Ideas for Indoor Gardens

If spring fever has your thumbs turning green and you have little to no outdoor space for gardening or just want to freshen your interior with lush greenery, indoor gardens are the way to go. Consider some edible greenery in the kitchen, a living wall in your home office or hanging greenery suspended from the ceiling. Even with limited space indoors, solutions exist for thriving miniature gardens.

Create a living wall with a vertical garden.

Vertical gardens have become a hot trend in home greenery. Specialized wall-mounted planters hold plants and soil in a way that makes the plants look like they are growing right out of the wall. Watering can be done by hand or you can utilize the self-watering feature many planters have built-in. All planters come in a variety of styles including pockets and trays with individual planting cells. Wall planters can be installed on a variety of materials including wood, concrete and masonry. Make sure the wall you choose has access to plenty of natural light.

Enhance recipes with fresh herbs.
It's not hard to grow fresh herbs right in your kitchen. All you need is a small wooden planter and a sunny window to sit it by. Fill the bottom of the planter with small rocks for drainage, about an inch deep. Add two to three inches of potting soil depending on how deep the planter is. Dig a small hole for each plant and place the plant inside, filling in dirt all around it until it is covered. Small bits of optional moss make a nice finish on the soil. Water each plant carefully at the base of the plant. Herbs can also be grown in vertical wall pockets.

It's raining landscapes!
If you like terrariums, you'll love the idea of floating terrariums hanging from the ceiling in elegant glass bubbles. It's also a great way to display a garden of air plants; low maintenance plants that need no soil to thrive, just regular watering each week. Add interest to the display with glass bubbles in varying sizes and shapes, hung at alternating levels.

Go green with trendy home furnishings.
The eco-friendly trend in modern furnishings shows no signs of slowing down. Built-in planters in furniture and lighting provide greenery in style. Lamp planters are actually nothing new, as they were once a common fixture in Mid-century homes of the 1950s. Ceramic TV lamps shaped like animals and various figurines provided dim light for TV viewing and came equipped with small pockets for household plants. Twenty-first century planter lamps are designed to illuminate the room while providing a light source for the plant. You can also find modern tables sprouting live plants. If your style is more vintage or eclectic, design your own planter furniture with repurposed materials. Picture an old window frame fashioned into a coffee table planter or an old claw foot bathtub filled with an assortment of flowering, leafy flora. Looking for more indoor gardening ideas?

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How to Start an Indoor Herb Garden

Fresh herbs are a great addition to any meal you prepare. I love adding fresh basil to pasta sauce and mint sprigs to a cold glass of tea. Now that Spring has arrived, it's finally warming up and its the perfect time to try your green thumb at planting. Growing up, I watched my father plant his garden every year and learned a lot of tips and tricks. Follow my easy guide to set up your own herb garden and stop spending on expensive store bought herbs.

Pick Your Location

Plants like places that are warm and have a lot of access to sunlight. I have my herb garden in my kitchen by the brightest window. If the temperatures are still fluctuating where you live, I would recommend moving it away from the window at night time to prevent it from getting too cold. As you approach summer, you will want to move it out of the direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Having your garden in the kitchen means that when the herbs are ready for use, you can clip them and add them right to your dish.

Pick Your Planter
You can either choose to plant from seeds or to plant starter plants you purchase at a home improvement store or nursery. If you are looking for a faster start that is easier on patience and if your skills are not great with growing, the starter plants are a good option. I tend to like raising my herbs from seeds, but I think starter plants are equally as rewarding as a gardener. Either option you choose, you will need a planter to put them in. Terracotta pots are usually very inexpensive and you can plant several herbs in one pot. Make sure it has a drainage hole in the bottom or side to allow extra water to flow out. You can also buy a rectangular planter box if you are planning to grow a lot of herbs. Buy a plate or tray to place under the planters to collect the extra water.

Pick Your Soil
The easiest type of soil to plant your herb garden with is one that has extra nutrients already added to the soil. Potting soil is premixed and you don't have to worry about the contents having too much or too little nutrients for your herbs to grow. You can also buy ones with a growing booster, like Miracle Grow, to help them grow faster. I personally do not use any growing boosters, and prefer an organic potting mix for my herbs.

Start Planting
Once your planters are in place, you'll need to add enough potting mix to the container or containers the plants will go in. If you're using a starter plant, you need to make a layer of potting mix in the bottom of the container and gently set the plant, without its container, in the mix and fill around it. Leave a little space at the top for when you water the plants. If you are using seeds, plant the seeds down three inches in the soil and cover with soil, leaving room at the top. Water the plants a little until the soil is just moist. Don't water them too often, but make sure the soil is never dry.

If you start from seeds, they will soon sprout. At that point you will need to be very careful with their sunlight and water. It can require a little extra work than using a starter plant, but I have never had any issues with seed plants not thriving. If you're using starter plants, wait until they have new growth before adding them to any dishes you prepare. Within a few weeks, you will be enjoying your own fresh herbs and getting the satisfaction of becoming a gardener. More indoor gardening ideas

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How to Grow Cactus in a Refinished Wooden Plant Box

Planting and Caring for Cactus House Plants

Plants are beautiful. Even Cactus. There are many varieties of Cactus. The word Cactus is a classification for the type of plant. The word cactus is used like the word tree. We all know there are many, many types of trees growing on our good green Earth. Same goes for cactuses. There are many types. Some grow big some stay small. All are unique. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Small cactuses make a great addition to any houseplant collection. They can be grown indoors as houseplants. This article will show you how to create a cactus collection in a wooden planter box.

The first thing you will need is a wooden planter box. Make sure it has been refinished before you use it. The wood should be sanded, stained and coated with polyurethane so that it does not absorb moisture and rot. You planted needs not be large. It also does not have to be deep.

Go to a greenhouse or store that sells small cactus plants. My local grocery store sells them. They are easy to find and are not expensive. Choose 6 to 8 small cactus plants. They will come in little flowers pots. If the little flower pots are plastic and not decorative consider buying small ceramic or clay pots to replace them. Your cactus plants will not be planted in the box they will be arranged in the box. They will remain in their little flower pots so you want to be sure that they are pretty.

