PageDump: How To Garden In Your Apartment

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!How-To Overview
----
[Upload:neofelis/f07628ad83e53557c79e72dc087fa886_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]So, you're looking around your nicely
furnished stomping ground; your favorite chair, your T.V., your Ikea
furniture. Everything is just as you like it to be, but is something
missing? Has it occurred to you that your apartment has about as much
life as the surface of the moon? Here's a fun fact for you, human
beings breathe _oxygen_, you remember oxygen, its that stuff that
seeps in through your windows on the rare occasions when you forget
to close them. Dear reader, don't despair, with the help of this
guide and a little tender attention, you too can have oxygen, and not
only will you get that life giving gas in abundance, but a great
looking flat teaming with life and color.

Nothing finishes a space like the stylish placement of a few well
cared for plants. A simple room, even with the sparsest furnishings
can be turned into a relaxing getaway, a swinging bachelor pad, even
a place where your girlfriend would purposely spend some time.

I know what you're thinking; "I can barely keep myself alive, how am
I supposed to remember to water this inanimate potted creature?" But
believe me, once you've started gardening in your own space, it might
just become a lifetime habit that brings hours of enjoyment and
beauty.
<br><br>

!Plants and You
----
Okay, you've decided to bring some plants into your apartment.. Now
what? Well, first off, there are around 350,000 separate species of
plants on this planet, but for the purposes of this article, we'll
cover the basics. Indoor plants, unlike their wild outdoor cousins,
aren't subject to your particular climate. You can just as easily
grow a beavertail cactus in your living room as a pine tree. So let's
look at some of the options at your disposal.

!!The humble succulent

[Upload:neofelis/9968d644b9d56df3aaf01bc2684b9091_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]AKA "fat plants" (not to be confused with
"fat pants"; you're not going to want to slip into these puppies
after a big night at the Olive Garden)

The succulent is the perfect choice for the guy on the go. Because of
their natural desert habitats, they retain water within their tender
little bodies. This means that on average, watering them more than
once a month would actually be too much. Succulents include cacti,
but that sure isn't where the buck stops. There are hundreds upon
hundreds of species of succulents; the best known non-cactus variety
being the aloe. Aloe plants are easy to grow, easy to care for, and
really useful in a pinch. Forget your sun block? Gently tear a leaf
from your aloe plant, and inside you'll find the purest and most
effective burn treatment known to mom-kind.

Succulents are also ideal for terrarium gardening, covered a bit
later in this article.

!!Broad-leafed houseplants

[Upload:neofelis/16591565ad1cfbdb6dcfabbb25b59a06_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]These are perhaps the most ubiquitous of
the house plants. You can find them in almost every large grocery
store for next to nothing. Among the ranks of the broad-leafed house
plants is the Pathos;

The "Pathos" (Epipremnum aureum) or "silver vine," is a really hardy
little broad-leafed ivy like plant that does well with low light and
a lot of humidity. These things, given the proper time and care, can
be trained to grow anywhere. I've even seen a single plant growing
along the ceilings of three separate rooms. It gives one a real
chill- 'French Riviera meets the old South' feeling when the vines of
a pathos are trained around mirrors, hanging on pictures, or even
through wall sconces.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that the broad-leafed houseplants are
synonymous with Sunday afternoons at your grandmother's house and
plastic furniture covers, but I stand by them. These guys have been
given a bad rap. With the proper placement, a broadleaf can actually
add spice to a room without detracting from its hip-ness.

!!Palms

[Upload:neofelis/830a2fa6773abbd79cdfeec0173e5683_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]Palms and palm-like gymnosperms are
wonderful additions to any space. Because of their graceful forms,
they tend to accentuate a room rather than dominate it. Palms tend to
be larger than most house plants, so caring for them as well as
finding space for them within the decorating dynamics of a room can
be a tad more difficult.

