soil.
- Potted plants require a saucer to collect excess water. You can’t hang a premade fabric “vertical gardening” on your apartment wall. Your security deposit could be at risk if walls or floors are damaged. Mold can also grow easily.
If you don’t want to keep your garden stocked with lettuces and grow a tomato that is a winner indoors, then what are you able to do for enjoyment and profit? Growing herbs is a satisfying and practical idea.
- You only need a few leaves and/or cuttings at any one time so a single plant can provide you with lasting pleasure. You don’t need to buy a lot of fresh herbs. They are also quite expensive and you may not use them all.
- Your indoor herb garden is best placed in the kitchen because of its higher heat and humidity. Also, you can look at and tend to your plants every day. A half dozen herbs will suffice to provide basil for your tomato salads, oregano for your pizzas and tomato sauces. You’re now ready to cook!
- You can grow herbs in containers of potting soil if you have a south-facing windows. You might also consider compact growing kits, which include a grow light, a reservoir for water, and planting pods. Hydroponic systems circulate nutrient solutions for low-maintenance gardening.