Add a sandy soil to your new little clay or ceramic flower pots. Use a spoon to make a hole in the center of each filled pot. Gently place your fingers and hand around the base of the planted cactus. Tip it upside down and shake gently to loosen the plant. Remove the small cactus and carefully remove most of the old soil from it. Plant it in the hole you made in the fresh soil then pat and press the plant into place. Pack the dirt down around it's base. Repeat this process for each cactus plant.

When you have finished replanting use a damp cloth to wipe any dirt off of the outside and rim of each flower pot. Place each little flower pot in the wooden planter box. Give the plants a little bit of time to adjust. Wait 24 hours before you water them. When you do water do not add the water directly to soil. Mist the soil and mist the cactus itself. Too much moisture will kill a cactus. They live in hot dry climates and in nature they receive very little moisture. Cactuses do not need to be water daily. A misting every other or every few days is sufficient.

 

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Grow a Window Box Salad Garden

We all look forward to those first fresh vegetables of spring. But you don't have to have acres of land to grow these precious gems yourself. All you need is a window box and a little time. Growing a window box salad garden takes no more time than caring for regular houseplants. And you can grow them either inside or out.

What You Will Need
The basic requirements for a window box salad garden are just a window box planter and a sunny spot to place it. You will, of course, also need to fill it with soil and purchase some seeds to plant. Since one package of seeds will give your far more than you'll need for your little garden, you may want to share with friends or neighbors. You can trade some of your lettuce seeds for a few of their radishes.

What You Can Grow
You can grow any shallow-rooted plants in a window box salad garden. If your planter box is at least four inches deep you can plant onions, various types of lettuce, radishes, beets, spinach and even stubby varieties of carrots. Many herbs, like basil and thyme, also do well in window boxes.

How to Get Started
If you are purchasing a new window box planter, be sure to get one with drainage holes in the bottom. This will prevent root rot if you happen to over-water it. If you're using a planter box you already have and it does not have drainage, you'll just need to be much more careful when you water it.
High quality potting soils work best for a window box salad garden. And since you won't need a whole lot, it won't be that expensive. If you use regular dirt from your yard, you may need to incorporate a little sand or humus to get a mix that has a good balance between holding water and draining well.

Fill your planter with soil and then tamp it down firmly. Then add additional soil to the top and plant your seeds according to package directions. Note: It is OK to plant the seeds a little closer than you would in an open garden, since you will be fertilizing and caring for them more closely. Water your seeds well and place the planter in a sunny spot, either inside or out.

How to Care for Your Window Box Salad Garden
Water and weed your garden at least every other day. You will also want to fertilize it often, since the seedlings will have little soil from which to extract their nutrients. If you want to grow your garden organically, you can make compost tea to water and fertilize at the same time. Or you can buy a fertilizer at any garden store that should work well.

Growing your own vegetables - even on a small scale - is a great way to feel good about what you're eating. It's also the perfect opportunity to teach children a variety of lessons about nature.

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How to Force Spring Blooming Branches Into Early Indoor Color

By late winter, gardeners are feeling antsy. We want to see something spring back to life in our landscape after a long, dormant winter, and waiting for mother nature to run her course is difficult. Speed up the spring blooming process by forcing branches from ornamental and fruiting shrubs and trees into early indoor color with these tips.

Cut Branches
Use sharp pruning shears to cut pencil-thick branches from your favorite spring blooming shrubs and trees. The cut branches should be between 12-24 inches for best results. I make this my spring pruning time so I can shape up my trees and shrubs and gather branches for indoor color at the same time. Forsythia, crabapple, wild plum, serviceberry, redbud, tulip tree and any fruit tree or rhododendron are good choices to use for forced spring blooming.

Bucket of Water
Get the cut ends of the branches in a bucket of water as soon as possible. Place bucket in a shower and allow tepid water to shower down on the branches for a few minutes. This will warm the branches and trick them into thinking they are feeling a spring rain shower, so the bloom buds will begin to swell.

Drip Dry and Cover
Leave the bucket of branches in the shower until the water has stopped dripping off the branches, but they're still wet. Cover the branches and bucket with a large plastic trash bag, then move the bucket to cool location that receives light, either via the sun or indoor lighting. The plastic bag will hold in the moisture and raise the humidity level so they branches will begin to show signs of life. Check the branches every three days, changing the water at that time too. Depending on the tree and/or shrub varieties chosen, the branches will take anywhere from three days to three weeks to bud.

Just Right
When the buds are just about to pop open, remove the branches from the bucket and place in a display container filled with water. Trim the branch bottom if needed to fit the container properly. Place container out of direct sunlight, away from exterior doors and heat sources. Change water daily to keep the forced spring blooming branches looking their best.

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Windowsill Aquafarm

Growing a Simple Garden Year Round with Aqua Farming Techniques

Each year, the first crops to sprout from my garden are my lettuces. Red leaf, Romaine, Boston, and Butter Crunch begin to fill out and bring a sense of life to the patches of soil that laid fallow during the Winter. My girls sow their seeds, and we begin the tender warm-up to the full on production in the moths ahead. Yet once the warmer weather arrives, the lettuces tend to wilt back and bolt, and our attentions turn to the beans and emerging tomatoes. As we are unable to preserve our leafy veggies, we began looking for ways to keep our lettuce harvest viable throughout the season. This year, we found the solution with a windowsill aquafarm setup.

Basics of a Windowsill Aquafarm

Hydroponics and aquafarming are not a new concepts, but in the past these systems have relied on space-swallowing equipment that wouldn't properly fit into our home. However, a few years ago my sister was constructing miniature biospheres for her Beta fish, using water plants to both feed and clean up the organic waste. Nitrogen from fish waste is drawn up through the plant's roots, and the roots in turn produce food for the fish. We began talking, and after a time, discovered it would be just as viable to use garden vegetables and herbs as the plant material. The fish remains healthy without the addition of commercially produced fish food, and the plants can continue indoors without the harshness of a Summer heat. For a household use, we determined a three-gallon tank would be the perfect size.

