Taking It Indoors - Winter Gardening On The Insi
It’s a cold, snowy winter day and you’re a gardener. Don’t just sit around and do nothing! Your garden needs you! Grab your pruning shears and get outside. Walk around and inspect all of your bushes, shrubs, and trees. Now, just after fall and into winter, is the perfect time to prune your garden. Be careful of those plants, such as lilac bushes that aren’t ready for pruning time yet.
Look for damaged branches and gently pull them off. Shake snow off your evergreens but do not attempt to remove ice. Removing ice could damage your trees and make it harder for new branches to grow in the spring.
Also, use this time to do some regular picking up around the yard; branches, raking leaves, clearing some of the snow away from your plants, etc. Once all the outside work is done get back inside and before we get to work on your inside winter garden, there’s always planning for next year’s garden. If you’re planning on expanding your garden or remodelling, draw your plans out on graph paper by the square inch and decide when you’ll begin planting your vegetables in the spring. When spring time comes, you’re already a step ahead of the season.
Now its time to get started on the inside. Let’s do some hibernating and take the gardening indoors! First, decide whether you want your inside winter garden spread throughout your home, or if you’d like to make a specific gardening room to decorate. Now, to begin.
Terrariums are indoor plant displays and will be used for our indoor winter gardening. Because this is winter gardening, terrariums in the shape of bells or Christmas trees and such will be the most inviting. A cloche is a specific type of mini terrarium that holds moisture incredibly well and works well for plants that dry out easily. Place terrariums near windows that do not get direct sunlight. If a terrarium collects too much moisture, just remove it from the plant allowing it to dry out a bit before replacing. Temporary terrariums, such as jars or vases, can be used while you’re away on vacation; just turn upside over the plant! Dish pans or trays work great for the base of a terrarium. Cover with moss and it’s ready to use!
There are four types of plants that work the best in terrariums:
1. Orchids
2. Bromeliads
3. Air plants (Tillandsia)
4. Small button Ferns
For indoor decoration use, plants with unusual foliage or color can be the most enhancing for your home. For example, African mask is an unusual plant with beautiful foliage and exceptional characteristics. It does need moister soil and bright sunlight; great for the living room or great room!
Choose a counter top that will work well with your choice of plants’ needs, then a container that will complement the room. When arranging the plants, try to mix and array the foliage in such a way, that it looks like a new plant altogether. This brings a new contrast into your room and also will make the plant the focal point. One of the best to use for a spring arrangement is the start cluster because of its exceptional beauty and exotic appearance. For a finished and indifferent look, string moss over the top of the container.
Dendrobium orchids and Tillandsia contrast extremely well together and are a wonderful accent to a dining table, or buffet unit. Use Tillandsia in the bathroom for the perfect added touch. Tillandsia is easy to take care of in this room because the mist from the shower provides the right amount of moisture for the plant.
By adding these plants to your home during the long winter months, you will be noticeably brightening your day. These plants give off oxygen freshening, and looking beautiful day after day. It can be fun to experiment with different plants deciding which accent your home the best, and look better with your year round décor.
When Christmas time rolls around, the best and probably most popular indoor plant is the Poinsettia. The contrasting vibrant reds and greens go great with any home décor, and will get your family in the holiday spirit in no time.
Indoor planting is healthy, fun, and really spices up your home while giving you something to do during the long months of winter.
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