The Joy of Gardening Houseplants can hide power outlets and cords, add to a room’s colour scheme, and even add warmth to your home decor.
Indoor gardening can also be a healthy, healing pastime. Nurturing a growing plant teaches us responsibility and patience, and helps to relieve stress. And plants can help improve your mood: The sight of an amaryllis or a primrose blooming is cheering on even the greyest of days. Many businesses support growing plants in the workplace because plants have been linked to increased productivity and decreased stress. Plants also help clean the air and beautify the surroundings.
Planting the Seed
Plants need care, but give them the basics of adequate light and heat, fertile soil and sufficient water, and you should have healthy plants for years to come.
When purchasing any houseplant, try to match its growing requirements with the normal conditions in your home. For example, plants that require bright, direct sunlight won’t do well in homes with small, north-facing windows. And in warm climates, don’t choose plants that thrive in cool temperatures. Similarly, don’t try to grow heat-loving tropicals in a drafty house.
Whenever possible, buy from a reputable garden centre or nursery because the plants will have been given the care they need. Most houseplants come with tags that give basic care instructions.
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