Composition of the Aquafarm

We started with a three gallon tank with a plastic slip-on lid. I drilled a series of holes in the top of the lid to fit our recycled plastic planters, each of them quart-sized. In the middle of the arrangement, I placed a small water pump that drained right back into the tank after filtering through the growing medium. For this, we use coffee grounds - renewable, easily changed, and completely absent of chemicals. Each pot was a dedicated planting area, and for our first time out, my girls chose red leaf and butter crunch lettuces. Their smaller sizes, coupled with steady growth rate made them the perfect choice. In the tank itself, we adopted a single Beta fish, and added a few underwater features to provide structure and hiding places for when it felt stressed.

Aquafarm Harvesting

Lettuces should be trimmed from the outside in, meaning the leaves are taken from the exterior of the plant. It is possible to cut free the whole head and realize new growth, but this will stress the lettuce and eventually prompt it to stop producing. A few leaves at a time is much more manageable, and the plant will keep growing as long as you let it. Herbs act the same way, and a little trim here and there actually promotes growth. As a note, be wary of the amount of sunlight entering the tank, as an excess will promote algae growth. If this begins to happen, simply move your miniature farm tank until it stabilizes once more. Enjoy your December salad!

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Easy to Grow House Plants for Beginners

Choosing Easy Care House Plants Will Ensure Beginners' Success

Choosing the right plants is the key to success for beginners. You probably don't want to start right off with Orchids or other tricky plants like that. Here are a few plants that you should be able to grow with beautiful results. You may just find that once you have had a little success, you just can't resist beautifying your house with more.

A Few Key Items

It really isn't hard to grow beautiful house plants. If you keep the basics in mind, your plants will thrive. Plants have few requirements: water, light, fertilizer and a good pot. If you place the right plants in the right spots, you will be rewarded with lovely greenery.

Peace Lily

This is a very common house plant for beginners. It has very many dark green, sword shaped leaves which grow out from the soil. As your plant thrives, it will fill up the entire pot. A Peace Lily is also called a Spathiphyllum. It will occasionally produce white flowers, or Spathes.

Peace Lilies are easy plants to grow. They require low light and are not fussy. You may be able to grow a Peace Lilly in a bright spot which is not near a window. I have mine about six feet from an East window and it does very well. They will not like to be in a South facing window, however. It is way too bright and they will burn.

Keep your Peace Lilly somewhat moist, but do not over water it. That is the leading cause of death of houseplants. If in doubt, do not water. The Peace Lily will get a little droopy when it is dry. 

Generally, you will want to water it when the top of the soil feels pretty dry. You can add in some all purpose fertilizer at half strength every time you water.

You will know your Peace Lily is truly thriving when it starts to flower. It will put up green spathes which turn white. They are quite lovely and resemble Calla Lilies. If you don't get any flowers from your Peace Lily, try moving it to a location with a little more light. You might have more success.

Snake Plant

Another easy to grow plant is the Snake Plant. These are hard to kill, except with over watering. Again, the rule is that when in doubt, wait to water. The top of the soil should feel fairly dry.

The Snake Plant is also called the Mother In Law's tongue, as it has long sword shaped leaves with pointy tips. The leaves will emerge directly from the soil and the plant will multiply to fill the pot.

Keep Snake Plants in low light areas, similar to the Peace Lily. You can have them a few feet away from a window. A North facing window may not get as much light, so it's best to put them right in the window. Keep them further away from South facing windows as they do not like this much light.

Again, some diluted fertilizer every time you water will help your plant thrive. Try taking a break from it now and then in the winter months. For more information about Snake Plants, you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sansevieria_trifasciata.

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia are lovely plants. There are many varieties and they are easy to grow. The usually have long oval shaped leaves and may be variegated. If you have pets or small children, be careful. These plants can be poisonous. They are also called Dumb Cane. If they are ingested, they release toxins which my cause altered behavior and throat swelling. This can even lead to death. I have three cats, so I keep my Dieffenbachia out of their reach.

Dieffenbachia are low to medium light loving plants. They will do fine in almost any window. If they are in a South facing window, make sure they get sun which is filtered, such as through a sheer curtain. They will burn if they get too much sunlight.

I have seen dieffenbachia grow to ten feet tall over time with great growing conditions. However, most are much smaller. With a little care, your Dieffenbachia will thrive too. Again, do not over water it and give it some diluted fertilizer. It will reward your for years to come. For more information on these house plants, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieffenbachia.

 

Spider Plant

 One last house plant that I will mention which is good for beginners and easy to grow is the Spider Plant. The Spider Plant looks lovely as a hanging plant and is easy to care for and propagate. It will send off long shoots with little plantlets which can be rooted and grown as new plants.

Spider plants will like more light than any of the others I have mentioned so far. If you must put them in a South facing window. Be sure to shield them by filtering the sun with a sheer curtain. Otherwise the plant will become very light green and may die. This is a sign that your plant is getting too much light.

A West or East facing window is probably a good spot for a Spider Plant. If yours is in a hanging basket, it will look great hanging in the window. Again, water carefully and don't over water. You will soon have a bushy plant with long narrow variegated leaves. 

Get Growing

So, if you have gotten a new plant for the holidays, or have always admired some one else's green thumb, give these easy to grow house plants a try. You might just find out that you have the knack and can grow beautiful plants. Good luck!

 

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The Spider Plant: Easy to Care for House Plants

Spider plants are tolerant of neglect and are the best pick for a house plant that will not add stress to your plant care regime. These easy-care indoor plants are tolerant of an irregular watering schedule and the spider plant will produce an abundance of offspring within its graceful growth habit for a minimum of attention.

Versatile Plants - Indoors and Out

You can place a spider plant in a hanging basket as a house plant or hang one from the branches of a tree, in warm weather, to brighten a shady spot with a fountain of green strappy foliage enlivened with a central strip of creamy white.

The plantlets hang in loose clusters after the small white flowers disappear from the long, wiry stems that hang in interesting shapes from the plants and add texture to a room or sway gently in a breeze under a tree.

Types of Plants

This member of the lily family, a native of coastal South Africa, has been grown as a house plant for hundreds of years and under many names; St. Bernard's Lily, Ribbon Plant, Spider Ivy and others. No matter what name the spider plant goes by, it will always be one of the most popular indoor plants because it is as beautiful as it is forgiving.

