Sunday, January 11, 2009

Growing Organic Plants Indoors

Many organic plants can easily be grown indoors with a little time, effort and tender loving care. There are several varieties of herbs to flowers that grow extremely well indoors. The best part about growing your organic plants out of the elements is that they will resist pests much easier and you can grow them year round.

Bringing Your Favorite Outdoor Plants Inside

If your organic plants are currently growing outdoors you can bring them inside providing you do it properly. First thing you need to do is pick healthy plants. If you are an active gardener you should know after the end of the spring and summer growing seasons which plants fit this description. Dig the selected plants up before the first frost hits. Make sure to dig deeply down into the dirt so that you get the entire root of your organic plants. Immediately plant them in a large enough container with fresh, new potting soil. The root ball should have about two inches of dirt around it in the pot. Make sure there are no insects or signes of disease. If you spot something that shouldn't be there you can treat organic plants by spraying them with soapy water and then watering them thoroughly.

It is important to remember that before you bring the plants inside you have to keep them from hardening off. Start by placing them somewhere outdoors where they will not receive much direct sunlight. Keep them watered and pruned for about will aclimate your organic plants to their new indoor light conditions.

The next step is to bring your organic plants indoors. Remember that they will need five hours of sunlight. If you cannot keep them in the sun try using a fluorescent light that hangs six inches above the plant and left on while you are awake, around fourteen hours or so, does the job of providing light perfectly. Do not let the temperature indoors go lower than 60 degrees because your organic plants will not do well if they get too cold. Keep them moist by placing their pots in water and gravel trays.

Keeping Your Organic Plants Indoors All Year

You can keep organic plants indoors throughout the entire year. The key is to duplicate the outdoor environment as much as possible. Remember that your organic herbs are going to enjoy a humid environment so when you bring them indoors remember to set the pots in trays of gravel and water. This keeps the soil from becoming too damp while allowing the plant to have the moisture that it needs. Keep the plants watered without drowning them. Finally make sure that they get plenty of natural light. If you follow these steps your organic plants will grow well indoors.