- 1). Evaluate the premises and scout out the ideal indoor location for your plants. Any window or sliding doors with southern exposure is probably going to be the best location, unless you know that the plants you want to grow will settle for anything less than five hours per day of full, direct sunlight. According to West Virginia State University Extension, you can increase the amount of available light by setting plants on a sheet of aluminum foil or on a white table.
- 2). Establish how many plants you can reasonably care for. Don't get ahead of yourself and overdo it, then end up with a room full of struggling plants. Know how large plants will grow, exactly what they need in terms of maintenance -- and have someone available to take care of them if you go away.
- 3). Select your containers. Containers come in all different sizes, which is one of the most fun parts of planning an indoor garden. If you're looking to jazz up the indoor atmosphere, select colorful or patterned pots. Just ensure the pot has adequate drainage -- at least two or three drainage holes in the bottom. Plastic containers are lightweight and often less expensive than clay pots or glazed clay pots. The Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends that pots be at least 6 to 8 inches deep, but you'll need deeper ones if you're trying to grow perennials or other deep-rooted plants.
- 4). Pot your plants using a lightweight, nutritious potting soil. Any good-quality store-bought soil will do the job, but amend it with 30 to 50 percent of organic compost to raise the nutrient level. Set up a potting station and pour out some potting soil, then pour out compost to equal about 1/2 the amount of potting soil. Mix them together and use that to fill the pots.
- 5). Check plants for pests daily or every time you water. Spider mites are very common among houseplants and can be devastating if left unchecked.
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