The variety of spider plant most commonly seen is Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum', with its long, recurving green leaves with a center stripe of creamy white. Other varieties, which include 'Variegatum' (a bit smaller than Vittatum and tends to produce fewer of the spider-like plant-lets) and 'Mandaianum' (with a central stripe of yellow instead of cream), can be found and the same plant care applies to all.

Plant Care

As an indoor plant the spider plant will do best in bright, indirect sunlight but is flexible enough to prosper in moderate natural light or even the fluorescent light of an office environment.

If the plants don't get enough light they will let you know by losing the graceful arch to their leaves and the leaf tips will turn brown. A droopy spider plant can be easily revived with a little R&R in a brighter location.

Indoor plants often suffer from low humidity, especially in winter, but the resilient spider plant is as tolerant of that as it is of infrequent watering. The tuberous, fleshy roots will store water and nutrients to carry the plants through a dry spell.

Because they store nutrients along with water in the roots and rhizomes, the plants do not need to be fertilized more than once, lightly, per season. An excess of fertilizer will cause the leaf tips to brown and reduces the production of baby spider plants.

Propagating the Plants

Reproducing is one of the things that a spider plant does best. Plants that have none of the spider plant-lets can be divided and repotted (eventually you will have to repot anyway, since the roots grow quickly and have been known to break a pot that has become to small).

The easiest method of propagating this indoor plant is to remove the hanging plant-lets and place them in some potting soil to take root. The young spider plants will usually do well but you can improve the odds of success by applying a rooting hormone (readily available where plants and plant care supplies are found) before placing in the soil.

A spider plant will often produce seed as well as plant-lets. Growing a spider plant from seed can be interesting since the plants do not always breed true when started that way.

Plants for Your Health

Tests have shown that a spider plant can effectively clean the air of many contaminants found in modern homes. Carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and xylene all accumulate in homes from the manufactured products used to construct and decorate them.

These low-maintenance, carefree houseplants have, for centuries, been rewarding a little attention from their growers with their unique beauty and a healthy environment at home or work.

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House Plants: How to Care for Baby's Tears

Add a Splash of Color to Your Home with This Beautiful Houseplant

Baby's Tears originate from Madagascar. It is a plant that is suitable for inside the home or a greenhouse and provides a very low maintenance way to have colorful beauty in your home. Although this plant has no flowers, the leaves provide more than enough color to please anyone's eye. It is best kept in temperatures between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit and requires a space with very high humidity.

Here are some tips to keep your Baby's Tears in it's most beautiful condition:

Light

You will see this plant do best if it is in an indirect sunlight. It will do even better if the sun comes form the South, East or West positions. Leaving it in direct sun can cause it's leaves to burn up and lose it's beautiful coloring.

Soil

You should use a good general purpose potting soil for this plant. The soil should retain water but also needs to drain well so that the plant isn't over watered. You will also want a well aerated soil to allow the root to have some breathing room. If the soil is packed tightly you can add some sand or perlite along with some peat moss to give the roots plenty of room. You can mix your own soil as well. Here is the recipe: 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part moist peat or humus (leaf mold) and a little bit of lime. Keep in mind to use a pot with a hole in the bottom so that excess water can drain out.

Water

The soil should be barely moist at all times. You should always use warm water for your plants. Rainwater can be very acidic. If you choose to use rainwater, make certain that it is optimum for your plants growth.

Fertilize

You do not need to fertilize this plant. It is actually suggested that you don't.

Pests

This plant is known to get whitefly, aphids and scale. You should always be sure to check the plants before you purchase them so that you don't introduce these pests to your other houseplants.

Making New Plants
You can easily make new plants from the one that you already have. Simply gather the seeds or use stem cuttings to do so. You should do this in the Spring through the late summer months. Place the stems or seeds in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot with a plastic bag. You can seal it at the top with a rubber band to seal in the moisture. This will give the plant its much needed humidity. Place it in an area that has indirect sunlight or you can use fluorescent lighting to help it grow.

Other Tips

You should make sure that Baby's Tears are kept watered during the Winter months. You should purchase a bottle with a sprayer on it so that you can mist your plant. You will want to do this often to keep it looking its best at all times. Pinch off the dead leaves and keep it pruned well in order for the plant to keep its bushy appearance. It servers this plant well to place pebbles or stones in a dish under the pot. This allows the excess water to place humidity back into the plant without it getting over watered. You must be sure that you place the pot on top of the stones or pebbles. You do not want the pot sitting directly in the water. Baby's Tears should be repotted in the Early Spring.

This is a beautiful plant and will give you years of service if you care for it well. Enjoy your baby's tears.

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Guide to Growing Kalanchoe, a Colorful Fuss-free Houseplant

If you are prone to forget to water houseplants or are a frequent traveler and unable to provide daily care for houseplants, try growing Kalanchoe.

Kalanchoe is a succulent that loves bright light, is at home either indoors or outdoors, covers itself with colorful bell-shaped flowers when in bloom, and best of all, this houseplant will go for up to two weeks without water and still look good.

Familiar Houseplant

You may have never heard of Kalanchoe, but you've probably seen the houseplant. It's as close as the floral department in the local grocery store. Small pots of Kalanchoe, with it's various bloom colors, are a staple in floral departments and garden centers due to it's fuss-free care requirements. A small pot of Kalanchoe is inexpensive also.

Kalanchoe Care

Place Kalanchoe in a location where it will receive the morning sun, but be shaded from the hot afternoon sun.

Wait until this houseplant's soil has thoroughly dried out before watering, then saturate the soil with water. This watering will last the Kalanchoe for two weeks, longer if the temperature is mild. If the houseplant goes longer than two weeks between watering, the fleshy, dark green leaves will begin to wither. But give it a drink of water and it will rebound nicely.

Propagation

Propagation for Kalanchoe is as simple as placing a broken stem into a glass of water. Kalanchoe is a very dense houseplant and it's easy to accidentally snap off a stem during routine watering, which does not harm the houseplant in any way. Take the broken stem and place it into a glass of water until a root system forms, then plant the newly formed Kalanchoe in a container of potting soil.

Feeding And Keeping

Feed Kalanchoe once per month from spring until fall with an all-purpose, balanced, water soluble plant food. The houseplant will maintain full bloom throughout the growing season.

