Transforming your living space into a green sanctuary is a great way to upgrade your interior design and improve its overall aesthetic. Indoor gardening has been shown to reduce stress, improve air quality and boost productivity, as it helps to create a peaceful environment that can give you a better chance of focusing. A thriving botanical garden needs a lot of natural light, which is why having one in your home doesn’t sound like the best idea, but it can be a wonderful idea when executed properly.
This guide will explore how you can create the perfect indoor garden in your home that promotes plant growth and gives you a much improved interior. Continue reading to give your home a boost of life that can make your space more liveable, all year round.
How to Create a Perfect Indoor Garden
Assess Your Space and Lighting
The space you choose to grow your plants is very important, as it can dictate their appearance and give them a higher potential for growth. You should choose a space that has a good amount of natural light, so your plants can get the sunlight they need to grow optimally. A room in your home that is perfect for this is the conservatory, as they often consist of multiple large windows that can allow sunlight to enter. Orangery roof lanterns are roof windows that can completely light up your conservatory during the daytime. SkyTherm roofs can give you great natural light while keeping your space insulated.
If you’re growing plants in an enclosed space that doesn’t get any natural sunlight, you can get LED lighting as a substitute. They provide relevant wavelengths for photosynthesis, are energy-efficient and run cooler than older lights, leading to healthier growth and lower electricity bills.
Choose the Perfect Containers and Soil
A common mistake for new gardeners is overlooking the importance of what lies beneath the surface. Your choice of pot and soil will determine how well the roots breathe and grow, so it’s important that you choose carefully if you want your plants to realise their potential.
Always prioritise drainage with your containers. Without a hole at the bottom of your pot, water can build up and cause roots to rot. If you find a decorative pot without drainage, use it as a cachepot that keeps the plant in its liner with it being inside the pretty container. Additionally, use a high-quality potting mix rather than garden soil, as indoor mixes can suffocate the plants.
Automated Watering Systems
More indoor plants die from overwatering than from underwatering, as homeowners aren’t sure of how much water the plants actually need. Instead of sticking to a rigid weekly schedule, develop the habit of checking the soil moisture manually so that you can get the best idea on if they’re ready for another watering or not.
For the most effective watering technique, you should go for automation. Use a water reservoir, pump, tubing and drippers to deliver water to plants on a schedule, ranging from DIY systems to app-controlled drip irrigation kits with timers. This is ideal for busy homeowners who don’t have much time to tend to their indoor garden.
Designing for Aesthetics
Once you have the basics of care down, you can focus on making your indoor garden look as good as possible. Use different heights and textures to create visual interest that will make your indoor more aesthetically pleasing.
Clusters of three or five plants often look more natural and pleasing to the eye than even groupings. Foliage should also vary for the best effect with plants like Calatheas and trailing vines being great for improving the comfortability of your home. Synthetic turfs can be great for completing the look of your indoor garden, if growing your own grass is too much of a task.
Effective Plant Maintenance
An indoor garden is a living part of your home that will constantly evolve, so you need to ensure that you care for it properly. Your plants will benefit from occasional grooming, so you should get out your pruners to cut off any unneeded excess growth and provide them with fresh compost every so often. Wipe the dust off large leaves with a damp cloth so they can photosynthesize efficiently too.
As your plants grow, you may need to put them into slightly larger containers every year or two to give their roots room to expand. This will maximise their growing potential and give you a much lusher indoor garden in your home.
Final Thoughts
Indoor gardens are very on-trend with homeowners, as it injects more life into their homes and makes them feel less separated from the outside world. The care you give your plants while they’re growing inside is crucial. You need to give them the best environment possible for their growth, so you don’t get any shriveled plants that ruin your home’s aesthetic. Always plant them in a place with plenty of natural sunlight and ensure they get all the nutrients they need.
