In the past 10 years, many South Floridians have taken advantage of loft and apartment-style living, and as a result, have given up larger living spaces that allowed them to have all the wonderful plants in their yard that their hearts desired.

There are also those who have given up on indoor or patio gardening because of previous failed attempts.

(We’ve all been there.)

If you find yourself in this position, don’t despair:

HELP IS FINALLY HERE!

I’ve simplified the process of creating and maintaining an apartment or patio garden into 5 basic steps. If you follow these steps, you will significantly increase your chances of creating and maintaining an apartment or patio garden that will bring you joy for years to come.

The first thing to realize is that

GOD DID NOT MAKE HOUSEPLANTS!

In other words, plants were not created to live indoors. Fortunately, however, over the course of human history, we have found a wide variety of plants that will work indoors (and actually thrive, at that! )

Step #1: Select the right space.

Choosing the right space inside your home/apartment to place a plant is perhaps even more challenging than choosing the right space for outdoor landscaping. Light availability inside a home can be very limited whereas, outside there is much more light available. When selecting your indoor gardening space, observe where the light is coming from. How intense is the light? Is it natural light coming from a window? Are there florescent lights you can leave on to supplement the natural light? For example, the kitchen may get more light throughout the day than the bedroom or guestroom. So be sure to advise the salesperson at the garden center of the lighting in the space you are working with.

Step #2: Select the right plants.

The plants you select for your inside space are going to be maintained in a pot or container. Select plants in the nursery or garden center that are not going to outgrow the space too rapidly. Select slower growing plants, as they need less watering usually due to their slower metabolism. (YES plants do have metabolism - the same plant in the low-lit restroom will use less water than the sunny living room plants.)

Step #3: Select the correct flower pots and planters.

When choosing the correct pot, think of it as buying shoes for a child. Not too tight (gives feet room to grow) and not too big (allows too much movement and stresses easily). Pick a pot that is approximately 6 inches deeper and 3 inches wider than the plant’s current pot. Choose a pot that will not rust or fall to pieces over time. I am fond of resin pottery for indoor and patio gardens for this reason, Crescent Garden makes a full line of light weight pottery with an unheard of 10 year warranty. With many different sytles,sizes, and color assortment you are sure to find one to fit your decor. These pots are perfect for our Florida lifestyle and weather conditions!

Step #4: Prepare your flower pots and planters.

Create Drainage.

Placing 3 inches of gravel in the bottom of the pot or planter for drainage is a highly recommended practice. The gravel acts as a filter that lets the water drain out while keeping the potting soil from escaping. There are some companies that actually sell rock pods(?) that keep the guesswork out of how many rocks to use. Purchase a pot or planter that has a saucer or drain pan beneath that will catch the overflow of water as it drains through the container. Use an additional, plastic saucer to protect your floor, if necessary.

Add Potting Soil.

Potting soil is just that! It’s soil specifically formulated and mixed to be used in planters. This type of soil holds moisture throughout the mixture while allowing the water to drain out. This reduces the primary cause of interior plant death: ROOT ROT! - which is caused by over watering.

Based on the type of plant you’ve chosen for your indoor space, the type of soil you choose will differ. Potting soils come in a wide range of textures, from those with a high degree of organic matter (holds moisture), to those that contain a lot of sand (more porous). Plants that love moisture at the root base will be planted in richer, moisture-retaining potting soil. Plants that love to be drier will need a more porous soil that allows the water to pass through the soil faster. In any case, you do not want your plants sitting in water.

Step # 5: Take care of your new indoor garden.

Caring for your interior plants is not easy! (I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but it’s true. Fortunately, the rewards far outweigh the work involved.) To help you avoid houseplant madness, I have come up with some easy care tips and tools that will make it easier for you to take care of your indoor plants (and keep them living for a long time).

Don’t Overwater.

As mentioned earlier, overwatering is the most common way that people kill their plants. My recommendation is that you purchase a water meter, this tool will help effectively gauge the water needs and usage of your plants. This tool comes with a thin metal probe attached to a moisture meter which rates the soils moisture content from moist to dry. Based on your plants preference you will be able to effectively water with no more guesswork.

There is no set rule to watering. As I mentioned in this blog earlier, every plant has it’s own metabolism and you will have to be the judge of water usage weekly. Keep in mind that, as a plant grows and the sun moves and the temperature changes, so does the plant’s metabolism.

Give your indoor plants adequate light

If your plants are not getting enough light, they will appear pale and spindly, rather than full from top to bottom. Place your plants as close as you can to natural sources of light from windows. You can supplement natural light with fluorescent lights or plant growth lights. It’s a good idea to place your indoor plants in a shady area outside every few months to let them strengthen from natural light and humidity.

To the left are plants that are a bit “Pale and Spindly” due to a lack of light.

Keep an eye on plant pests

Indoor plants are susceptible to Spider Mites, Scale and Mealy Bugs which usually appear on the undersides of leaves.

Don’t ignore them, they can spread to other plants in your home. Use a safe, natural pesticide. (We carry a brand called Safers which is very effective.)

I’d love to hear from you!

Bringing the beauty and wonder of plants into your home can present a challenge, but is well worth the effort for the joy and pleasure they bring us. By following the five steps above, you will soon be a successful, confident indoor gardener.

I’d love to hear about your experiences and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to comment on the above post.