5 gardens to get your green on

So winter’s pretty much been a bust this far, but it’s still winter – see any leaves on the trees out there? Didn’t think so. For a quick fix of green, why not take it inside?

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5 gardens to get your green on

Start an Indoor Garden

The esthetic appeal of having plants inside your house is the reason the majority of people decide to start gardening indoors.  Whether you have researched and planned on them or not, there are additional benefits that are derived when a green space is created inside you house. 

The décor aspect of inside greenery is a given, plants add to and beautify space – indoors and outdoors.  The different plants choices available include various colors, sizes, shapes, flowering vs. non-flowering and this is just the tip of the plant life ice berg. 

Just as trees and plants are crucial to our air quality outside, plants can provide the same service for you inside your home.  By taking in carbon dioxide from our breathing, plants flourish.  If you smoke inside your home, plants can help clean the air of the excess carbon dioxide.  Besides the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide, plants will purify the air from other unhealthy elements such as air-bound mold particles.  This makes them a natural air filter for your home.

It is well known that gardening is a relaxing past-time.  Having an indoor garden will give you the benefit of this relaxation year round when it is too cold outside to garden.  If you live in an apartment, an outdoor garden may not be possible.  Gardening inside is only limited by the amount of space you want to dedicate to it in your home.  Beautifying your living space and caring for living plants makes owning an indoor garden a peaceful endeavor.

Another benefit of indoor gardening is you can decide how much time you have or want to dedicate to caring for the plants.  If you want a plant that has to be watered less go for a cactus or if you want the challenge of coaxing a flowering tree to blossom buy a camellia.

Getting Flowering Plants to Blossom Indoors

You may have heard that it is hard to get shrubs or trees to blossom indoors, that’s because it is the right conditions are essential.  But if you have the patience and the correct amount of light (the brighter the better) to provide you can be successful.  In addition to having the right conditions, you will also need to choose a flowering plant that has a history of blooming in indoor gardens.

If you purchase you flowering tree at a green house, be aware that the plant will be acclimatized to the optimal conditions found there.  You may have better luck purchasing at a nursery or bringing an outdoor plant indoors – they will be hardier and used to changes in weather.  Look into your garden center’s return policy too, many will guarantee the life of your new plant for a certain period of time.  They will also give you important information on the care and maintenance your flowering plant will need. Humidity is important too, you can purchase a humidifier to help or you can simply place a tray of water close to the plants and as it evaporates it will create more moisture in the air.

Some of the best plants to buy that have been proven to easily flower indoors are:

* Camellias
* Azaleas
* Crimson Bottle Brush
* Gardenias
* Zebra Plant

Keeping the soil moist, fertilizing approximately twice per year and plenty of direct, bright light – if you follow these tips you are sure to see blossoms on your trees or shrubs.  Be careful with open windows, if you do not have screens bees and other pollinating insects are sure to find their way inside your home.  They aren’t the best houseguests but if they show themselves back out they are great for the flowers.