A garden indoors is both a joy and a challenge. Joy springs front growing plants out of their normal season, perhaps when the outdoor garden lies deep in snow; front using plants decoratively, and from the close contact that intimate day-to-day living with plants affords.
The challenge comes from meeting the plants’ needs under conditions differing from those where the plant normally grows—light, temperature, and humidity must all be considered if plants are to be content.
Starting Indoor Garden
What constitutes an indoor garden? To one person, it may be a single plant; to another, a window filled to overflowing.
Still, others enjoy the almost limitless pleasures of a greenhouse, while others will descend to the basement and create a greenhouse by using fluorescent lights.
One person looks upon plants as primarily a decorative element. To him, color, texture, and growth patterns are of prime importance. He uses plants to complement, contrast, or accent other objects in the room.
Collectors have other interests. Their concern involves having as many plants of one kind, African violets, for example, as space permits, or, at the other extreme, having as many different plants as possible.
Design Principles For Indoor Gardens
Today’s office buildings and homes offer increasing opportunities for growing plants indoors.
Greater use of large windows permitting good light, radiant heat, air conditioning, and humidity controls all aid the indoor gardener.
But perhaps the greatest impetus to growing plants indoors has come in recent years from the ever-widening selection of plants offered for sale.
Tropical foliage plants lead the list of new introductions, and their numbers are legion.
Their wide adaptability to low light and high temperatures makes them good choices for living with people under a roof. But one need not be limited to foliage plants because there is a burgeoning and enticing assortment of flowering plants that adapt willingly to indoor culture.
Here, it should be remembered that the geranium is not just a geranium but a whole world of varied plants—varied in leaf shape and color, flower form and color, and aroma, too.
The same can be said for other groups—African violets and their relatives, begonias, orchids, cactus, and amaryllis.
Tips For Displaying Plants Indoors
To enter the wonderful world of the indoor garden. To inspire you, Flower Grower presents this special section devoted to displaying plants to your best advantage and how to select and grow plants.
Study the delightful indoor garden of Mrs. Hunter at the left; turn the page for other pictures of her garden, together with her suggestions for designing indoor gardens for plants and people.
Other suggestions for displaying and growing your plants are on the following pages.
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