User:Aeong/Indoor Gardening: Difference between revisions

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=== Grow Lights ===

Grow lights are devices that emit a spectrum of light similar to the sun, and in some cases can be an imperfect solution to a plant for inadequate lighting. Grow lights come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of brightness. Some are merely bulbs that can fit into your existing lights. Grow lights are often overlooked because they may feel unnatural to the plant owner, but the health of your plant is much more important, and plants that require bright indirect light (like indoor palm trees and cactus's) will be much happier with them if your house cannot provide the bright indirect light they need. Grow lights with dimming options are great for beginners, as they can make more difficult plants easier to care for. Not all plants will appreciate a strong grow light however. A Peace Lilly for example may receive burned leaves and discolored flowers when receiving too much light. Grow lights may also help you during winter during the many days your plants don't receive much might. Grows light can even allow outdoor plants to grow inside your home with varying levels of success. '''Just remember that you should never leave your plants exposed to grow lights for more than 12 hours. For ease of use, get a growlight with a timer, or a timed outlet to plug it into'''

Grow lights are devices that emit a spectrum of light similar to the sun, and in some cases can be an imperfect solution to a plant for inadequate lighting. Grow lights come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of brightness. Some are merely bulbs that can fit into your existing lights. Grow lights are often overlooked because they may feel unnatural to the plant owner, but the health of your plant is much more important, and plants that require bright indirect light (like indoor palm trees and cactus's) will be much happier with them if your house cannot provide the bright indirect light they need. Grow lights with dimming options are great for beginners, as they can make more difficult plants easier to care for. Not all plants will appreciate a strong grow light however. A Peace Lilly for example may receive burned leaves and discolored flowers when receiving too much light. Grow lights may also help you during winter during the many days your plants don't receive much might. Grows light can even allow outdoor plants to grow inside your home with varying levels of success. '''Just remember that you should never leave your plants exposed to grow lights for more than 12 hours. For ease of use, get a growlight with a timer, or a timed outlet to plug it into.'''

File:Wand-grow-light.jpg|A grow light with 4 adjustable wands full of small lights

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=== Climbing Plants ===

Some plants will want to expand out and climb on objects in search of light (and in some cases nutrients), but not every plant does so the same way, and some have special needs. Some plants are only seeking light and will wrap themselves on to just about any safe object you give them. Other plants such as the Pothos and Monstera will have roots on their stems, and are looking for moist places to grow those roots in to, ~~and~~ will be in better health if allowed so. There are 3 solutions to this: Trimming the plant from getting too long (if possible), or providing the plant a moss pole or wood plank to climb on. Wood planks take advantage of these plants desire to cling to trees are the cheapest and lowest maintenance solution. But since they provide no solution for your plant to expand it's roots, they do not promote optimal health for your plant. Moss poles come in many types but the right ones are designed to be filled with sphagnum moss and have holes for your plant to root into as it climbs up them. They provide optimal health, but must be watered frequently, and certain pests love them.

Some plants will want to expand out and climb on objects in search of light (and in some cases nutrients), but not every plant does so the same way, and some have special needs. Some plants are only seeking light and will wrap themselves on to just about any safe object you give them. Other plants such as the Pothos and Monstera will have roots on their stems, and are looking for moist places to grow those roots in to. While not required, they will be in better health if allowed so. There are 3 solutions to this: Trimming the plant from getting too long (if possible), or providing the plant a moss pole or wood plank to climb on. Wood planks take advantage of these plants desire to cling to trees are the cheapest and lowest maintenance solution. But since they provide no solution for your plant to expand it's roots, they do not promote optimal health for your plant. Moss poles come in many types but the right ones are designed to be filled with sphagnum moss and have holes for your plant to root into as it climbs up them. They provide optimal health, but must be watered frequently, and certain pests love them.

== Common Plants Sold in Stores ==

Here is a list of common plants based on difficulty ratings. Keep in mind that all plants need love to survive. You can't neglect a plant and expect it to thrive.

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=== Pot Types ===

~~If you bought the plant from a store, The first thing you will want to know before you water your plant is what type of pot it's in.~~ A good majority of ~~these~~ plants are sold in pots with no drainage, but contain a secondary container inside (often called a net) that contains the plant and its soil~~, and~~ has drainage holes at the bottom. This allows the plant to be pulled out of the pot and watered. Some plants are sold in a nursery pot, and are intended to be put in a proper pot after purchase. ~~Others will already be in a pot that has~~ drainage holes ~~and can be watered with no extra steps~~. Finally, some plants will be in a "self watering" pot that has no drainage at all and is intended to keep the plant constantly hydrated. They will often have a water gauge near the bottom of the pot. While some plants may benefit from these, self watering pots are often harmful to many of the plants they are sold with, as they tend to rot the plants roots and attract pests that love moist soil.

A good majority of plants are sold in pots with no outer drainage, but contain a secondary container inside (often called a net) that contains the plant and its soil. This net has drainage holes at the bottom. This allows the plant to be pulled out of the pot and watered. Some plants are sold in a nursery pot, and are intended to be put in a proper pot after purchase. '''The best pots for beginners have easy to remove covers for their drainage holes.''' Finally, some plants will be in a "self watering" pot that has no drainage at all and is intended to keep the plant constantly hydrated. They will often have a water gauge near the bottom of the pot. While some plants may benefit from these, self watering pots are often harmful to many of the plants they are sold with, as they tend to rot the plants roots and attract pests that love moist soil.

