How to Grow Plants in Pots
Growing plants indoors, while rewarding, requires time and commitment as well as knowledge about the proper temperature, lighting and soil for the plant you want to grow. In addition, there are several techniques for growing plants in pots.
Inspect the area where you plan to keep your plants before you do anything else. You must place the potted plant in an area where it will receive natural light several hours a day. If you have the budget for it, you can also use artificial lighting. There are special indoor lights and lamps that can be used to replace natural sunlight. You can ensure that the temperature of your home is ideal for the plant yourself, since this is the easiest factor to control.
Choose an appropriate container for your potted plant. The larger your plant will grow, the larger your pot should be. 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. Or you can simply grow your plant in a smaller pot and transplant it to a bigger pot when it grows. Various styles and sizes of pots are also available. As a general rule, the container’s diameter should half the plant’s height. Further, make sure the pot has drainage holes in its bottom to prevent the roots from drowning.
Next look for an appropriate growing medium or soil type. Because it is unable to drain properly, garden soil is typically unsuitable. Further, garden soil could contain fungi or insects that are harmful to the plant type. Instead choose a packaged potting soil that will aerate the roots and help the plant retain moisture.
The appropriate time to water the plant can be affected by several factors. These factors include wind, rain, sun, heat and the plant type.
You should regularly water most plant, although not to the point of drowning. However, desert plants like aloe vera may do better when you allow them to dry out instead of flooding them with large amounts of water. Because of this, people who find it difficult to remember to regularly water their plants may find desert varieties more suitable. The amount of water any plant needs can vary each day.
Potted plants also dry up faster than those growing 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. You flush the nutrients from the growing medium when you water a plant. Organic fertilizer is preferrable, particularly if kids or pets are in the home, you grow edible plants, or you’ll use the plants for medicinal or personal purposes.
As a note, some plants are poisonous to animals or humans. Before you bring a plant into your home, thoroughly research it if you have children or pets in your home. (See Pets and Plant Poisoning for more information on this.)
Always take precautions to protect a plant from destructive pests when you grow a plant in or around your home. Insects can enter your home and destroy your plant even if you house it indoors. To combat this problem, you can use one of the organic pesticides on the market.
Growing pot plants – whether inside the home, in a window box, on a patio or balcony, or in an outdoor garden, is a rewarding and worthwhile endeavor. 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.
Although study and application of standard practices and proper growing techniques are necessary when growing plants indoors, the process will become easier and is worth the trouble.
About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn to live more eco-friendly lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Sustainable Living.
Original Article: Growing Plants in Pots.