Going Green: Indoor Organic Garden

Benefits

• Plants are decorative and useful. Plants grown indoors remove pollutants from the air, add oxygen, may release a natural fragrance, are beneficial to humans' health and, depending on the plants, provide a source of fresh vegetables, fruits or herbs year-round. They add color, especially when they are in bloom, and the natural look live plants provide soften the appearance of the interior environment.

Plant Considerations

• The best way to go green is to select plants that prefer the natural environmental conditions inside your home. Using small solar panels can generate the electricity needed to run grow lights if the natural conditions are not favorable for the plants you prefer to grow. Decide how much time you wish to invest in caring for the plants and what you hope to gain by growing them, and then select the types of plants that meet those needs.

Plants' Needs

• Plants need light, water, good drainage and nutrients to thrive. Start with a potting soil designed for containers. The soil needs to be kept moist but not soggy. Remove all water remaining in the plant container saucers 15 minutes after watering. Six hours of light per day is sufficient for photosynthesis to occur. Photosynthesis is the process plants use to make carbohydrates. Plants store the carbohydrates inside their stems and use them to grow, flower and fruit. Spread a 3-inch layer of compost on the top of each plant container's soil surface in early spring to provide a source of natural nutrients to your plants.

Pests and Diseases

• Aphids, white flies, scale, spider mites and mealy bugs are common plant pests, and they should be dealt with as soon as they are noticed. Submerse small, pest-affected plants under water for three to five minutes, or put them in a bathtub or sink and spray them with water. Spraying water from a spray bottle on larger plants is effective against their pests. Spray the underside of leaves as well as the upper side. All remaining pests should be removed by hand. Continue this process daily until the pests are eliminated.

  Root rot, mildew and wilt are common diseases that affect indoor plants. These problems are caused by overwatering, allowing plants to sit in water or high humidity. Discard plants affected by root rot or wilt. Remove mildewed leaves, lower the humidity levels or lessen the amount of misting.