PLANNING AN INDOOR GARDEN
A beginner’s guide to choosing the right indoor plant
By Tahira Utsa October 18, 2023 Update on : October 18, 2023
Despite the fact that green spaces and facilities seem to be in short supply in busy metropolises, urban dwellers are often seen trying to restore greenery by allocating a little space for the nature inside their homestead.
The art of gardening, being a way to escape the turmoil of daily life, has found a new home in the urban lifestyle.
An urban garden offers a sanctuary of peace and comfort amidst the steel and concrete. Alongside offering a tranquil retreat found by a gardener while nurturing these little ‘oxygen agents’, plants also ensure that a home is warm, welcoming, and has the ability to ward off monotony.
However, it is always a challenge to ensure daylight and care for plants amidst the hassle-and-tussle of city life, especially for the ones who are struggling hard to maintain the work-life balance.
To suit these limitations, various plant-lovers have opted for indoor plants due to their appealing color and its contributions to maintain the in-house ecological balance.
Here are five indoor plants you can grow in limited place and reap rewards.
Snake Plant
The snake plant is a hardy and low-maintenance houseplant. Known by various other names, this plant offers a stunning display through its leaves, all standing vertically upright, reminiscing the beauty of snake skin. It comes in a range of colors, further lending a sophisticated air to any space.
Alongside promising and delivering a plethora of oxygen through its natural vents during nighttime, this plant also adds a lot of edge to your apartment or house.
This resilient plant does well in dim lighting and requires very little attention when it comes to watering. The snake plant is ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, and offices due to its reputation for cleaning the air of harmful pollutants.
Peace Lily
Known for its lustrous dark green leaves and exquisite white petalled flowers, peace lilies are a classy variety that prefers dim lighting, making it ideal for interior spaces that receive little natural light.
Not only is the variety a treat to the eyes of every visitor but also offers to stand as a practical choice as it purifies the air by absorbing harmful gases like formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia.
As it raises humidity, it also helps humidify locations that are dry. However, this plant is not for pet-lovers as peace lilies can be fatal if consumed.
Flourishing in very little sun-light, this plant, with its glossy leaves and snow-like flowers, brings a touch of elegance to any space.
Pothos
The pothos, commonly known as devil’s ivy, is a hardy houseplant that adapts well to different environments. Its heart-shaped leaves, which come in a variety of green shades, makes it a beautiful ornamental plant.
Pothos are also known for its ability to filter the air by absorbing harmful gases. Besides, this crawler species is a very good climber and often can be used to decorate fences, gates, or walls, causing very limited damage to them.
Pothos is a tough plant which can thrive with only sporadic watering. It’s also a great option for areas with low light levels, including bathrooms and kitchens, as it can also survive in water-filled vases and jars, or in hydroponic setups.
Aloe Vera
In addition to its usefulness in cosmetics and medicines, Aloe Vera makes a lovely houseplant. Aloe is a low-maintenance plant that enhances the aesthetic appeal of any room with its mushy, succulent leaves.
Known as “the fruit of the world” the skin benefits of its gel-like leave content is huge as it is especially known for healing rashes, allergies, cuts, and lessening scar marks or spots.
Its medicinal qualities are also lauded by many as it is widely used calm irritations and treat minor burns. Moreover, Aloe Vera releases oxygen throughout the night, making sleeping environments healthier and calmer.
Spider Plant
Spider plants can help neutralize Xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber, and printing industries. Gorgeous to look at, this plant resembles a spider hanging from its web due to its unusual leaf pattern. And on top of that, this plant is an absolute pet’s friend.
However, do not be alarmed if you notice some browning of this plant. It’ll go back to being green in due time.
For a healthy-looking spider plant, a gardener has to ensure that the soil is well drained. To ensure that your snake plant lives in good health, water logging and over-watering has to be prevented by all means.
Spider plants are popular because of their lovely leaves and their capacity to purify the air we breathe. They simply need a trickle of water and they can easily survive in low light. They look absolutely wonderful if planted in hanging pots with green leafy spiders dangling from the pot’s edges.
When it comes to indoor gardening, adequate care and maintenance are crucial for the health of these oxygen-suppliers.
Although these five plants are renowned for their versatility and easy nourishment, it is important to note that each species of the aforementioned plants require particular light, water, and humidity to flourish. Regular watering, proper lighting, and sporadic fertilisation are essential for their longevity and vibrancy.
Urban gardening is becoming more and more popular, and it is obvious that there are many advantages to it. Decide to grow your own urban garden and enjoy the beauty and serenity it pledges to provide to your urban home, whether you have a large rooftop or just a sunny windowsill.
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