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 Group plants with similar light and watering needs
to make maintenance easier for you and increase humidity levels –
something tropical plants need to thrive. Set plants on attractive
trays filled with pebbles to capture excess water. The pebbles
elevate the containers above the water to avoid root rot. As the
water in the tray evaporates, it increases the humidity around the
plants.
Grow cacti and succulents in a cool, sunny location for winter. Give
each plant enough room to capture the sunlight it needs and to show
off its unique form and color.
Expand your indoor growing space and enjoy greenery throughout your
home by adding artificial lights. New furniture grade LED light
fixtures like the Bamboo Mini LED Grow Light Garden (gardeners.com)
fit into small spaces and look great on countertops, work desks and
shelves. You’ll save energy with LED lights and add a bit of style
to your home décor with these attractive light gardens.
Increase your success with the popular fiddle leaf fig and other
floor plants. These beauties are often used to decorate a bare wall,
corner or other space in need of a focal point. Oftentimes these
areas do not receive sufficient light for the plants to grow and
thrive. Soon leaves begin to yellow and drop. Keep them healthy and
beautiful with supplemental light. Hang a pendant light above or set
a plant light stand beside these large plants. Many are trendy
decorative fixtures similar to those used to light your home.
Save time and increase success by growing houseplants in
self-watering containers. These pots have built-in water reservoirs
that extend the time between watering. They also help reduce the
mess of water spilling over the saucer and onto wood or carpeted
floors.
Take the hassle out of watering with an indoor coil watering hose
and sprayer. These coiled hoses hook up to the faucet, allowing you
to water houseplants and seedlings up to 50 feet away.
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You’ll eliminate the need to fill and lug watering
cans from plant to plant, leaving a trail of water along the way.
Maximize time spent tending your plants by using the
proper tools. Many indoor gardeners use old silverware or try
adapting outdoor tools for indoor garden use. Having the right tool
for the job provides better results in less time. Indoor garden tool
sets have perfectly sized tools for pruning, transplanting and
tending houseplants. Many come with an attractive built-in case for
easy storage and a tray for corralling the mess of potting and
transplanting. You’ll waste less potting mix and spend less time
sweeping up debris.
Increase your growing space and show off your plant collection with
one or more plant stands. Many provide multiple tiers, allowing you
to display plants of different sizes while positioning them in the
light they prefer.
Set large plants on wheeled caddies or a collection of pots on a
wheeled tray to move them out of the way when cleaning or hosting a
gathering. Then wheel them back in place once your company has left.
Adding some convenience for easy care will allow you to spend less
time keeping your plants looking their best and more time enjoying
the individual beauty each plant provides as you grow them in style.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including
Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow
Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio
segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds &
Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardeners Supply for her
expertise to write this article. Her web site is
www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply
Company] |
