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Eight Tips To Keep A Thriving Indoor Garden In Your Apartment This Summer

Jul 12, 2023
Tips to keep a thriving indoor garden in your apartment
With many living in an apartment, Barratt London has created the ultimate indoor guide to growing and maintaining indoor plants within an apartment or small space.

Google searches for ‘indoor garden plants’ are growing throughout the months, meaning that people will be asking questions about tips and hacks to keep them alive.

Key Takeaways

1. Observe and Adjust for Light Optimisation:
Understand your home’s natural light patterns.
Place plants near windows or areas with consistent sunlight.
 
2. Check-In Regularly to Prevent Pests and Diseases:
Overwatering, poor ventilation, and lack of sunlight attract pests.
Inspect your plants for changes—yellow leaves, soil moisture, or root health.
Wipe dust off leaves to prevent spider mite infestations.
 
3. Avoid Air Conditioning and Fans Near Plants:
Keep plants away from air conditioning units and fans.
Ensure constant airflow without risking harm to your green friends.
 
4. Stay on Top of Grooming:
Trim and prune indoor plants as needed.
Remove debris, dust, and dead leaves.
 
5. Don’t Overwater:
Understand each plant’s water requirements.
Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Use well-draining pots to prevent root rot.
 
6. Create a Wildlife-Friendly Balcony:
Add bird feeders, bee-friendly plants, and insect habitats.
Encourage biodiversity even in small spaces.
 
7. Choose Pet-Friendly Plants:
Research pet-safe indoor plants.
Avoid toxic varieties if you have furry companions.

8. Select Suitable Pots:
Use pots with drainage holes.
Consider self-watering containers for convenience.

1. Observe and adjust your plants for light optimisation.

 
Understanding where to put your plants should be dictated by the light in your home, so it’s important to observe which areas receive the most and least natural light.  Whilst you don’t want to place a plant in direct sunlight, placing it by the window or in an area that receives sunshine throughout the day will help it thrive. 
 
With this, ensure you know your apartment's humidity levels and temperature. Many plants have an ideal temperature in which they thrive, so it’s important to research before purchasing it. Remember that it might take time for your plant to find its perfect place within your home, so you may need to move it around a few different areas. A helpful tip is to take a picture of your plant in the morning and then again in the evening. Compare the two images and see how your plant has moved during the day. 
 
 If your plant shows no distress, leave it where it is, as it will be happy. 
 
 

2. Check-in on plants often to prevent pests and diseases.

 
Overwatering, poor ventilation, and lack of sunlight are reasons why plants attract pests and diseases such as bacterial infections and fungi. It’s essential to watch over your plant a few times a week to see if anything changes. For example, if your plant has produced yellow leaves, check the soil for signs of over-watering or root rot. 
 
A helpful tip here would be to take some tissue and wipe dust that is present on the leaves or the stems. Take the time to inspect each part; the quicker you find potential issues with your plant, the easier they are to fix. 
 
 

3. Don’t have plants near air conditioning or fans. 

 
Having plants near an air conditioning unit will not obstruct the airflow but could be a potential safety hazard if they come into contact with the unit or a fan. To prevent this, put your plant in a position where it gets constant airflow but is away from harm.
 
 

4. Keep on top of grooming. 

 
Keeping on top of grooming when it comes to indoor plants is vital. Trim plants where needed, and wipe off any dust from the plant to prevent infestations of spider mites. Grooming should happen either daily or a few times a week, depending on how high maintenance the indoor plant is. 
 
Winter is a good time to do thorough grooming, which typically includes removing plant debris, cutting just below the leaves to encourage healthy growth of a new leaf (otherwise known as pruning), and repotting the plant if needed. 
 
 

5. Don’t overwater indoor plants. 

 
Refrain from overwatering your plants, and thoroughly check how often you should water a particular plant. Overwatered plants start to show yellow leaves and have symptoms of root rot (where the oxygen is starved from the plant). Weakened plant structure can also be a sign of overwatering. 
 
The opposite is problematic, too. Underwatering an indoor plant will show signs of droopy folded leaves, brown tips, and slow growth. 
 
In some parts of the UK, water softeners help prevent the build-up of minerals, but soft water shouldn’t be used to water indoor plants. A helpful tip is to use water from the outdoors. Water your indoor plants less in the autumn and winter as there are shorter daylight hours and more in the spring and summer. 
 
 

6. Encourage a wildlife-friendly balcony. 

 
Encourage a wildlife-friendly balcony by either having bird baths or creating a vertical garden with the outdoor space that you do have. Have hanging plant baskets that birds and wildlife could sit in, and add light to your balcony with solar-panelled lights. 
 
 

7. Purchase plants that are pet friendly 

 
Purchase plants that won't cause harm to your furry friends. Calatheas and spider plants are great options if you want to be pet-friendly. Avoid peace lilies and snake plants if you have pets, as they are poisonous if ingested. If a pet was to eat plants such as these, a trip to the vet might be needed as they might suffer from stomach and throat issues.  

 

8. Ensure you have suitable pots for your plants. 

 
Plastic and metal pots aren’t just bad for the environment; they are also prone to overheating, so opting for terracotta and ceramic pots will encourage healthy growth as they allow the plant to expand. A helpful tip here would be purchasing pots that have a drainage hole, as this allows excess water to escape, preventing root rot. 
 
Avoid following the latest trends before understanding the logistics of your apartment, as the plants in someone else’s apartment might not thrive as well in yours due to lighting, temperature, airflow, and direction of sunlight.
 
You must take the time to observe your apartment and see which indoor plants are best suited.

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