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 But many of us are stuck indoors for the winter,
have a lack of space to garden outdoors or just can’t get enough of
this healthful activity. Adding greenery indoors expands our
gardening opportunities and provides the many benefits of living
with and tending plants.
Let’s start with the kitchen. Boost the flavor and nutrition of
winter meals by growing leafy greens and herbs in a sunny window or
under a cabinet with the help of a Growbar LED light fixture. Start
plants from seeds or purchase transplants to grow indoors. Place
your indoor kitchen garden in a brightly lit location, free of cold
drafts and with easy access to harvest and use. Then enlist the
whole family and even your guests into harvesting greens for their
salad and herbs to season their meals. This is sure to turn family
and friend gatherings into unique and memorable experiences.
Include plants in your home or work office. Greenery helps reduce
stress even when working at your desk or tackling homework at the
end of a long day. Set a few plants on or near your desk or other
workspace. And don’t let a lack of light stop you from growing a bit
of green stress relief. Stylish energy efficient full spectrum plant
lights, like the Felt Pendant Grow Light (modsprout.com), fit any
décor, direct light where it is needed and promote healthy plant
growth.
Take advantage of your bathroom’s high humidity. Grow ferns,
orchids, bromeliads and other humidity-loving plants in this space.
Consider these and other low light plants like cast iron, pothos and
philodendron if natural light is limited. Imagine stepping out of
the shower into a mini tropical zone. What a nice way to ease into
your day.
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Get a good night’s sleep with a bit of homegrown
aromatherapy in the bedroom. Grow lavender, rosemary, chamomile and
other soothing herbs in your bedroom in front of a sunny window, on
a shelf or other naturally or artificially lit, bright location.
Just be sure to give the plants a pet to release their fragrance
into the air before crawling into bed for a long restful sleep.
Bring the garden to your living room. Create your own miniature
tropical, moss or desert garden in a terrarium that serves as a
focal point in any living space or centerpiece on the dining room
table. Use an open terrarium for succulents and other plants that
need airflow, lower humidity and space to grow. Enlist closed
systems for moss and tropical plants that benefit from the high
humidity and condensation that provides continual watering. Select
systems like the Botanica Biodome that minimize maintenance and
provide easy access for tending mini eco-systems.
Now’s a great time to consider rethinking your home décor to include
greenery in every space. You and your family will enjoy improved air
quality, elevated moods, a reduction in stress and the many other
benefits plants provide.
[Text from file received from
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Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books and host
of The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series. Her website,
www.MelindaMyers.com, offers gardening tips and videos.
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