Indoor Gardening Read Online Free PDF Page A

will drop leaves, fade and die; even if all other aspects are perfect.
    To ensure that your plants are happy, arrange them in groups according to their temperature, humidity and light requirements. This will save you a lot of effort, and money by managing the climate with what you already have rather than of trying to make drastic changes that would actually work against the natural rhythm of your environment at home.

L IGHTING U P Y OUR I NDOOR G ARDEN
    Light is a vital pre-requisite for an indoor garden as it helps the plant to produce chlorophyll through photosynthesis. This is the process of making food – the process of advanced life on Earth itself. It’s also the process which will keep the plant looking healthy, green and beautiful. Nothing manmade can replace the intensity of sunlight; however, there are the HID (high intensity discharge) lights, which can do an excellent job keeping your sun-loving plants happy.
    If you do it right, your African Violets, orchids, citrus and hibiscus plants will flower and look bright and green throughout the year. This is no small achievement; the key is, ‘doing it right’.
    T HE R IGHT C OLOR OF L IGHT
    Sunlight offers the complete spectrum of light and plants use it all in the process of photosynthesis. However, the red and blue lights were found the most critical to their growth and positive photosynthesis (light that makes plants grow towards it). Blue light regulates plant growth and is especially beneficial for growing plants with foliage.
    T HE R IGHT I NTENSITY
    You will need to regulate the intensity of the light to ensure that your plants receive the right amount necessary for their growth. Plants react differently to color of light as they do to the intensity of light. Most plants do well in light that is kept about 1-3 feet away.  Flowering plants are happier when the intensity of light is high – say 10-12 inches away, while foliage plants are okay with the light some 36 inches away.
    Each plant has its own requirements. The trick is to group like-type plants together so you could provide the right type and amount of light to them better. When you design your indoor garden keep in mind, which plants want what and group them accordingly. Unless this is done right, you will have some plants happy and some wilting away – and you do not want that.
    To find out what each one of your plants needs, you might like to research on the Internet about each one and note all the requirements where you can refer to them every once in a while. You can also do it through trial and error; plants have a way to “tell” you that they are not happy. Look for telltale signs such as wilting of leaves, drooping leaves, yellowing of leaves, etc. The change comes pretty fast within a few days; so you can know for sure what the plant likes and dislikes. Adjust the light to the intensity it likes; you will know when you hit the right combination for your plant will look as beautiful as it would be out in the sunlight.
    T HE R IGHT D URATION
    All plants can be divided into three major groups:
    1. Short-Day Plants – in this category are the plants that will need less than 10 hours of light. In this group are plants such as azaleas, chrysanthemums, begonias, and kalanchoe. For these types of plants to flower you need to provide about 10 hours of direct light.
    2. Long-Day Plants – in this category are plants that require a minimum of 14-18 hours of light. In the group you will find the majority of garden flowers and most vegetables. When the light is inadequate these plants yellow and droop.
    3. Day-Neutral Plants – in this category you will find foliage plants, coleus, African violets, geraniums – these are plants that require about 8-12 hours of light throughout the year.
    T HE I MPLEMENTS
    There are all kinds of light specially designed for indoor gardening whether this is for starter seedlings, flowering plants, or green foliage. There are many types of lights available and