Year round plant friends
Indoor houseplants
Growing plants indoors can be rewarding and enjoyable. Many houseplants are fairly easy to take care of and can give someone a small sense of caretaking.
Greenhouses & more
many types of greenhouses exist and a great place to start is to do research and visit some. Certain characteristics may stand out as most important to you.
Houseplants
Care schedule
Create a simple plan, based on good sources of information, for how often to water, feed, & repot your plants.
Productivity
Both plants and people need help to be productive at times, but luckily they are able o help each other with this. When we are for plants they take care of us too. Studies show the presence of indoor plants can improve focus and attention.
Stress Reduction
Owning houseplants brings green life into a building and can be a positive calming addition to any space. The benefits are reduced significantly when there are too many plants to care for easily, so pace yourself.
easy care plants
Start with just a couple houseplants that are known to be easy to take care of. These include
- MONSTERA (Monstera spp)
- SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum comosum.)
- SPIDER PLANT (Dracaena trifasciata)
- POTHOS (Epipremnum spp.)
- PHILODENDRON (Philodendron spp.)
- RUBBER PLANT (Ficus elastica.)
- PRAYER PLANT (Calathea spp.)
- CRASSULA S,UCCULENTS (Crassula spp.)
Financial investment
With the rising popularity of houseplants lately, some unique ones have had their prices sore. Don’t bother buying expensive plants unless you can afford to not be upset if they don’t live. These plants may be exotic looking, but they often require unique care or are simply overpriced.
Trading and gifting houseplant cuttings is the best way to get unique varieties, otherwise stick to the basic ones available locally or in a near by city.
Buying plants online
These days houseplant cuttings are sold online and although some people have success with this it’s not the most ideal source of houseplants as it can be unpredictable. A better option is to visit plant shops when in visiting cities. This is a great way to break up errands or fill time between other activities.
Greenhouses
Seed Sowing
Although a few seeds can be started in a southern facing window and is a great activity, sowing large amounts of seeds is best done in a greenhouse. The addition of heated seed mats helps ensure the soil stays warm during germination.
Fall Season Extension
Protection from early frosts and rapid weather changes are the best known benefits of greenhouses. This allows plants to finish or continue providing crops into the fall. In colder climates this can significantly extend the gardening season.
Controlled Environment
Greenhouses are a great place to grow more sensitive plants or perhaps something that is meant for a bit further south in a slightly warmer zone.
although some people have managed to grow Tropical Fruit in Colder Climates this requires a heated greenhouse. For zones 3-5 and unseated greenhouse protects from the harshest weather but will still freeze and thus everything must be adapted to within only a zone or two warmer from you are located.
Hoop houses
An affordable way to protect early planted seeds and harden off seeds started inside in spring, as well as extend the growing season in the fall.
Heated Greenhouses
An advanced project but a great source of inspiration worth sharing. Most heated greenhouses are custom built with a combination of beneficial aspects that work together to maximize resources in a given area, while also stacking functions. This includes: south facing, full sun year round, a stone wall on the north side, Climate battery (underground air storage), and a wood stove or other heater.
A unique option is to include a heated sauna that shares a stone wall snd wood stove with the greenhouse.
Building a Greenhouse
The key to building a useful greenhouse is to plan well. Observe and interact with your land by both standing back and also walking through layout ideas. Do plenty of research, make clear goals, and consider hiring a professional to create your final design. Always follow your county laws and consult/hire skilled professions BEFORE breaking ground.