In the fall, when the Kalanchoe houseplant is done blooming for the season, it will go into dormancy and can easily be kept until next season.

Remove all spent blooms and place the Kalanchoe in a semi-dark location where it will receive no more than ten hours of filtered sunlight per day. Reduce watering to once per month during winter dormancy.

In spring, place the Kalanchoe back into the sunlight, water and feed and the houseplant will come back to life.

Fuss-free Kalanchoe is a perfect houseplant for busy, on-the-go people who want living color in their spaces, but can't be tied down to a rigid houseplant care regimen.

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Home Decor Houseplants

Houseplants Excellent for Decor and Aroma Any Place at Home

Decorating with a variety of small houseplants adds aroma and decor of the residential home. Houseplants are very healthy to everyone, because plants take in carbon dioxide (which is exhaled), toxins, and pollutants, and in turn release clean oxygen. An Indoor plant adds to the brightness to a room, and always a cheerful sight, on any gray day or a dreary winter day.

Using an unconventional pot to plant flowers would be more stunning in a room. Such as, a teapot, watering can, jars, colored bottles, empty coffee can, or large glass pitcher. Anything that would seem unusual to hold a potted houseplant, will gain the most intention in the room. Remembering, that the outside of any containment, can be painted or decorated in any form or variety, you desire, before adding any plant. Recommend, that you add, some small tiny rocks, white stones, sea shells, gravel stones, broken pieces of clay pots, or one coffee filter, at the base of any enclosed container. This gives any plant, proper drainage, which prevents the leaves from turning yellow and dying. Another type of drainage, making holes into the bottom of the container, where water would drain onto a small dish, underneath the plant. The small dish could be any size, shape or color.

Displaying a plant in a glass jar or large pitcher, would be interesting to observe, what type of drainage is being used inside the containment, and seeing the roots of the plant. Certainly noticeable if the plant needs to be re-potted, into a larger containment. The potting soil should already have all the necessary nutrients added. Sometimes the plant will need fertilizer. An example of a fertilizer, would be PlanTea, which is an organic fertilizer developed for houseplants. The ingredients include kelp meal, rock phosphate, bone meal, and dried botanicals. Planting seeds or bulbs, can be very interesting to see them grow, but patience is certainly a requirement. Types of flowers that grow good in shady conditions include, Amaryllis, Begonia, Bonsai Plants, Avocado, Cactus, Impatiens, and Coleus. Each has a unique appeal to a room. However, certain types of houseplants should be avoiding, since those plants contain poisonous residue that can be toxic to children or pets. Those types of poisonous houseplants include: Flamingo lily, Angels wings, Kaffir Lilly, Cyclamen, English Ivy, Azalea, and Jerusalem Cherry. The average room temperature for a house plant, should be between 68 to 72 degrees fahrenheit, however slight above or below, won't effect the plant, except if the temperature where to fall below 60 degree's for any duration of time. Proper watering is always essential, depending on the type of houseplant. A good source of water for houseplants would be collecting, rain water or melted snow.

When purchasing, a growing houseplant to bring home, always check to make sure the plant is perfectly healthy. Check to see if the plant has good color, no distorted leaves or flowers, the plant is not drooping, and there should be no signs of webbing on any leaf, which indicates insects or pest problem. When you bring a new plant home, should then isolate the plant from other plants you have at home, for two to three weeks. This will avoid the possibility exposing the new plant to other plants in your house, in case the new plant has any problems, you may not notice immediately. Also, the same precaution should be followed, if you plan on re-potting the new plant, into another container. Trimming back any leaves on top portion, of the plant, will provide the energy to grow new leaves from the lower portion of the plant. Some houseplant owners would say, that soft music or talking to a houseplant provides, an additional source of fulfillment for the plant to grow healthy.

If you are unsuccessful growing houseplants, allergic to plants, or don't have the time to devote to the care of a houseplant, then you might consider an artificial houseplant. They are available in many department stores and different varieties. Certainly there are many advantages, and disadvantages. There is no maintenance for artificial plants, except to occasionally dusting them from air pollutants, leaves never die, and never have to be watered. However, the aroma and purification of the air, is not present.

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Grow an Herb Garden in Ordinary Household Sponges

If you love fresh herbs but simply can't handle the mess of potting soil on your counters - or even worse, under your fingernails - you'll love this project. Growing herbs in ordinary household sponges - clean ones, of course - eliminates the need to for soil and provides you with fresh herbs all winter.

If you are struggling with the concept, don't feel bad. I'm an avid gardener and I didn't believe it either - until I saw the pictures of lush green herbs springing from an ordinary sponge. The trick of course it to keep the sponge wet, but you've probably figured that out on your own.

Sponges Some sources recommend that you use recycled sponges, but somehow this just doesn't set right to me. New sponges are inexpensive and you can be reasonably sure they are free of bacteria or contaminants that recycled sponges can hold. I personally prefer sea sponges, mainly because I like the natural look. You could, of course, choose brightly-colored kitchen sponges to brighten the décor. If that's your style - go ahead - I promise, I won't tell a soul.

Containers

Select a container for your herb garden. Plant pots, window trays or shallow serving dishes make good choices, but here again; it's totally up to you. If you want to grow herbs in grandma's old teapot - go ahead. As long as the container is waterproof and holds the sponge, there are no rules.

Preparations

Rinse the sponge thoroughly for several minutes to remove any residue in may contain. If you are using recycled sponges, soak them in boiling water for 15 minutes to kill any bacteria.

Place the sponge in your container. A snug fit works best and prevents accidental spilling. If necessary, cut your sponge to the shape of the container to get a good fit.

Water to saturate the sponge. A little water on the bottom of the container is fine, but more that one half inch of water should be poured off before planting your herb seeds.

Planting

Sprinkle your favorite herb seeds over the top of the sponge and press them into the sponge with your fingers. Most herbs have tiny seeds and easily penetrate the surface of the sponge. For larger seeds - like chives - push the seeds into the holes of the sponge until they are secure.

Cover the top of the container with plastic food wrap. Punch several holes in the plastic with the tip of a pencil to allow air to circulate and prevent excessive moisture buildup. Place the herb garden in a warm location until the seeds germinate.

