As we put summer and fall to bed and ready ourselves for winter, we often forget that the beauty left behind outdoors can often be moved indoors. The choices are plentiful and the lighting indoors is bright but not too hot-perfect for developing window gardens accented by topiaries or standing indoor trees.
- Pick a spot in your living room, dining area, family room or kitchen opposite a source of good lighting or against a window. Arrange a plant stand, shelf, sofa table, or cubicles to form a “stage” for your garden.
- Next choose plants such as spathiphyllums, crotons, antheriums, variegated ficuses, African masks, or colorful dracenas as the “stars” or taller features on your “stage.”
- Then choose your supporting cast of plants-cascaders such as ivy, pothos, bridal veil, creeping charlie, spider plants or rex begonia.
- Colorful additions include African violets, gloxinias, indoor azaleas, Christmas cactus, amaryllis, paperwhite narcissus, mums, coleus, rex begonias, and kalanchoes. Consider cyclamen and poinsettias at Christmas.
- Arrange the plants in colorful groupings (mixing leaf texture and colors). Use your imagination in choosing containers-glazed pots to match your room color or baskets to match a rustic country decor or stainless steel for an architectural look. Metal trellises, shepherd’s hooks, and ornamental plant stakes work well with larger standing plants.
- Use a well-draining potting soil; fertilize monthly and water weekly. Make sure no plant is standing in water; all pots should have drain holes.
- Trim and deadhead plants to promote fresh growth.
- With a little imagination, creativity, and care, your indoor garden can be just as impressive as your outdoor garden.