How to Create A Thriving Indoor Garden For Your Colorado Home
With the pandemic forcing many of us to change our lifestyle and spend more time at home, a lot of people have turned to gardening as a pastime - part hobby, part therapy. The problem is that with so many of us struggling with a lack of space, especially in the city, gardening can be a challenging endeavor, if not impossible.
Or so it may seem. Indoor gardening is entirely possible, and can even be done well. But it requires some knowledge, know-how, and why not, some nifty gadgets that can help you give your plants everything they need. Here’s how to create a thriving indoor garden in your Colorado home, whether it’s completely natural or aided by tech.
Natural growth
Even a 3rd grader knows how to grow a plant, in theory, right? You need sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, and you’re on your way. Of course, things are a bit more complicated than that, but those are the basics you need, and the best part is that they’re free and naturally occurring.
Sunlight
Lack of sunlight is oftentimes one of the components that sabotage indoor plants, because it’s hard for it to reach a growing plant indoors, especially in the winter. You have to be very strategic about the way you place your plants in order to get enough sunlight.
Place them in a room that faces the South, for maximum sun exposure, even during dark and overcast seasons. That way, they will be able to harness even the smallest amount of sunlight they get. Luckily, Colorado gets an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, so it’s optimal for growing plants.
The best thing is to put them on a window sill, to ensure that they get the sun exposure they so crucially need. Be very careful in the wintertime, though - if it’s extremely cold, they might freeze being so close to a window. Make sure they are always in a heated room. If your home has a sunroom or conservatory, that is ideal, but realistically, most homes do not, so a kitchen window may be the best you can do.
Water
Obviously, water is the other big component. It’s extremely important to water plants on a schedule, and according to their specific respective needs. All plants are not made equal, and they don’t all need the same level of care or the same amounts of water. Watering everything wholesale means some plants will be getting too much water, and some won’t get enough.
Be sure to research each type of plant you’re growing and learn how to provide adequate care. Some plants need daily watering a little at a time, others do better with watering once a week. Always respect the needs of each plant.
What else?
Something you may be overlooking, temperature is also crucial to the health of your plants and the way they grow. Cold temperatures may inhibit their growth or even kill them, if the frost gets to them. Temperatures that are too hot can also be detrimental, because it can evaporate the moisture in the soil, causing them to dry out prematurely and ultimately wilt and die.
Some plants may also need a little help in the way of nutrients. Plant food, or fertilizer, is like a boost for your little seedlings. It can help inject some necessary nutrients into the soil you’re using, it can also encourage growth and even ensure the pH of the water you’re using is appropriate and balanced.
Tech devices
Thankfully, we are no longer at mother nature’s mercy when it comes to plant growing and gardening. While it’s perfectly possible to grow beautiful plants completely naturally, technology has blessed us with the means to “cheat” mother nature. It is now possible to grow perfect, healthy, beautiful - and tasty! - plants, even inside a dimly lit apartment.
LED grow lights
Perhaps the most important piece of equipment in your plant-growing arsenal are LED grow lights. These lights address the biggest problem with indoor gardening - namely, the lack of sunlight. LED lights mimic the sunlight these plants crave. They get it all day, everyday, supporting their growth and development in the same way they would at the peak of summertime.
That enables you to grow bigger, better, healthier plants that are able to thrive instead of shriveling up because of lack of sunlight. Of course, this is an additional - and significant - cost, but it makes a huge difference to the quality of your plants and their chances of success.
Smart plant monitor
If you were able to have a plant expert present 24/7 to let you know what your plants need and how to aid their success, wouldn’t you? Then you’ll love a smart plant monitor. Just like it says on the tin, this device monitors your plants’ health and is able to let you know exactly what they need.
Hooked up to your home Wi-Fi, it sends you alerts on your phone regarding the level of moisture they need, whether they could use some plant food, more sunlight, a change in temperature, or anything else they may need to thrive in optimal conditions. No matter where you are, you are able to monitor your plants remotely and ensure they are taken care of. It’s even better than sending a neighbor to water your plants.
What else?
You can actually purchase smart indoor gardens that are already set up and equipped with everything you need. That takes the guesswork out of the process, and enables you to almost set it and forget it. These tools come in several sizes, according to how much space you can dedicate to this endeavor, and how many plants you intend to grow.
Equipped with an LED growth light, appropriate soil, pods - it requires minimal set-up or know-how. There are several companies on the market producing these, and they’re available at multiple price points. You can get your hands on a small, no-frills version for around $100, while the fancier, high-performance ones can set you back around $700. Leaving it up to nature is free, but it is also unreliable and sometimes, an uphill battle. Certainty of results requires an investment.
Bottom line
Who said it’s not possible to have a nice indoor garden? You can grow plants that are just as good - or even better - than the ones grown in an outdoor garden. All you need is the right basics, a South-facing window, or some state of the art technology that can take the guesswork out of it.
Gardening doesn’t have to be just for those who have a large garden, or relegated to the warm months. You can ensure you’ve got tasty herbs and veggies all year long, grown right in your own living room.
Another Fun article from Alexa Elliot and Colorado Homefront.