A great palm for a beginner is the "bamboo palm." This palm is quite
tough, and requires a bit less attention than some other varieties.
It grows at a fairly slow clip, so if you're interested in investing
in one, buying a larger specimen from a nursery is advised.
<br><br>

!!Bulbs

[Upload:neofelis/4cba2025a240b08fec50de9e0c4476fd_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]While bulb sprouting plants can seem fairly
daunting to the beginner, they're actually a fairly easy project for
the novice apartment gardener. Bulb plants include hyacinths, tulips,
crocuses, and narcissus to name a few. All bulb plants are seasonal
bloomers; meaning that outdoors they only show up once a year, then
go into hibernation. Indoors, bulbs can be 'forced' into blooming any
time you feel like having a stylish addition to your apartment simply
by letting them chill in your fridge for a week or two. Forcing a
bulb is usually done without soil. Specially shaped  [bulb vases |
http://www.glassnow.com/0291_glass_bulb_containers.htm] are employed
to allow the bulb roots access to water without letting the bulb
itself touch the waters surface. Now the only caveat I can offer in
regards to soil-less bulb growing is this; because of the nutrient
storage system inherent to bulbs, they can be grown for a whole
season in nothing but tap water, but to reuse the same bulbs every
year, you *must* use a diluted fertilizer mixed in with the bulb's
water, otherwise the bulb will burn through it's stores while it
blooms and be for all intents and purposes useless by the next
season.

!!Exotics

Not every houseplant possibility has been done to death by suburban
housewives. There are nearly endless options for the ambitious
apartment gardener. So called "rare" plants can spice up any bland
corner of your space. My personal favorites include-

!!African violets

[Upload:neofelis/88ffe311f5871ea6317ebfef3465e36a_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]These guys are amazing little plants. On
average they prefer warmer temperatures and increased humidity; both
of which can be achieved inside by the use of glass dome covers and
spray bottles. These flowers add instant beauty and look amazing.

!!Carnivorous Plants

[Upload:neofelis/88874d25cd2c058703ec73100edde6cc_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]Yet another warm climate category;
carnivorous plants include the well known [Venus Fly Trap |
http://www.petflytrap.com/], as well as other varieties such as the
[Pitcher Plant | http://www.bugbitingplants.com/pitcher_plants.html],
the [Cobra Lily | http://www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq5160.html], and the
[Sun Dew |
http://www.blackjungle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BJTS&Category_Code=DRS].
One of the most attractive features of most carnivorous plants is
there ability to coexist in a single planting; in other words, you
can have a variety of little green carnivores in one stunningly
planted display. These merciless little fellows also do fantastically
well in terrariums.

For those living in the northern California area, the place to go for
carnivorous plants is a fantastic store in San Francisco called
[Paxton Gate | http://paxtongate.com/]. They carry a variety of
carnivorous plants, succulents, terrariums, and tools of the
gardening trade. (not to mention their extensive collection of
taxidermied animals and mounted insects)

For further information about carnivorous plants and successful
growing tips, 'the venus fly trap' [website  |
http://www.the-venus-flytrap.com/howtoplantaterrarium.html] is the
place to look.

!!Bonsai

[Upload:neofelis/67a74c65d75b2c2e0f255df687bb7dc0_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]Bonsai is an art to itself. Literally
translated from the Japanese, 'bonsai' means "tray gardening". Bonsai
historically originated in China during the Tang dynasty in the 8th
century, only later to travel as a refined artistic discipline to
Japan. Bonsai is essentially the purposeful miniaturization of trees
to appear full sized. The art of bonsai is by no means an exclusive
hobby followed by professionals; there are multiple resources across
the country for the aspiring Bonsai grower. A great one I've come to
love is the [Bonsai Society of San Francisco | http://www.bssf.org/].
There are some wonderful classes one can take to learn the art. Caring
for a Bonsai is said to be a type of meditation all to itself, I cant
help but agree.

!!Grasses and Wildflowers

[Upload:neofelis/5942511050d1b547cefc992616bf03d8_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]About as far from a typical house plant as
one can get, grasses and wildflowers are hardy additions to any
indoor gardener's repertoire. These orphans literally grow like
weeds, mostly due to the fact that they are weeds. On first glance,
they may not seem at all conducive to a guy's apartment, but given a
proper container, any clump of weeds can become an artful display.
The crux of gardening with unlikely plants is typically finding the
right display. For instance, you could simply find a shallow wooden
tray, fill the bottom with some river stones, pearlite, and a bit of
potting soil, then throw in any mixture of wildflower/ wild grass
seeds, and you have a centerpiece fit for your coffee table.

