❇️ INTRODUCTION
Indoor gardening is becoming increasingly popular among people after the pandemic hit. Many people believe indoor gardening might help if something like the coronavirus pandemic were to hit the world once again. Due to the unexpected food shortages also, people have developed an interest in gardening. However, whatever the reason for indoor gardening may be, one factor remains constant: indoor gardens add a natural charm to your place.
You will find yourself availing the therapeutic and cathartic benefits of growing a garden from seed. The perks of investing time with nature and beauty are soothing, calming, and simply lifting one’s mood. Research has shown that being around plants is linked with lower levels of stress and sickness. Moreover, it also purifies the air quality by eliminating the contaminants. People who spend time surrounded by plants are less likely to be suffer from anxiety, depression, or dementia. However, indoor gardening may get confusing due to its multiple types. Aspiring gardeners may not understand where to start. That is why we have compiled this article for you.
Let us walk you through the various types of indoor gardening, its maintenance, and its pros and cons. We hope it allows you to gather enough information to make informed decisions for yourself.
IN THIS ARTICLE,
💠 The Types of Indoor Gardens
💠 The Best Plants to Grow in Each Indoor Garden
💠 The Drawbacks of Indoor Gardens
❇️ THE TYPES OF INDOOR GARDENS
There are many types of indoor gardens that can be built in homes and workplaces. Each class is suitable under different conditions and provides the space with various benefits. Let us show you the top most common types of indoor gardens preferred:
💠 Hydroponic Designs
💠 Herb Gardens
💠 Terrariums
💠 Living Walls (Vertical Gardens)
💠 Artificial Gardens
💠 Air Plant Designs
Let us take a look at the types mentioned above in a little more depth. It will allow you to figure out which kind of garden suits your home and lifestyle better. We will also guide you with the right plants for each type of garden so that you can make an informed decision.
💠 Hydroponics Designs
‘Hydroponics’ is derived from two Greek words: ‘hydro, which means ‘water,’ and ‘ponos,’ which means ‘work.’ When combined, Hydroponics refers to the gardening type where water does the work. In this case, the ‘work’ is delivering nutrients to the roots of a plant. To make it simpler, Hydroponic Design is a way of growing plants without soil. Nutrients are dissolved in the water surrounding the plant roots, allowing plants quicker and easier access. It is strikingly different from a traditional garden, where plant roots have to seek nutrients in the soil by themselves. It does not require a large amount of space, which makes it the ideal type of indoor garden.
💠 Herb Garden
An herb garden is a garden dedicated to growing medicinal plants or herbs. You can decide where to produce these valuable herbs, which allows you to devote a specified amount of space to it. From the easy accessibility to medicinal herbs whenever you need them to feeling immensely satisfied knowing you grew them by yourself, there are plenty of other reasons you should consider investing your time in an herb garden. Imagine seasoning your garlic sauce with freshly-picked basil or adding a twig of rosemary to your sautéed vegetables. Sounds peaceful, right? All you genuinely need to do is regularly invest time and energy into your herb garden. Besides, having an indoor herb garden gives you the mental peace of knowing you have the rightful access to your medicinal herbs on any given day of the week during unexpected times. However, do not forget that an herb garden requires at least eight hours under the sun every day, making it crucial to select your herb garden space intentionally and thoughtfully. As herb gardens survive and thrive on water, one may tend to get overboard with watering. Keep in mind that overwatering will make your plant’s roots rot.
💠 Terrariums
Terrariums are like aquariums for plants. Like any typical aquarium, it is made of glass and purposefully designed to mimic a miniature garden enclosed within the glass container. It is best for growing small plants that do not adapt well to standard house atmospheres. When planted carefully and adequately, terrariums can let you grow multiple plants with minimal care. On average, if your terrarium is close-mouthed, you do not need to water it more than once a month, whereas open-mouthed terrariums will thrive when watered every 3-6 weeks. The best method to figure out if your terrarium needs water now is to check the soil of your plants. When kept under ideal conditions and care, a terrarium can last up to two years. These are low maintenance and require little care in keeping the plants healthy. They allow you to add a touch of freshness to your indoor house without investing hours and hours in its maintenance daily. You can simply think of it as an everyday chore that gives you inner satisfaction.
💠 Living Walls
Vertical gardening, also known as ‘Living Walls,’ is an indoor garden where you manually cover a wall with vegetation. It consists of adding growth mediums on the wall such as soil, hydroculture felt, and an in-built fertigation delivery system. There are many different systems you can use to create a living fence. It comprises wall planters, a live panel modular system, or a panel of planting pockets. Each idea has its own perks and challenges that require you to cater to their needs differently. In any case, it is an indoor gardening system that allows you to add a touch of greenery to your living space.
Moreover, having a green wall will purify the air and reduce the ambient temperature. It makes your property more resistant to fire. However, living walls require consistent attention, care, and maintenance to stay kempt. Without adequate care, vertical gardens can lose their aesthetic.