Growing

Remove the cover once seedlings have emerged and place the herb garden in a sunny window. If light is limited, place them under a plant light or a fluorescent light. Herbs prefer bright light and suffer in shaded areas.

Keep the sponge moist at all times to prevent injury to your herb plants.

Harvesting

Begin harvesting fresh herbs when the plants are three to four inches tall. Harvesting leaves from the growing tip forces new foliage to form along the stem and creates a bushy plant.

So, go ahead. Enjoy the flavor of fresh herbs all winter without the mess and fuss of potting soil by growing your favorite herbs in sponges.

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Choosing Healthy Houseplants

There is no doubt about it; houseplants transform a house to a home bringing both color and life to your living area. Lush green foliage - particularly in the midst of winter - uplifts the spirit and invigorates the soul. Choosing the right houseplants for your home and your lifestyle makes the difference between a tropical paradise and barren desert filled with dead and dying plants. I should know. I've experienced both. 

Lighting Before you step foot in that greenhouse brimming with fresh new growth, you need to know what you are looking for. That means understanding the amount of light in your home - as each plant's light requirements are different. Bringing home that tropical plant that thrives in the midst of the rain forest and placing it in direct sunlight is a recipe for disaster. Knowing the lighting in your home or office allows you to choose plants that will thrive in those conditions. Browse for plants that match the lighting you have to offer and resist the urge to choose that gorgeous sun-loving plant if all you have to offer is filtered light.

Foliage Examine the foliage of your new plant before you make a purchase. Leaves should be healthy and green - or the proper shade for that particular plant, well formed and full-size. Stunted or discolored leaves are a sign of poor care and may signal disease. Yellowed lower leaves are a no-no, too.

Shape The overall plant should be dense and compact with ample foliage. Vining plants should not have large spaces between leaves and all but the leaves on the growing tip should be full size. Small stunted leaves along the vine indicate poor health. Tall leggy plants suffer from a lack of light or overcrowded growing conditions.

Soil

Check the soil for any signs of mold or mildew. This may appear fuzzy green, white or black. Check for unpleasant odors - such as a sour or moldy smell. Healthy soil smells fresh, is free of plant debris, and is moist - but not soggy.

Roots Inspect the bottom of the pot for roots that have grown through the drainage holes. This indicates the plant is pot bound and in need of repotting. Remaining in a pot that is too small may have stressed the plant, making it susceptible to disease. Likewise, roots that protrude above the surface of the soil or are tightly wound inside the pot are signals the plant has outgrown its container.

Insects Check the undersides of leaves for any signs of insects. Look for tiny white webs or chew marks on the leaves. These may appear as jagged edges or leaves may have a buckshot appearance. Even if there are no insects present, chew marks open your plants to fungus and other diseases.

Bringing Your Plant Home Isolate your new houseplant from other plants for at least a week once you bring it home. Insects or disease can easily be transferred to your existing plants risking their health. Some prefer to wash new plants in sudsy water made from a drop or two of dish detergent and warm water. If you suspect an insect infestation, washing the plants is a good practice.

Choosing new houseplants wisely ensures healthy plants that can add life to your home. With proper care most plants thrive in the average home - even in the midst of winter. So go ahead, indulge in new plants to lift the spirits, but don't forget to check their health before you bring them home.

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Container Gardening Brings the Garden Indoors

Gardening doesn't have to be limited to the outside of your home. You can bring the beauty of nature indoors for enjoyment year round. Container gardening offers you the chance to transform an outdoor garden into a miniature one that can be treasured throughout the seasons, even during winter. Creating this type of garden is not only easy but fun as well. Containers allow you to use your imagination. Container gardens provide flexible options such as with size and location. A container garden can be situated to fit an area's existing space and tailored to suit current light and temperature needs. Typically, just about any type of container allowing adequate drainage is acceptable; you're limited only by your imagination. Some of the many possibilities include windowsill gardens, strawberry jar gardens, and hanging gardens.

Windowsill gardens make wonderful, attractive additions to your home's décor. They are easy to create as well as affordable. By planting a windowsill garden, you can bring your favorite herbs and flowers indoors and enjoy them all year long. Nearly any type of container can be fitted to a window as long as it provides good drainage. If the container you have chosen does not provide any outlets for drainage, you can easily drill a few holes within the bottom or lower sides. After selecting plants for your windowsill garden, place them in the container using a soil-less potting mix. This type of medium contains natural materials and drains more efficiently.

Hanging baskets can offer a variety of design ideas for the indoor garden. Nearly anything with the ability to hold soil and water can be used for baskets. Those lined with sphagnum moss are ideal since hanging baskets are prone to drying out easily and sphagnum moss retains moisture as will a larger container. A variety of plants are suitable for placement in a hanging basket. Sweet potato vines, ferns, morning glories, ajuga, creeping Jenny, moneywort, wandering Jew or ivy cultivars look quite beautiful in a hanging basket and when mixed with various flowers, these plants can bring a basket to life. Vegetables and herbs can be used as well. Another option for the hanging garden includes cuttings from your favorite plants. Place them in various bottles of water and situate them in a wire basket lined with moss. Hang in your desired location.

Strawberry jars can easily be transformed into striking herb, succulent, or flower gardens. Strawberry jars are found in most garden centers and are available in various sizes and with varying planting pockets. Choose plants that are suited to growing in containers and tuck them neatly into the pockets. Add potting soil as you go and water thoroughly. As plants grow, be sure to deadhead any spent flowers or unkempt leaves and water on a regular basis as well. Strawberry jars can also be used to create lovely fountains by placing a small submersible pump inside the jar and filling with water. Place the jar in a large bowl that is similar in style; this will catch water. Stones or pebbles can be added along with moisture-loving plants.