!!Orchids

[Upload:neofelis/72ef827d56ee60722d2046884a0e4e02_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]The ultimate indoor plant; these absolutely
beautiful flowering plants are the supermodels of the flower world.
Not only are they lovely, they're readily available and reasonably
easy to care for. Orchids come in a wide variety of colors, shapes,
and sizes. Orchids typically thrive in moderate climates with large
amounts of ambient moisture. This can be achieved by misting them
regularly. It's impossible to describe how fulfilling it is to grow
your own orchid, I recommend you try it and see for yourself. For
more information you should visit the [American Orchid Society |
http://orchidweb.org/aos/default.aspx].
<br><br>

!Plant Care
----
A generalized care sheet for any and all plant types is nothing but a
recipe for disaster. Individual plants have individual needs. Caring
for your pitcher plant the way you'd care for an air fern simply wont
work. But, for the sake of general knowledge, I've covered the basics
of plant care. Specific research should be done for every new plant
you attempt to care for.

!!Watering

[Upload:neofelis/0bba4241b53fe20e7979c4831d3f64d2_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]As a rule of thumb, too much watering is a
bad thing. There are precious few plant species that can tolerate
having &#8220;wet feet&#8221;, or soggy roots, for very long. A good
way to judge weather your little potted dependants need a shower is
by sticking your finger through the top inch of soil, if the soil
under that first inch is dry, then it's time break out the watering
can. Now, you may think that water is water, but water is actually
full of minerals like salt that can build up in your little green
roommate's soil and eventually kill 'em. A good way to avoid mineral
build up is adequate drainage, and using a "clean" container.
Adequate drainage is easily achieved by poking holes into whatever
container your plant is in, as well as providing a subsoil layer of
rocks or gravel that allows the plant to extend its root system. A
clean container is simply one made of a nonporous material like
plastic, glass, or sealed terracotta. Your everyday terracotta
container is full of tiny holes that are perfect for collecting salts
over time, as well as providing a few nasty diseases a nice foot hold.
An easy way to tell if your plant is being over watered is by simply
looking at it, a leafy plant will start to turn yellow at the leaf
edged, basically because it's root system is drowning. A wilting,
droopy, or generally hung-over looking plant is a good sign of under
watering. Succulents are a different story, a succulent will start to
look deflated and feel squishy when it needs to be watered.

Plants that thrive in semi-humid environments can be kept happy on a
[humidity tray | http://www.orchidlight.com/c407.html]. Humidity
trays are essentially just shallow containers of water with gratings
that your planted containers rest on. As the water evaporates, you
achieve instant humidity. These are ideal for African violets,
lilies, and orchids.

[Upload:neofelis/98aeec7579467afe858c333307acc743_tn.jpg  hspace=5
vspace=5 pop=yes]

!!Lighting

[Upload:neofelis/88a8ed4201111753e0d45fc1912c684a_tn.gif align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]Light, like water, is a plant universal.
They all need it to photosynthesize, and it always needs to be full
spectrum, meaning either sunlight or a fluorescent light specifically
made for plant growth. The only variable in lighting among separate
species is _how much_. Plants like Cacti need full light throughout
the day, while others like African violets are more suited to
indirect or low light. Plants will usually come with some sort of
stake or tag indicating how much light they need. Plant lighting
doesn't have to be something out of a hydroponics lab, there are
hundreds of ways to turn a light your plants need into a light that
showcases them, as well as one that accentuates your apartment.
Little known fact: quite a few plant species require at least a few
hours of darkness a day to allow for food storage and nutrient
processing.

!!Soils

Soil is yet another factor dependent on plant type. Most houseplants
can thrive in store-bought potting mixes, many of which come with
time release fertilizers. More exotic plant varieties like African
violets require specific potting mixes that contain greater amounts
of peat moss and perlite than the average mix. So called 'soilless'
potting mixtures are also available for indoor gardening. These tend
to be a good choice for plants susceptible to disease as they're
usually sterile by nature.

