12
Jan
Starting an indoor garden is both a sensible and enjoyable act for any gardener. By reserving a little space for a few selected varieties of houseplants, you get to ensure a reliable supply of food items and flowers, and that too without providing excess of maintenance. According to a recent study, having something to nurture can alleviate depression and make people feel like their life is worthwhile. Indeed, the pleasure of watching an entire plant spring to life from a tiny seed on the soil is exhilarating, especially when you know you are the reason behind it. So if you’re someone with a green thumb, bring that love for greenery indoors. Here are the top 10 reasons it pays to be an indoor gardener:
#1 – A Great Source of Excitement
Indoor gardening can be an exciting task if you give it a try. The thrill of watching things change and grow from scratch by harnessing the energy of sun rays is simply out of the world. Also, the fact that you can plant your own veggies and herbs one day and then a few days later uproot it and use it in your food preparation is very cool. A lot more cooler than binging on sitcoms and French fries during your pastime. By doing something that is fulfilling and productive will do oodles to uplift your mood and self-esteem. Needless to say, it is the most unique and effective way to beat seasonal blues, and keep boredom at bay.
#2 – Improved Air Quality
It’s a well-known fact that plants enhance the levels of oxygen in the air through photosynthesis (synthesis of food by harnessing energy from sun rays). Additionally, they also absorb noxious gases and pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. By emitting oxygen, and filtering the air around, they purify the indoor environment, thereby making it a better place to live for both your family and pets. What’s more, houseplants also increase humidity levels, and thus make it easier and healthier to breathe indoors. Certain indoor plants like bamboo palm, spider plant, English ivy and wax begonia are known to optimize air quality instantly. So, rather than buying expensive air-fresheners that last temporarily and only serve to mask obnoxious odors, do consider investing your time in indoor gardening for an ever-lasting clean, and oxygen-rich environment.
#3 – Year-Round Supply
One of the best things about having houseplants is that you get the opportunity for year-round supply of fresh vegetables and herbs. Certain regular ingredients like basil, tomatoes and parsley usually cost a lot of money at the stores. Moreover, they incur a lot of care to stay fresh for prolonged periods of time. Plus, there is no guarantee that the store-brought produce has been grown without exposure to preservatives or pesticides. However, you can definitely vouch for the freshness and flavor of homegrown veggies and herbs. Imagine the convenience of having a thriving parsley plant on your kitchen windowsill; you can easily pluck off a few young, healthy leaves whenever you need to sprinkle some in your dish. Not just that, you can also pluck off blooming flowers from your indoor viola plant to beautify your centerpiece and eliminate unnecessary expenditure and store runs in the process.
#4 – Grow Plants at Your Will
Indoor gardening gives you the opportunity to ditch the rules of the seasons and unleash your inner rebel by optimizing vital growth conditions like soil moisture, humidity, temperature and light requirements. Some herbs don’t thrive well when the weather is cold or rainy. By growing your herbs indoors, you’ve access to a controlled environment that is free from the hazards of rain and winds. This way, you can grow any plant you want to, considering you live in a place that gets at least a little sunlight. And even in that case, you could always install growth lamps around your potted houseplants, so don’t worry that’s not a serious deal breaker. How many times have you fretted over seasonal changes that prevented your outdoor garden from blooming into flowers and fruits? Well, don’t worry for those days are over- place a few potted plants around your home and control their growth just like Mother Nature does!
#5 – Houseplants are Low-Maintenance
The major reason why indoor gardening is a great hit is because houseplants are generally low on maintenance. They do not require frequent watering or excessive input of manure. This is because many of the popular potted plants are succulents, meaning they store water for extended time periods in their leaves, stems and roots. That is why they do not need frequent watering. With flexible requirements of water and manure, houseplants are perfect for people who are hard-pressed for time and space. With most indoor plants, all you have to do is just place yours on the window sill, water it a few times every week, and possibly give it a dose of manure every once a month- that’s it. With indoor gardening, the efforts are low but the rewards are plenty.
#6 – Save Money
With indoor gardening, you can finally break free from the tension of rising food costs. There is no dearth of vegetables and fruits to choose from. And the fact that you can optimize the growing conditions conveniently, regardless of the weather outside, just means that you can grow all the types of veggies and fruits you generally eat, thereby saving yourself the expense of purchasing them from your local grocery store. Additionally, you can even provide fresh, homegrown food for your neighbors from your indoor garden, and make a few extra bucks in the process.
#7 – Control The Quality of Food
When you grow your own food indoors, you get control over all the elements that are detrimental to the health of plants, like parasites, weeds and insects. With homegrown veggies and herbs, you know for sure that you are consuming food laden with herbicides or pesticides. Of course, since you will have grown your food without the input of chemicals, you will know that they are clean, fresh and not poisoned with artificial and noxious substances. This single point alone is reason enough to invest time in indoor gardening, especially since companies these days operate with the mentality of profiting at any condition, even if that means compromising on the end quality. We, as consumers, have to eat this food. Hence, the peace of knowing that you grew your food in an organic manner makes all the difference in the world.
#8 – Educational Opportunities
Different plants require different combinations of moisture and sunlight. For example, a cactus may thrive well in a windowless area, but most other plants will wilt away and die, almost instantly. Indoor gardening enables you to understand the intricacies of growing plants from the luxury of your comfortable interiors. Whether you are a novice in gardening, or want to teach younger family members how to tend to houseplants, indoor gardening is definitely a great introduction to this complicated art. It’s also a fulfilling experience for elders, as well as a pleasant way to bond with each other.
#9 – Improvement in Mental Well-Being
Numerous university studies have found that having an indoor garden can reduce stress levels and impact your level of fatigue. It’s a scientifically proven fact that our eyes are maximally sensitive to the color ‘green’ and as such, staring at an immaculate space of greenery every time you are down and out gives you an instant recharge and even exhilarates your mood. Indeed, only an indoor gardener knows the rare pleasure and peace that arises from sharing space with these fragrant and aesthetic-looking beings
#10 – Your Home Will Love You For It
Houseplants don’t just brighten up your interiors, they can also be used in a variety of ways to accentuate existing pieces of decor, create a unique color code, or complement a specific room, such as the bedroom or kitchen. Trendy, colorful pots are a unique way to liven up a dull, plain space and add character to an array of indoor settings, and that too without resorting to expensive decor items or a remodel. What’s more, they are portable too, and thus ideal for those who change their minds too often!