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Growing plants indoors can be an enjoyable hobby, but it will require some time and commitment, and you will need to know the proper soil, lighting and temperature for the plant you wish to grow. There are also several various ways of growing pot plants.

Before you do anything else, inspect the area where you plan to grow your plants. The potted plant should receive natural light, several hours per day. If you have the budget for it, artificial lighting is another option. You can replace natural sunlight with special indoor lights and lamps. The easiest factor to control is temperature, so ensure your home’s temperature is ideal for the plant.

Match your potted plant with an appropriate container. If a plant is large or will grow large, your container should be able to accommodate it. Putting a big plant in a small pot can result in the plant not being able to breathe properly or the roots’ growth being stunted. It usually doesn’t look good when a small plant is placed in a large pot, although it’s possible it could grow to eventually fit the pot. Instead, you should start your plant in a small pot, transplanting it to a larger one when it outgrows the smaller size. You also have the option of selecting various sizes and styles of pots. The diameter of the container should be half the height of the plant. Further, make sure the pot has drainage holes in its bottom to prevent the roots from drowning.

Look for the appropriate growing medium or soil type next. Because it is unable to drain properly, garden soil is typically unsuitable. Additionally, insects or fungi that might be harmful to the plant could be in the garden soil. Instead choose a packaged potting soil that will aerate the roots and help the plant retain moisture.

Several factors can affect when you should water the plant. Among these factors are the type of plant you’re growing as well as heat, wind, rain and sun.

You should water most plant regularly, although not to the drowning point. 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, desert varieties are often ideal for people who find it difficult to remember to regularly water their plants. The amount of water any plant needs can vary each day.

Potted plants dry up more quickly than their counterparts that grow in the ground. Stick your finger into the soil to determine if the plant needs to be watered. If it is dry, then it needs to be watered.

Potted plants generally require fertilizers every two weeks. When you water a plant, it flushes the nutrients from the growing medium. Use organic fertilizers if you are growing edible plants or those for medicinal or personal purposes, or if you have children or pets in the house.

As a note, some plants are poisonous to animals or humans. If you have pets or children in your home, ensure you do proper research on a plant before you bring it into an environment where they can access it. (See Pets and Plant Poisoning for more information on this.)

When you grow a plant in or around your home, you should do what you can to protect it from destructive pests. Even if it’s inside the house, insects can get in and destroy your plant. There are several organic pesticides you can use to combat this problem.

Growing potted plants can be worthwhile and rewarding whether you grow them in a window box, on a balcony or patio, or in an outdoor garden. 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.

As is the case with any gardening project, growing indoor plants does require a bit of study and application of standard practices and proper growing techniques, but this will become easier with practice, and will be well worth the trouble.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live greener and more environmentally friendly lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Reusing Reducing and Recycling.

This article was first posted at Growing Plants in Pots.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 8:51 am and is filed under House and Home. You can follow responses to this entry through the Comments RSS Feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your site.