!!Disease

[Upload:neofelis/32c23272f31e6cc7ff737557afe15d45_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]Typically, a plant will be resistant to
most diseases when it's already being taken care of properly and in
good health. Most diseases fall into the "fungi" or "mite"
categories. Both fungi and mite problems can arise in perfectly
healthy plants and sadly usually ring the death nell for that
generation of your apartment's flora. The best thing to do when you
detect mites/fungi is to dispose of the plant in a plastic bag, seal
it tight, and walk it down to the garbage. After a diseased plant has
been disposed of, its container should be either disinfected properly
or simply outright thrown away. The worst thing that can happen to
your first thriving apartment garden is an outbreak- To prevent one;
keep all of your plants well cared for and happy.

!!Feeding

Plants require occasional feeding. Indoor plants can be easily fed on
 [any budget | http://www.yardlover.com/products.php?pid=1105] .
Feeding container plants is as easy as NPK. NPK is the initialism
representing the three key ingredients of every plant fertilizer;
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The typical fertilizer container
will have three numbers, each corresponds to the amount of N, P, and K
present in that particular fertilizer, and, you guessed it, different
plants require different NPK ratios. As a general rule young plants
are really susceptible to root burning from fertilizers, so they're
best left unfed till maturity is reached. Brands like Miracle-Grow
make all-purpose container plant fertilizers that generally work on
the more common varieties of house plant.
<br><br>

!!Gardening Tools
----

[Upload:neofelis/f92b400884761740bb48a2e7e798c668_tn.jpg  hspace=5
vspace=5 pop=yes]Gardening tools for the apartment garden are
basically the same for outdoor use. The basic tools you need to get
going are a trowel and a sturdy pair of pruning snips. Easy, eh? You
can buy elaborate sets of garden tools for potted plants, but those
two things are all you really need for general plant care. When you
branch out into terrarium growing or Bonsai, the tool sets become a
bit more [complicated |
http://paxtongate.com/garden/jap_prune.html].
<br><br>
The indoor gardener may also find a potting tray handy for all of the
messy moments ahead. This helpful catch-all keeps the chaos contained
and can be easily stored when not in use. A potting tray can be made
from anything tray-like. I use a shallow hydroponics tray made from
sturdy black plastic. But really, any [shallow tray |
http://www.empirewest.com/store/series.cfm/SeriesID:31/CategoryID:1]
will do.
<br><br>

!Decorating with Plants
----

!!Flower Arranging Doesn't Mean You're a Momma's Boy

[Upload:neofelis/9d2f3f274dc934534f8fe79ba72f6839_tn.jpg align=right
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]So now that you know how to get started,
what's next? Well, this is one of the best parts; you've got to
decide what your apartment needs in order to reflect your personal
style. Trying to make your apartment seem more like Sinatra's pad in
50's Palm Springs? Bamboo palms, a few miniature cacti, some potted
aloe, and you're well on your way. Looking to give your living room a
Japanese Zen feel? Succulents planted in small black clay pots with
some white river rocks artfully placed around a room will do the
trick, maybe even a single calla lily in a slender white ceramic
dish. You see, that's the magic of a plant, it can invoke a style in
a way a loosely thrown together bunch of furniture could never truly
accomplish.

[Upload:neofelis/463d0968705b105bbcb3ebed73fb07ee_tn.jpg hspace=5
vspace=5 pop=yes]

!!Creating Mood

[Upload:neofelis/7508f03051b69454fa98aa129ed4188f_tn.jpg align=right 
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]
Though you may not realize it, different types of plants have been
hard wired into your psyche as representations of things they may not
have much to do with. Western culture has told us that cacti are
symbolic to the tune of misanthropy, red roses are synonymous with
love, the venus fly trap is an indirect representation of ferocity,
etc. What I'm getting at is that plants within a space will create
mood weather you like it or not. For instance, a cactus on your night
stand may have seemed like a decent idea at the time, but relaxing in
a space dominated with something that constantly reminds you of
losing an eye and/or suppurating wounds isn't conducive with the
overall mood you were aiming for (I hope). Before you charge into
decorating your various spaces, take into account what sort of
atmosphere you're looking for in each one, and try to keep that ideal
in mind while you're plant shopping. Color is another mood factor that
you should consider. It may seem like a funny concept, but color
coordinating your plants will help the overall flow of your apartment
decor. Aim for flowering plants that not only compliment each other,
but also their immediate surroundings. Areas of an otherwise
disjointed room can be tied together with similarly planted
containers.


