| It's always springtime when you have an indoor | | | | Now you get to decide what kind of plants you want |
| garden complete with lights and shelving. With the | | | | to grow inside! There are hundreds of different |
| right setup, you can start seedlings, grow herbs, or | | | | houseplants that will happily grow and thrive on your |
| experiment with orchids and other flowering exotics. | | | | windowsill. What you choose is based on your style |
| One of the first things you will need to address for | | | | and décor. I prefer the herbs that lend a |
| your indoor gardening is lighting. No matter what else | | | | Country French style, but you may like the |
| you do for your plants, if they do not have the | | | | Southwest style of cacti. Country living lends itself to |
| proper lighting they will not thrive. Lighting is, in fact, | | | | the lush and leafy plants. Your interior style will often |
| the most important aspect of indoor gardening. | | | | decide the plants you will chose. But there's nothing |
| When choosing decorative plants for your home, if | | | | wrong with just picking your favourite! There are no |
| you want to start without special lighting, look for | | | | rules when you unleash your green thumb. |
| plants that require medium to low light, like | | | | When you arrive at your local garden center, look for |
| Philodendrons, some ivy and some ferns. | | | | foliage plants which appear to be insect and disease |
| Plant are quick to let you know they are unhappy | | | | free. Check the undersides of the foliage and leaves |
| when they are not getting enough light. Symptoms | | | | for signs of insects or disease. Select plants that look |
| are thin stems and small leaves. | | | | sturdy, clean, well potted, shapely, and well-covered |
| Most plants with medium light requirements will | | | | with leaves. Choose plants with healthy foliage. Avoid |
| benefit from a south facing window. Windows that | | | | plants which have yellow leaves. Plants which have |
| face east and west will generally give plants with | | | | new flowers and leaf buds along with young growth |
| medium light requirements adequate sunlight, as well. | | | | are usually of superior quality. |
| However, plants that prefer low light will probably | | | | For the serious indoor gardener, there are specially |
| prefer a north facing window. Even in the middle of | | | | built lights and shelves. Home-built light carts are |
| winter, an unobstructed south- or east-facing window | | | | normally less expensive than commercial units. If you |
| will admit sufficient light to nurture all but the most | | | | are handy with tools, you can build a shelving unit for |
| sun-loving plants. Of course, light will be increased if | | | | only $50-$100 dollars while others have cost $1000 or |
| you open the drapes or pull up the shades. | | | | more ready built commercial model. It all depends on |
| Additionally, houseplants should be rotated every | | | | what you choose. Your local hardware store is a far |
| other week to expose all sides to the sunbeams. Bay | | | | more cost effective place to shop for these rather |
| windows, sun porches and rooms with skylights that | | | | than a specialty garden shop. You will enjoy many |
| provide light coming from several angles tend to | | | | days surrounded by flourishing green plants despite |
| nurture your inside garden the best; but, any window | | | | the weather, when you decide to grown using indoor |
| will do if plants are positioned so they don't lurk in | | | | gardening lights and shelving. |
| each other's shadows. | | | | |