💠 Artificial Gardens
Artificial gardens are made up of artificial plants. They are purposefully designed to imitate natural plants. Typically, artificial plants are used for commercial and residential decoration. You can use it in large quantities to make an indoor artificial garden. There are many perks of having an indoor artificial garden, including the zero maintenance cost. Yes, you may need to dust it off now and then, but that is it. You do not need to invest daily time in its maintenance because the plants are unnatural! However, they are still realistic to see. One drawback of artificial plants is that you do not feel as refreshed as you will in the company of natural flowers. The artificial ones do not purify the air and will not contribute to freshness. Yet, it enhances the aesthetic appeal just as strongly as a natural plant. Moreover, if there are certain plants you wish to keep but are allergic to, go for artificial gardens and fill your space up!
💠 Air Plant Designs
Just as the name suggests, Air Plants are those plants that survive and thrive in the air. They do not require soil. Air Plants attach themselves to other plants for support, but they do not rely on the supporting plant for flourishing. Air Plants are best for those people who do not have a green thumb. Since it is easier to take care of them, many people find themselves going for air plants when looking to add indoor garden elements to their house or workplace. Air Plants require minimal, weekly care. All you genuinely need to do is soak the plant in water for half an hour each week. Once the time’s up, take it out, and give it a gentle shake before letting it dry off. Air plants come in over six hundred shapes, sizes, species, and forms. Having these plants in one’s home makes it a versatile and modernized home décor accessory.
❇️ THE BEST PLANTS TO GROW IN EACH INDOOR GARDEN
As each indoor garden has different specifics, various kinds of plants are best suited for each. You have to ensure your choice of plants is compatible with your choice of gardening if you wish to see them flourish. However, we understand that not many of you know which type of plants will do well. Hence, we have enlisted the most commonly used plants of the kind of indoor garden which you can consider setting up in your space as well:
- Hydroponics Design: Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Cucumbers, Strawberries, Hot Peppers, and Tomatoes.
- Herb Garden: Lemon Balm, Basil, Mint, Chives, Thyme, and Oregano.
- Terrariums: Fern, Tillandsia, Dwarf Palms, Cacti, Hawthornia, Crassula, and Peperomia.
- Living Walls: Moss Walls, Green Facades, and Freestanding Vertical Gardening System.
- Artificial Plants: Potted Dracaena Plant, Cedar Spiral Tree, Artificial Succulents, Potted Jade Plant, Garden Turf, and Boxwood Topiary have the most realistic characteristics out of all artificial plants.
- Air Plant Design: Pink Quill Plant, Mad Pupper, Kolbii, Brachycaulos, and Bulbous Air Plant.
❇️ THE DRAWBACKS OF INDOOR GARDENING
Indoor gardening may be one of the most rewarding and cathartic hobbies. However, there are still certain drawbacks of it that need to be addressed so that you can avoid getting stuck with them.
Here are the top issues that arise when one starts indoor gardening:
💠 Extortionate Plants
Indoor plants may cost you more. Many more costs are merged, such as soil, container, and overall maintenance costs. While the cost of the plant itself may not be too different from outdoor plants, it still has many accessories, which makes the overall cost of indoor plants higher than the cost of outdoor plants. Price is a determining factor for most people. Hence, having a high-cost indoor garden may not be for everyone. However, if you consider indoor gardening an investment, you may not see it as extortionate. After all, it will pay you back in herbs, fruits, and vegetables!
💠 Breeding Ground for Bacteria
Since most indoor plants get limited access to wind and sunshine, it could lead to soil moistening. This soil is the perfect breeding ground for mold and other bacteria. Once this bacterium takes over, it may give rise to small flies flourishing around the plants, making it an eyesore. What you had planned to make your living space’s aesthetic appeal may become a repulsive, unclean sight for you. However, you can always combat it by choosing the right type of plant for your indoor space. You can get professionals to share their opinion with you or browse the internet to find out which plants go well with your allotted space.
💠 Plants May Outgrow or Grow Too Slow
Many indoor plants increase, making it inconvenient for you to maintain their healthy and aesthetic outlook. Sometimes plants leak water, drop leaves, or even become stinky when kept unkempt. It becomes more of a hassle than anything else. Hence, it is crucial to ensure you keep up with the plant’s maintenance now and then. Alternatively, some plants may not keep up with the outgrowth of others. As each plant has its own pace, some plants will take longer to flourish. This becomes frustrating as well. Slow growth plants show the fruits of your labor somewhat later.
💠 Temperature Requirements (Humidity)
Many plants survive in humidity when kept indoors, which makes it crucial to provide them with the right temperature. For instance, cacti survive in a humidified environment and require up to sixty percent humidity. Maintaining a specific moisture level in your living space becomes challenging. However, a humidifier always helps. It can be costly, but if you consider it an investment, you will see how fruitful it will become in time (literally!).
❇️ CONCLUSION
In conclusion, plants will significantly enhance the overall outlook of your living space or workplace. However, choosing suitable plants and keeping up with their maintenance on a schedule is an essential part of gardening. Indoor gardens allow you to stay connected with nature, beauty, and calm while providing you with benefits from physical and mental well-being.