<br><br><br>


!!Ikebana
----

[Upload:neofelis/eb3064f27dfd062a720ddd9e49db02ab_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]Yet another contribution from the plant
enthusiasts of Japan, Ikebana literally translates to "living
flowers." Begun in Japan in the 15th century, Ikebana was first a
style of flower arranging used in offering rituals in Buddhist
temples. The style was later adopted with many other Zen practices by
Japan's higher caste of Samurai and royalty as a method of meditation
and honing concentration. Ikebana is strongly focused on the singular
beauty of a plant or flower. With Ikebana, it's all about the
expression of the natural attractiveness of plants as they grow. And
while Ikebana is typically practiced with cut flowers, I've found
that with certain substitutes, the same effect can be achieved with
plantings. Paying special attention to the aesthetics of the plants
as you arrange them in relationship to the vessel you use is the only
real trick to it. A lot of help in this department can be found at 
the [Ikebana International | http://www.ikebanahq.org/] website.
<br><br><br>


!!Containers
----
[Upload:neofelis/fb1b1027ebdbbf954ab4605a7a379756_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]With a few exceptions, your options are
nearly limitless insofar as containers for your plantings. I've found
that any reasonable non porous material is suitable, given that proper
drainage can be maintained. Found objects can be employed for any
number of planting types. Items like your Grandmother's old tea
service on their own would be out of the question but can be made use
of by employing a little black plastic lining and a layer of gravel, a
hole or two should be put into the bottom, and you've got a planter
ready for soil and plants. Getting away with an unusual container is
easier with the help of a little sphagnum [moss |
http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/5603584].[Upload:neofelis/04a4d4a2b25a24f997872a58a83e76e5_tn.jpg
align=right hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes] Simply lay the moss on top of
bare areas of soil around your plants and not only will the planting
will look infinitely more finished, but water retention will also
increase.  After your plants have become established and begin to
outgrow their original containers, new containers should not greatly
exceed the size of the original, this protects against drainage
problems in the way of over-watering. The last thing you want after
all of this hard work is root rot! Repotting rule of thumb- When you
begin to see the roots of your plant coming through the containers
drainage holes, its time to re-pot!Root shock is the only major
pitfall to re-potting. Plants don't like being ripped out of the
ground anymore than you would like having your skin removed, so
handling them gently in this process is key for happy flora.
<br><br>

!!Terrarium Growing
----

The ultimate container for controlled growing! Some plants just don't
do well without constant temperature adjustment and humidity. Many
tropical plants simply can't be grown in an apartment without the use
of a terrarium. Before you start imagining a floor to ceiling tank
filled with automatic misters, bromeliads and a mating pair of
toucans, let me tell you a terrarium can be as simple as a glass
bowl. Planting in a terrarium can be the perfect solution to your
climate control problems. Within a terrarium the environmental
conditions are naturally more stable, making it ideal for bog plants
like the carnivorous pitcher plant. A terrarium is also an attractive
possibility insofar as decoration. A large bowl terrarium can make the
perfect dining table centerpiece. For the more ambitious and
financially capable, terrariums can be as complicated as your
imagination allows. A good company to get you started on the path of
the terrarium geek is [Black Jungle | http://www.blackjungle.com/] ,
their selection is second to none, and they deliver!

