There are numerous benefits to having plants in your house. Therefore, it’s no surprise that there has been a huge surge in indoor gardening!
Indoor and outdoor plants have different levels of care that are required. Knowing what is right for one doesn’t mean you know what’s right for the other.
It’s important to know the difference between how to grow indoor plants vs. growing plants outside. Let us help!
How to Choose the Right Plant
First things first, certain plants do better inside than others! Most plants can survive indoors with the proper care and equipment, but some can actually thrive without much attention at all. If you’re a beginner, here are a few good plants to start with in no particular order…
- Snake plant
- Aloe vera plant
- Philodendron
- ZZ plant
- Spider plant
These plants are low maintenance and can tolerate lower-light conditions. The exception on our list is the aloe vera plant. They do love the sun but don’t need much maintenance.
When choosing your plant, you also want to make sure it’s healthy. This could ruin your chances of success before you even get started. Beware of odors and sticky films as these are a sign of disease.
On the flip side, what you want to look for is well-formed buds, healthy roots, and green leaves. These will help you choose a healthy plant.
How to Grow Plants Indoors
There are a few key things to keep in mind when deciding to start your indoor gardening journey. Let’s take a look.
Watering
Improper watering is the biggest reason household plants die. A good rule of thumb to work by is it’s better to under-water than overwater.
It’s easy to worry that you aren’t giving your plant enough, and, in the goodness of your heart, you want to give more. However, you may end up drowning your plant. Here are a few tips for watering.
- Keep your soil moist and not soggy
- Monitor the top two inches of your soil’s moisture level
- Use room temperature water
The exception to overwatering would be succulents. They can go long periods without water, and then be given a complete soaking.
Light
Even low-light plants still require some light for their process of photosynthesis. With few exceptions, indoor plants need indirect light.
Consider the direction your windows are facing. If the indirect light is too little, you will have to supplement it with LED grow lights. You can find more here at BVV if you are interested in those.
Soil and Fertilizer
It’s important to try to choose a soil that is specific to your plant. Think of the soil and roots as the foundation of your house. You want it to be strong and well supported.
There are general ones that you can buy from your local store. However, soils differ based on the plant’s needs. So, pick up one that has the right mixture for your plant!
Once a month you should also apply a little fertilizer. This will help to sustain your plant growth.
Enjoy Your Plant
With the proper care, you should be able to enjoy your plant for a few years! Give yourself grace as you learn – and if you fail, try again! Indoor gardening can be a wonderful hobby.
We hope this has helped you learn how to grow indoor plants successfully. Check out our other posts for more information like this!
