The benefits of gardens just never seem to end.  They are good for the planet, your wallet, your waistline and a great way to relieve stress and enjoy some quality alone time.  Unfortunately, unless you live in California or Florida you don’t get to enjoy your horticultural hobby during a good part of the year.  When the weather turns inclement don’t abandon your garden, bring it inside.

You can continue gardening throughout the year with a little work and a minimal investment of time and equipment.  Imagine enjoying home grown herbs and tomatoes yearlong or simply adding some color and Mother Nature’s style to your home with plants and flowers.  You can enjoy all of the benefits of your garden year long by following these simple steps.

Photo Credit: The Green Life

Map it Out

Decide on how many plants you’re going to have, what kind and where they are going to go.  Pick plants that work with your space but do not make it feel crowded.  Remember that plants should be the accents to your interior, not the biggest element.

The easiest way to keep an inside garden is to maximize its exposure to sunlight, which means you have to plan accordingly.  Windowsills, entryways and kitchen counters that get a steady amount of sunlight work the best.  Generally speaking, a southward facing window delivers the most sunlight throughout the day.  Figure out how much space you have to work with and pick plants that will fit nicely.

Other Lighting Options

Depending on the extent of your garden, the room you have available and the plants you are planning on growing, you might want to consider artificial grow lights.  These come in a variety of kinds, sizes and intensities and can be used to replace or supplement natural sunlight to help you plant grow faster and bigger.

Make sure you do your research and find out what lights work best for the plants you are planning on growing.  You also want to make sure you keep them at the proper distance away from the plant so it doesn’t get too hot.

Photo Credit: Laure Joliet/Apartment Therapy

Set It Up

Now that you have your location, plant selection and lighting issues all sorted out, it’s time to put everything together.  Get pots that are the right size for your plant of choice and fill them with a mixture of 4 parts potting soil and 1 part compost.  You’re going to want to make sure your compost or organic fertilizer is odorless or a number of your friends may not want to come over for brunch.

After getting your plants potted make sure to put the pots on saucers to catch the water run off.  Most plants require frequent watering.  But some plants like aloe vera or succulents do better with less water.  Make sure you know what each of your plants requires; too little water and they will die and too much water causes their roots to rot.  Finally, keep an eye on your plants for any part that needs to be trimmed or removed.

It’s not that hard to enjoy your garden inside with a little planning and some basic upkeep.  Having living things inside your house will keep you well balanced, especially during long cold winter months.  Start planning your winter garden today, so you’re ready for the next deep freeze.

Happy Gardening!

Tags: Decorating Inspiration, eco-friendly, Gardening, green, Home Life

This entry was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 11:48 am and is filed under Interior Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.