[Upload:neofelis/3d8c369154273f2c8d34efb2efd76ef6_tn.jpg align=center
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]
<br><br>

!!Holiday Gardening
----

Tis the season of seven foot animatronic Santa Clause lawn displays
and giant plastic snow globes full of disco lit nativity scenes. With
all of the gaudy holiday paraphernalia dripping from every available
surface, you may think the classic beauty of the Yule Tide season is
gone for good, but with a little help from a green thumb, you can
have an elegant Christmas in your apartment without depleting your
holiday funds.
[Upload:neofelis/4c0124c240e63e7ba8fec8aa0fc782c1_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]
Perhaps the most ubiquitous of the holiday plants is the tree itself,
but the next runner up is, of course, the [Poinsettia |
http://www.fernlea.com/xmas/poininfo.htm]. Every one and their
grandmother has been subjected to these overused little sources of
mispronunciation. But aside from the obvious choices, there are
numerous plants suitable for holiday decorating. Any flowering plant
falling into one of the classic Christmas color categories can
suffice; given that the display reflects the beauty of the season,
rather than the general public's love for motion activated ho ho
ho-ers.

Some really great holiday colored plants include, [white orchids |
http://products.proflowers.com/plants/PottedDoubleStemWhiteOrchid-12117?ref=FGVSRCHgoogskwd+blooming+plant&catid=PLA],
red tulips, green moss, red or white speckled ivy, [paper whites |
http://products.proflowers.com/plants/PaperwhitesinGlassVase-12762?ref=FGVSRCHgoogskwd+blooming+plant&catid=PLA],
even blooming [succulents |
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2756299670029319295ObXmNN].

All of these can be made into holiday masterpieces with a little
inspiration.


When decorating for the holidays keep in mind that simpler is better.
Planted containers for the holidays should be elegant and uncrowded.
There's also an entirely untapped living [wreath  |
http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=482007.484184.484198.1757242.page]
genre out there to explore. Christmas should be exciting, and most
importantly, green.


!!Decorating Conclusion
----
My final advice on the subject of using plants in decorating is this:
_Innovate_. Doing something unexpected is the best thing you can do.
Unlikely plants in likely containers (or vise versa), plants nestled
into unanticipated places, splashes of color hitting you as you enter
a room; all of these things can turn your experiment into a success.
Do the unexpected and you'll never lose. (Within reason anyway..
turning your bathtub into a lily pond is interesting to say the
least, but after the first week your friends will stop coming by
because of your overpowering.... presence.)
<br><br>
[Upload:neofelis/881365deec65e14be019accf4dbe1758_tn.jpg  hspace=5
vspace=5 pop=yes]
<br><br>

!!Choosing plants
----

When you're ready to buy your plants always go to a reputable source.
That's not to say that grocery store plants aren't fine, but they tend
to be low on quality and high on little teddy bear balloons that
encourage the ill to get well soon. Most home centers across the
country have decently decked out garden centers. Nurseries are the
ideal sources for any and all plants you're looking to acquire. But
no matter where you go, always pay special attention to the plants
overall heath. Do they look sick to you? Too much yellow on the
leaves? Turn the leaves over and check for parasites; little black or
white spots, aphids. Once you've given your prospective plant a once
over, don't be afraid to ask questions; that's what the staff is paid
for. Only when you're absolutely satisfied should you shell out your
hard earned wages.
<br><br>

!!Gardening On a Budget
----

[Upload:neofelis/7d715ee6a7acbbb3ea99db5d43c79505_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]Gardening in your apartment doesn't have to
drain your resources. Worry not, you won't have to decide between a
terrarium of carnivorous plants and the Nintendo Wii. You can start
small in any of the gardening types we've gone over. And always
remember; plants are living organisms, they change constantly, and
what's more, you can change them. Just because you've scaled down
your dreams of an indoor urban jungle doesn't mean you can't slowly
scale it up as your funds become available. My recommendation is that
everyone aspiring to apartment gardening start small; the smaller the
start, the smaller the mistakes.

<br>
<br>[Upload:neofelis/33e911b0110deacf168202cd47c83927_tn.jpg
align=right hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]
<br>
Another cost effective angle for indoor gardening can be pursued
through  [various| http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/76c9/]
[websites|
http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=plant
] that carry ready to grow container plants. These fun little products
can be the perfect solution for the monetarily challenged. They come
with everything you need (sans water and sunlight). Oh, and they make
wonderful [gifts |
http://www.productdose.com/wiki/How_To:__Buy_The_Perfect_Present].
And while we're on the subject of cheap gardening kits; for you
[mushroom | http://www.mushroomadventures.com/kits.html] lovers,
there's a great company that sells grow at home mushroom kits. You
just open the box and add water. Quite a few people on my gift list
are getting these this year!


