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Start Spring Early with Indoor Gardening: Indoor gardening can be your answer to the winter blah's. Indoor gardening
is a great way to work together as a family and enjoy the benefits of the spring
time all year long.
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(ARA) - Let's face it -- February, March and April can be gray and dreary months. You're more than ready for spring to begin, but Mother Nature is on a different schedule. But you can jump start the season of growth early and bring it inside where you can enjoy it through those last moments of winter.
Stale, polluted air happens frequently when homes are
closed up for the winter months. But houseplants help to
lighten the mood and purify the air. A NASA study found
that houseplants remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor
air inside a sealed chamber within 24 hours.
Start your spring season early by planting vegetables, herbs and flowers
while winter is still in the air, so they'll be primed for transplanting when
the spring season actually arrives. |
You can watch the plants as
they shoot their little green stems out of the fresh
dirt, monitoring them as they grow larger and larger.
Use loose potting soil to promote root growth.
Outside, worms and insects tunnel through the dirt,
naturally breaking it up to help plants spread their
roots. To mimic their effect indoors, use potting soil
mixed with peat moss, vermiculite and perlite to create
a light texture that won't compact after a couple of
waterings.
Keep the humidity level above 50 percent with a
humidifier. Not only will your plants appreciate the
extra moisture, but so will you. When the humidity drops
below 50 percent, most plants suffer from water loss
through their leaves, and it's difficult to regain that
water balance, even with frequent watering.
Really bring spring inside your home with beautiful
pots and decorating accents. Visit Montgomery Ward (www.Wards.com)
to find unique gardening accents. A garden gate gives
vines a place to climb and you can also use it to
decorate your walls as a headboard or wall hanging.
Imagine waking up in the morning to see the vine stems
spiraling around the gate toward the window. Or search
for elegant and decorative plant stands that match your
decor, and bring to life a beautiful and scented herbal
garden to spruce up your kitchen counters.
Check the nutrient levels for your plants. Outdoor
plants get nutrients reimbursed naturally, but indoor
plants don't have that luxury. Every time you water your
indoor plants, you wash some of the fertilizer out of
the soil. Not all plants like the same amount or kinds
of fertilizer, so do a little research.
Make sure the natural light is adequate. Some plants
like direct sunlight and must be located near a
south-facing window, while others prefer a few hours of
indirect light. When plants don't get the light they
need, they start to appear very thin and frail. Also
make sure as your plants begin to grow, that you rotate
the pots so they grow straight, rather than bending
unnaturally toward the source of light. If your house
does not have enough natural light sourcing, artificial
lights work as a good supplement.
Take care of your plants when you leave home for more
than a couple of days. You can always ask a neighbor to
come in and make sure your plants get a good drink of
water, or try the Oasis Plant Watering System available
at Montgomery Ward (www.Wards.com). Place drip lines in
each of the plants, set the system for the number of
days you'll be gone and the gravity-fed system will
irrigate your foliage twice a day. For plants that
require more water, double up the drip lines, and enjoy
your time away. When you return home, spring will await
you inside.
Indoor gardening is a way to enjoy
the joy of springtime planting of veggies and flowers
all year around. Start your indoor garden today -
it also makes for a great family activity.
Additional Resources
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CountryHomemaking.com: Favorite family recipes, cooking and kitchen tips, original articles and more; from our country home to yours. Pay us a visit and find out how to add some country charm to the busiest room in the house!se!
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