Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Container Gardening Indoors
First of all a large planter with good drainage is recommended. I usually use a 16 or 20 inch decorative planter with openings in the bottom and use a light potting soil mixture containing a good amount of peat. Then the fun part is I visit the local nursery and select a grouping of plants that have the same requirements for light, water, and general care. If you are not sure which plants to use, it is common practice for nurseries to group plants together with similar requirements, taking away some of the guess work.
Spathiphyllum |
Croton Banana |
Surrounding the Spathiphyllum is Croton Banana which does require more light but it does very well in the constant filtered light that this planter receives. I have the Croton more in the front section of the planter that sits across the room from a window so it receives filtered lighting. Figure about three of these plants.
Alocasia Polly and Arrowhead |
Aspargus fern (center) |
The second indoor container planter that I have is in even lower lighting conditions and contains Peace Lily, Parlor Palm, Arrowhead Plant and Philodendron which are all shade loving plants. The central plant is Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), surrounded by three Nephtytis White Butterfly (Arrowhead Plant) on the right and three Chamaedora elegans or Parlor Palm on the left and toward the back. Cascading down the front of the planter is Heartleaf Philodendron. This planter does great in its limited diffused lighting and moist loamy soil. I placed sphagnum moss around the top of the planter for both anesthetics and moisture retention.
Whether you are an avid gardener or just appreciate a little green around the house try out one of these indoor container gardens. They will provide lots of enjoyment throughout the entire year. The fun part about them is that you can combine your favorite tropicals to create a fascinating display. To keep the planter looking full I simply change some of the plants out and add some new, which warrants a trip to the nursery...something I have no problem doing in the middle of the colder months!
As Always...Happy Gardening!
Author:Lee@ A Guide To Northeastern Gardening Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved
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