!!Hands On: Potting a Star Jasmine
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In order to provide a comprehensive guide, I've included a hands on
account of actually planting something indoors.
[Upload:neofelis/75cdbc2830498fe0b121ef5758417a5b_tn.jpg align=left
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]I've been drooling over the idea of having
a potted star jasmine in my living room for the better part of a
year, and today I'm going to get one. Now I've had to take some
particular things into account because of the scale of the star
jasmine plant. I've seen it grown in a container before, and it can
be one hefty little wooded vine. Because jasmine is a climber, I've
set up a series of 4 staggered stainless steel [hooks |
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?PRODID=65278&CATID=69019]
on the wall behind it to give it adequate support as it grows. I've
chosen to place this planting centrally behind my leather couch; I
think it will accent the room and reduce some negative wall space.
Star jasmine is extremely odiferous, especially in a contained space,
so thankfully I love the smell. Jasmine is a prolific plant when well
cared for, and I'm planning on training it to the ceiling with the
help of those hooks and some twist ties.

My options for containers are limited by the sheer size of my plant
choice; larger plants have larger root systems, and require more
depth. Because I've chosen an out of the way place for it, I've
decided to keep it in a more convenient black plastic
container[Upload:neofelis/ca52ecb1409df77479495614694922a1_tn.jpg
align=right hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes], and just because you never
know who'll look behind your couch when company's over, I'm going to
place the basic black plastic pot inside of a more decorative
[planter |
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_9/601-0497298-8505720?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00063JNU4].

Sadly, my living room gets only adequate sun at best, and because
here in San Francisco the cloudy season has kicked off, I need to add
some additional lighting sources. I've found a perfect [lamp  |
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=120&f=2976] that I think will go
with the rest of my apartment quite well, and with the help of a full
spectrum grow [bulb |
http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/lights.shtml], I've solved
my lighting problem without resorting to something ugly.

For a planting medium, I've decide to use a standard potting soil
mix, but I've added a hearty dose of time release [fertilizer  |
http://www.amazon.com/Osmocote-Indoor-Outdoor-Plant-272030/dp/B000HA7P88/sr=1-6/qid=1164837925/ref=sr_1_6/103-9753796-3333459?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden]
pellets to ensure the continuing health of the plant. For the sake of
drainage, I've added a two inch layer of gravel and [perlite  |
http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-gro-Perlite-8-Dry-Quart/dp/B000F3S838/sr=1-3/qid=1164838037/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-9753796-3333459?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden].

Most plants you purchase will come to you in basic black containers.
It's best when you first receive them to repot immediately. This is
mainly because plants that are grown in nurseries and flower farms
rarely have the properly sized containers necessary for continued
growth. After I laid down my gravel and perlite mixture, I filled
another 25% of the container with my potting soil/fertilizer mix. Now
all that's left is to gently remove the plant's root ball from the
store container, drop it into the new one, and back fill around the
subsequent gaps with more soil (*making sure not to pack it too
tightly or too loosely*). After a good, thorough watering, my new
jasmine is all set.

That's basically it; not the most complicated process in the world.
For most beginners, gardening only seems daunting because they don't
know the basic steps involved. Just like anything else, it can become
second nature with repeated application.




!!Flowers are Designed for Sex!
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[Upload:neofelis/140b62769d7d5fc1885df44124ed3873_tn.jpg align=center
hspace=5 vspace=5 pop=yes]
Do you still need a reason to garden in your apartment?
<br><br>
Well, after your apartment looks a bit greener, you might just start
to benefit from the fact that women respond to plants in a positive
way. And not only that, but women are prone to seeing men who can
take care of a plant as good boyfriend material; eg- If you can keep
a plant alive, you can remember her birthday. And cmon, I dare you to
tell me an orchid in the bedroom is anything but sexy.  There, now get
started!
<br>

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