To create a useful kitchen garden, incorporate herbs such as basil, marjoram, oregano, parsley, chive, sage, lemon balm, mint, and thyme. Place your herbs in a sunny location. There are many succulents and flowers that can be successfully grown in containers. Some of these include hens and chicks, cactus, sedum, petunias, impatiens, geraniums, begonias, and lobelia. To enjoy the blissful aromas of outdoors, add some fragrant flowers. Heliotrope, sweet alyssum, lemon verbena, creeping thyme, and miniature carnations or roses are popular choices. In order to intensify its fragrance, place your container garden in a sunny area. Foliage plants such as ivy and ferns can be added as well to create a more natural appearance. Choose from numerous varieties to add texture and contrast to the garden.

Whether you opt for a windowsill garden, strawberry jar, hanging basket, or one of your own creative indoor garden designs, containers are a sure-fire way to enjoy the beauty of outdoors all year long.

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10 Popular Herbs to Grow for the Kitchen

Herbs to Grow and Use in Your Kitchen

Growing your own food can be very rewarding. There is nothing like going outside and harvesting part of your meal. Serving the fresh fruits and vegetables helps you to know your family is getting wholesome food. Here are some herbs that are easy to grow and come in handy in many recipes.

Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow. You can plant it in a small pot to keep in your kitchen window. It can also be grown in an outside garden or greenhouse. There are several varieties of basil to choose from. The most common is Sweet Basil. This is what you get if you buy Basil from a store. Basil is great to use in any Italian or Mexican recipe. It compliments any recipe that uses tomatoes. Other types of Basil include Lemon, Cinnamon, and Greek.

Another valuable kitchen herb is Chives. This herb can be cut up and used in soups. And, no baked potato would be complete without sour cream and chives. You can use Chives fresh or dried. Another variety is called Garlic Chives because it has a strong garlic flavor.

Cilantro is an herb that is commonly used in Mexican dishes. In addition, the seeds can be used to make curry powder. The dried seeds are called Coriander. This herb is also called Mexican parsley and can also be used in Oriental and tomato dishes and in pickles. Grow this herb in full sun.

An herb that is used abundantly in Italian dishes is Oregano. It is also used in Mexican dishes. It is relatively easy to grow. It is in the same family as Marjoram, but has a more pungent flavor. This herb prefers to be in full sun.

Parsley is incredibly easy to grow. You just have to be patient because the seeds take at least 6 weeks to germinate. It grows well in containers. Parsley can be used as a garnish as well as an ingredient in many dishes. There are several types of Parsley including flat and curly leaf varieties.

A very popular herb to grow in the kitchen is Rosemary. It can be used with meat, poultry and vinegars. It is also a popular ingredient in sachets because it has a strong, fresh odor. Rosemary is extremely difficult to grow from seed. However, it is easy to find starter plants of this herb.

Sage can be used to season meat and poultry stuffing. It is particularly good combined with onion in pork stuffing. Italian Sage can also be used in the same recipes, as well as stews, chowders, and cheeses.

Summer Savory is a wonderful herb to grow in your kitchen garden. It has a peppery, thyme-like flavor. Its uses include gravies, stuffings, soups, and stews. It should be grown in full sun.

A widely grown herb for the kitchen is Sweet Marjoram. It can be used in meats, eggs, lamb, salads, soups and dressings. It can be grown indoors or out. The leaves should be picked before the flowers appear.

Thyme comes in a number of varieties. There is broad leaf, creeping, and French Thyme. These can be used in stews, soups, stuffing, and to flavor meat. All of these varieties are easy to grow and can also be used as a ground cover.

All of these herbs can be grown from seeds that you will find at your local garden store. You can also find seeds and starter plants at stores such as Wal Mart. Whichever way you choose to grow the herbs, you will get many great dishes from these plants. And, growing your own food also allows you to feel a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

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How to Grow Vegetables and Herbs Inside the House

Easy Tips to Build an Indoor Vegetable or Herbs Garden

Many of us love fresh vegetables just picked from the branches, and to add fresh herbs to our favorite food recipes. If we live in a house with a big enough backyard where we can grow our vegetables and herbs, we will be able to have access to a whole world of freshness, flavor and health.

But haven't a backyard is not a reason for don't enjoy fresh vegetables and herbs. We can have our very own vegetables and herbs gardens inside our house, the only things we will need are appropriate plant pots or containers and lots of love and care for our green babies.

The first step to create a nice indoor vegetable garden is to decide the best spot in our house where to place it. Vegetables need lots of sun light, so is obvious that we will need to find a place close to a window. The morning sun is the best one, and we will need same shade for the warm seasons. We can find a window that receives sunlight enough and is not in the middle of all the traffic in the house. We can place a table underneath it, to support our vegetables plants, or even build a window support with some wood and cover it with a nice fabric. If we have a balcony, we can use it as well, or we can install a plant pot that hung out the window.

For our indoor herb garden, we should have a place four the plants in the room where we will use them the most, the kitchen. The ideal spot is under the kitchen window, some people install a wooden shelf over the sink, to have better and faster access to their herbs while they are cooking.

The second step is to choose the containers. Here we can be creative, because we can use regular plant plastic containers, ceramic pots or anything that can hold a plant. For the herbs in the kitchen we can use old cooking utensils, as old cooking pots or servers, if we are sure they are water leaks proof and we drill a hole underneath them to allow drainage. I have my tomatoes plants in big plastic plant pots that bought in a dollar store for one dollar each, and my herbs in cute vintage cans.

Next we must purchase a mix of potting soil and gardening soil, and fill our containers. We can buy vegetables seeds or seedlings, to plant. There are very nice quality dwarf types of vegetables plants that are very convenient to have in an indoor vegetable garden, they are very tasty veggies and we can place them in a small spot in our home. We can choose dwarf types of broccoli, cabbage or some of the strange but full of flavor Asian mini vegetables. We can plant jalapeno peppers and cherry tomatoes, and grow mini pumpkins for Halloween.

We must remember to fertilize our vegetables each couple of weeks. We can buy a commercial fertilizer, but also we can use many things we have in the house to feed our plants, as egg shells, fruit and vegetables peels, or even the lint of our clothes dryer.

It is important to keep cutting the leaves from our herbs' plants, to have them green and strong. When my basil gets to big, I put the pot in my bunnies' cage, and they give it a nice "hair cut". I do the same with my dill, cilantro, parsley, thyme or rosemary, so my herbs look and taste fabulous.

