SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Organic Gardening
Organic
Gardening Tips & Advice
Indoor
Organic Gardening & Houseplants
Indoor organic gardening involves a little
more than simply refraining from using chemical pesticides
on your houseplants. An organic approach to gardening includes
considering the nature of your plants, which ones will get
along well together and, where possible, choosing hardy plants
that will thrive in the indoor climate that you can give them.
Organic houseplants
When choosing houseplants you will want to be sure that they
have been raised organically and that the soil they are in
is free of chemical fertilizers. Ceramic pots are usually better
than plastic which may leak chemicals into the soil, especially
if the soil is a little acid.
Never buy a plant that shows signs of disease or pests, or
has been stored next to an affected plant. Always quarantine
new houseplants for a couple of weeks before introducing them
to your other plants, in case they are carrying fungal spores
or insect pest eggs.
Pests are hard to treat on indoor plants. Check regularly
for signs and segregate any plants that look suspicious. Aphids
and other insects can be washed off with soapy water but you
will probably have to do this every day for a while.
Organic fertilizers and humus (composted plant waste) can
be used to enrich the soil. Most houseplants will need this
several times a year because they are not getting the natural
action of worms, bacteria and fallen decaying vegetation that
they would have outdoors.
Most plants will also benefit from more unusual kinds of plant
food that you can get for free. These include:
- organic
coffee grounds and diluted black coffee (unsweetened of
course)
- the
contents of your used organic tea bag or herbal tea bag (avoid
any contact with milk)
- the
water out of an aquarium when you clean it
- water
that has been used to wash organic vegetables or rice
- water
that vegetables have been cooked or steamed in (when cool)
- individual
fish bones that you can poke into the soil.
Indoor organic herbs
Most herbs, whether perennial or annual, can easily be grown
in pots indoors. A sunny windowsill is the ideal spot for most.
Except for parsley, rosemary, thyme and mint, which are happy
with partial shade, herbs require around 6 hours of sunlight
a day. If you live in a small apartment without much light,
you may want to invest in a growing lamp to be sure that your
indoor herb garden has all the light that it needs.
They also need good circulation of fresh air. Leave a window
open for them if it is not too cold, or use a fan to improve
air flow. Do not place the plants too close together or they
risk transferring any pest or fungal infection from plant to
plant.
Most herbs need well draining soil. Generally a standard organic
pot plant soil that you can buy from a garden supplier will
be fine, although you could add some sand or gravel to the
pot to improve drainage. Do not allow the roots to become waterlogged.
Watering requirements vary for different plants, but many
will survive with frequent light water spraying and only occasional
deep watering of the pot. Rosemary, lemon balm and mint need
more watering and should not be left to dry out.
Organic fertilizers can be used from time to time (at least
twice in the season). Fish emulsion and kelp are good sources
of nutrients for most herbs. Don't use too much or your herbs
may grow too big and lose their flavor.
Perennials will benefit from being moved outdoors in the summer
if you have the chance to do that. Be sure to harden them gradually
by taking them outside for just a few hours a day at first.
Annuals will be fine indoors all the year.
Perennials may outgrow their container every year for the
first few years. Check the roots to make sure they have not
become too long and tangled, and change to a larger pot whenever
required. They will also benefit from a change of soil.
With these tips you should be able to enjoy the pleasures
of indoor organic gardening in any home, whether large or small.
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: 2008
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