Indoor Gardening
Dr. V. S. Patil
Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening is an art of growing ornamental plants inside the house for
beautification or interior decoration.
Place of indoor gardening
Indoor gardening may be near a staircase or under a staircase, near a window, in
the balcony, in the living room or in the kitchen. It depends upon the taste and
requirements of the owner.
Selection of plant
Light is the most important factor to be considered to for selecting plants for indoors.
Depending upon light requirement plants are classified into 3 groups.
1. Plants for bright light 100-150 foot candles
Asparagus fern, Begonia, Schefflera, Bilbergia, Cactus, Hedera Helix, Coleus, balsom,
Jadeplar Hoya, Kalanchoe, Rubber plant, Geranium, Snake plant, Peperomea, Agave, Aloe
these plants should be placed whose they can get sufficient light like near a window/
window box garden.
2. Plants for medium light: 30-50 F. C pine , cast- iron plant, Diffenbachia, Dracena,
Aralia,Palms, African violet, Sedums, Trades cantia, Spathiphyllum, Fish hook, Pilea,
Plectranthus,Hydranjeas, Chlorophytum, christamas tree.
3. Plants for low light: 10-15 F.C Philodendrons, Money plant, Ivy, ferns, Monstera
Syngonium, Aglonema, Zebra plant and ferns.
Indoor plants can also be classified in to foliage and flowering plants there are some
climbing plants they need support for trailing which can be provided by a moss plants
Aglonema plants for hydroltire, pothos, syngonium,Philodendron etc.
Selection of containers of different size and shapes are used for growing house plants.
They may be made of earth, clay, brass, plastic or glass.
Depending upon plant size and growth habit containers may be kept on the floor or hung
from the roof even trays, dishes, bowls can be used.
Potting- Containers should have sufficient drainage provision. Before filling the pots drain
holes must be covered with broken pieces of pot to effect the drainage. Then the pots should
be filled with potting mixture containing soil and manure in 1:1 proportion otherwise ready
made peat mixture may be used. Then planting has to be done by using rooted cutting,
preferably should be done towards the edge of the pots.
Care of indoor plants
Watering- should be optimum, both over and under watering will kill the plant. Over watering results in root
Rot and under watering results in wilting. Depending upon the water requirement of different plants water should
be done.
Nutrition- In potting mixture add more of organic manures for healthy growth of indoor plant apply 3g
of liquid fertilizer once in month or so.,
Humidity- In summer hot weather place some moist sphagnamoss near the plants to increase humidity
in the micro surroundings of the plants.
Pinching and Pruning- To restrict undesirable growth
Cleaning the leaves
Removal of dried leaves
Loosening of the top soil
Repotting
Arrangement and Display- Individually, In groups or on stands
Plant protection
Pests- Aphids, Scales, Mealy bugs and Mites
Diseases- Rot, wilt, leaf spot and blight
Disorders-
1. Tip burn- Less humidity and more fluoride content.
2. Sun burn- Direct expose to sun
3. Leaf drop- Insufficient light
4. Wilting – Once or under watering.
5. Pale growth- Deficiency of nutrients.
Other feature of indoor gardening
Bonsai Vertical garden/ wall gardengarden
Tray garden Bottle garden
Thank You