And you can make beautiful and original gifts in the Holiday season, if you buy little cute bottles or containers, fill them with some dry herbs and glue a tag with the herb's name painted by you or your child. I am learning how to mix herbs with olive oil to make fantastic flavor's oils little bottles, they are good for cooking and they make beautiful and personal gifts.

Growing vegetables and herbs at home can give us many good things, and they only ask for some soil, water and food, and lots of sun and love.

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Product Review: The Aero Grow Aero Garden

Grow Your Own Fresh Herbs, Vegetables, Salad Greens, Flowers and More with Your Indoor Aero Garden

I've always enjoyed growing fresh herbs, but because of the layout of my apartment, I only have a balcony that receives a limited amount of sunlight in which to grow them. So it was with great joy that I received the Aero Grow Aero Garden as a birthday present and recently began using it to grow an assortment of herbs. The Aero Grow Aero Garden is a small unit about the size of a standard microwave oven that allows you to grow a variety of herbs within your own home, regardless of available sunlight.

Aside from herbs, the Aero Grow Aero Garden also lets you grow items such as cherry tomatoes, chili peppers, strawberries, salad greens, flowers, and more. A recently released Master Gardener Kit enables you to grow a variety of vegetables including eggplant, green beans and spinach.

Before launching into the Aero Garden Review, a little background:

How does it work?

The Aero Grow Aero Garden used a hooded lighting system to provide seedlings and growing herbs and plants with 16 hours of light, using energy efficient bulbs. A computerized system regulates the lighting, the water distribution, and the addition of vital organic nutrients essential for growth.

Seeds for herbs, vegetables, or flowers come in a kit containing small pods. Each pod contains the seeds of a specific herb or vegetable. The pods are inserted into the base of the unit, and a small plastic hood (referred to as a Bio-dome) is placed over the top of the pod. The hood will remain in place until you begin to see growth. A notation on each pod lets you know when growth should begin.

The pod acts as sort of a greenhouse, while beneath the base, the roots of each plant are suspended in the air in an enclosed growing chamber. This chamber, filled bi-weekly with water, acts as a humidity-rich, highly oxygenated growing chamber to help herbs and plants grow speedily. This method is known as Aeroponics, in which the roots of plants are suspended in the air and bathed with an ideal level of water and nutrients, and is proven to be more efficient than growing plants in soil.

An indicator on the Aero-Grow Aero Garden lets you know when to add water and nutrients, and in a few short weeks, you are ready to harvest your herbs or enjoy fresh vegetables!

Aero Garden Review

Setting Up the Aero Grow Aero Garden.

Judging by the initial size of the box, it may seem as if the Aero Grow Aer Garden is quite large, but it actually only measures about 16" long by 10.5" wide by 21" high when the lamp is fully extended to its highest setting. If you have a decent amount of counter space in your kitchen it should fit comfortably. I currently have my Aero Grow Aero Garden sitting in the corner of my living room.

Setting up the unit was rather easy. It consists of a support base and a main base that is positioned on top of that. The main base is where you will insert your seed pods and add water. After putting the two energy efficient bulbs in the lamp section, you attach the lamp section to the base, and basically you are done. It only took a manner of minutes, and then I was ready to decide what types of herbs I wanted to grow.

Growing fresh herbs

After filling the unit with water as instructed, I checked out my seed kits. The unit itself came with a Gourmet Herb kit, and I had received an additional International Basil seed kit. The Gourmet Herb kit came with Parsley, Chives, Italian Basil, Red Rubin Basil, Dill, Mint and Cilantro. Instead of the Red Rubin Basil, I decided to use Thai Basil, available in the International Basil seed kit.

I inserted the pods into their respective sections on the base, covered them with the bio-domes, and proceeded to fill the base with water as instructed. I also added two nutrient tablets. The nutrients included with the seed kits are organic tablets consisting of seaweed and vital mineral salts, as well as a pH buffer, so using tap water is perfectly fine. There are no pesticides or herbicides used in the nutrients or on the seed pods. After the adding the first pair of nutrient tablets, the computerized panel with instruct you to follow up with more tablets and water about every two weeks, until the tablets are used up. Then you will just be required to add water.

Most of the seed kits available for the Aero Grow Aero Garden specify that you will be able to begin your harvest in abut 4 weeks, and plants will last about 4-6 months, depending upon what you are growing, before you need to begin growing fresh seed kits again. I first saw the basil growing within three days, just as their pod details had said. The remainder of the herbs also followed suit, beginning to grow within the time period indicated on their pods.

After two weeks there was substantial growth, and I had to raise the lamp hood to the next notch. A series of notches allow you to raise the lamp hood of the Aero Grow Aero Garden to accommodate more room for growing herbs and vegetables. A very informative booklet comes with each seed kit and provides important information and photographs on how best to care for your plants and how to properly snip and harvest herbs, vegetables and other plants, as well as a detailed troubleshooting guide.

Closing out my Aero Garden review, I found the Aero Grow Aero Garden extremely easy to use, and after its initial set up it requires virtually no maintenance. The light can be bright, so that may bother some people, but as I have it tucked into a corner, I don't find it very obtrusive. The unit itself uses only the same amount of energy as a 60-watt light bulb. The energy saving bulbs themselves are full-spectrum compact fluorescent bulbs. The unit makes no noise except when first turned on. I noticed a somewhat earthy organic smell during the first two days when the unit was on, I attribute this to either the nutrients dissolving or the aeroponic chamber developing in the base.

If you would like to grow both vegetables and herbs, or other combinations of plants, Aero Grow discourages you from doing so in the same unit, as each seed kit contains their own specially formulated nutrients and the computer system on the Aero Garden is programmed to regulate specific cycles according to what you are growing. You would need another Aero Grow Aero Garden to grow different types of plants.

The Aero Grow Aero Garden costs about $150 depending where you purchase it, and is available in black or white. The majority of the seed pod kits cost about $19.95, with a select few a little higher. Packs of additional nutrient tables are also available to help extend the life of your garden, costing about $10.00 for 12 tablets.

The Aero Grow website contains additional information as well as more accessories for the Aero Grow Aero Garden, and a more in depth Aero Garden review of the process involved in using the Aero Garden, plus various recipes.  You can buy this product from Amazon

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