Indoor Gardening in Winter
by Roger Tagg
http://www.roargardening.com
Gardening doesn~t mean that you have to limit your green
thumb to the spring, summer, and fall months of the year.
When it comes to growing things you can just as easily
garden in the winter as you can at any other time of the
year.
Winter gardening means that you can enjoy green
plants on your window sill even while there is snow on the
ground. True, most plants go into a period of sleep during
the colder winter months. Blossoms fall off and leaves turn
brown. But there are several things that you can do so that
you enjoy green foliage and blossoms throughout the winter
months. All it takes is a few tips and a bit of patience.
One of the most important things for you to remember is
that you don~t want to over-water your plants. When plants
are in a resting period they need less water to sustain
them, even if they look brown and dry. If you over-water
your indoor winter plants you~ll find the leaves will start
to fall off. Winter gardening means that you have to adapt
the way that you water your plants.
Try to add some moisture to the air in your home if you can
when you are gardening in the winter. You can increase the
moisture by either buying a humidifier, which will benefit
you as well, or by simply boiling a pot of water on the
stove and letting it simmer for a while. The moisture in
the air will ensure that your winter plants don~t get too
dry.
Some winter plants simply do not last for a long period of
time - plants such as Gloxinia, Chrysanthemum, and Cyclamem.
If you want plants that will last through the winter focus
on other varieties of plants other than these three. When
you purchase an indoor plant find out as much information
about the plant as you can. Find out the requirements for
light and water of the particular plant so that you don't
over water the soil or keep it too dry. When you check into
the proper conditions for your indoor house plants you
greatly increase your chances of enjoying bright flowers
lining your window sills during the long, drab winter
months.
Bugs sometimes are more of a nuisance to your plants when
you are practicing winter gardening. If you find this to be
a problem, study the best way to treat each plant before you
use chemicals. Also, try to allow as much light in as
possible. The days are shorter in winter, so put the plants
who love sun in your windows that get the most of it.
A terrarium is another option for those that struggle with
producing blooms while winter gardening. A terrarium is an
ideal solution for plants with green foliage, herbs, ferns,
orchids, and cacti.
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