One last thing to keep in mind is that the type of material the pot is made of can impact how long it retains water. The most common pot types are Plastic, Ceramic, and Terracotta. The main thing you want to know here is that Terracotta pots don't retain water as long as other pots due to their porous material, and are often recommended for Cactus's and other plants that don't want wet roots for very long, but terrible for plants like Calatheas that need consistently moist soil. <gallery widths="150" heights="150">

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 === Grow Lights ===
-Grow lights are devices that emit a spectrum of light similar to the sun, and in some cases can be an imperfect solution to a plant for inadequate lighting. Grow lights come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of brightness. Some are merely bulbs that can fit into your existing lights. Grow lights are often overlooked because they may feel unnatural to the plant owner, but the health of your plant is much more important, and plants that require bright indirect light (like indoor palm trees and cactus's) will be much happier with them if your house cannot provide the bright indirect light they need. Grow lights with dimming options are great for beginners, as they can make more difficult plants easier to care for. Not all plants will appreciate a strong grow light however. A Peace Lilly for example may receive burned leaves and discolored flowers when receiving too much light. Grow lights may also help you during winter during the many days your plants don't receive much might. Grows light can even allow outdoor plants to grow inside your home with varying levels of success. '''Just remember that you should never leave your plants exposed to grow lights for more than 12 hours. For ease of use, get a growlight with a timer, or a timed outlet to plug it into'''
+Grow lights are devices that emit a spectrum of light similar to the sun, and in some cases can be an imperfect solution to a plant for inadequate lighting. Grow lights come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of brightness. Some are merely bulbs that can fit into your existing lights. Grow lights are often overlooked because they may feel unnatural to the plant owner, but the health of your plant is much more important, and plants that require bright indirect light (like indoor palm trees and cactus's) will be much happier with them if your house cannot provide the bright indirect light they need. Grow lights with dimming options are great for beginners, as they can make more difficult plants easier to care for. Not all plants will appreciate a strong grow light however. A Peace Lilly for example may receive burned leaves and discolored flowers when receiving too much light. Grow lights may also help you during winter during the many days your plants don't receive much might. Grows light can even allow outdoor plants to grow inside your home with varying levels of success. '''Just remember that you should never leave your plants exposed to grow lights for more than 12 hours. For ease of use, get a growlight with a timer, or a timed outlet to plug it into.'''
 <gallery>
 File:Wand-grow-light.jpg|A grow light with 4 adjustable wands full of small lights
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 === Climbing Plants ===
-Some plants will want to expand out and climb on objects in search of light (and in some cases nutrients), but not every plant does so the same way, and some have special needs. Some plants are only seeking light and will wrap themselves on to just about any safe object you give them. Other plants such as the Pothos and Monstera will have roots on their stems, and are looking for moist places to grow those roots in to, and will be in better health if allowed so. There are 3 solutions to this: Trimming the plant from getting too long (if possible), or providing the plant a moss pole or wood plank to climb on. Wood planks take advantage of these plants desire to cling to trees are the cheapest and lowest maintenance solution. But since they provide no solution for your plant to expand it's roots, they do not promote optimal health for your plant. Moss poles come in many types but the right ones are designed to be filled with sphagnum moss and have holes for your plant to root into as it climbs up them. They provide optimal health, but must be watered frequently, and certain pests love them.
+Some plants will want to expand out and climb on objects in search of light (and in some cases nutrients), but not every plant does so the same way, and some have special needs. Some plants are only seeking light and will wrap themselves on to just about any safe object you give them. Other plants such as the Pothos and Monstera will have roots on their stems, and are looking for moist places to grow those roots in to. While not required, they will be in better health if allowed so. There are 3 solutions to this: Trimming the plant from getting too long (if possible), or providing the plant a moss pole or wood plank to climb on. Wood planks take advantage of these plants desire to cling to trees are the cheapest and lowest maintenance solution. But since they provide no solution for your plant to expand it's roots, they do not promote optimal health for your plant. Moss poles come in many types but the right ones are designed to be filled with sphagnum moss and have holes for your plant to root into as it climbs up them. They provide optimal health, but must be watered frequently, and certain pests love them.
 == Common Plants Sold in Stores ==
 Here is a list of common plants based on difficulty ratings. Keep in mind that all plants need love to survive. You can't neglect a plant and expect it to thrive.
@@ Line 163: / Line 163: @@
 === Pot Types ===
-If you bought the plant from a store, The first thing you will want to know before you water your plant is what type of pot it's in. A good majority of these plants are sold in pots with no drainage, but contain a secondary container inside (often called a net) that contains the plant and its soil, and has drainage holes at the bottom. This allows the plant to be pulled out of the pot and watered. Some plants are sold in a nursery pot, and are intended to be put in a proper pot after purchase. Others will already be in a pot that has drainage holes and can be watered with no extra steps. Finally, some plants will be in a "self watering" pot that has no drainage at all and is intended to keep the plant constantly hydrated. They will often have a water gauge near the bottom of the pot. While some plants may benefit from these, self watering pots are often harmful to many of the plants they are sold with, as they tend to rot the plants roots and attract pests that love moist soil.
+A good majority of plants are sold in pots with no outer drainage, but contain a secondary container inside (often called a net) that contains the plant and its soil. This net has drainage holes at the bottom. This allows the plant to be pulled out of the pot and watered. Some plants are sold in a nursery pot, and are intended to be put in a proper pot after purchase. '''The best pots for beginners have easy to remove covers for their drainage holes.''' Finally, some plants will be in a "self watering" pot that has no drainage at all and is intended to keep the plant constantly hydrated. They will often have a water gauge near the bottom of the pot. While some plants may benefit from these, self watering pots are often harmful to many of the plants they are sold with, as they tend to rot the plants roots and attract pests that love moist soil.
 One last thing to keep in mind is that the type of material the pot is made of can impact how long it retains water. The most common pot types are Plastic, Ceramic, and Terracotta. The main thing you want to know here is that Terracotta pots don't retain water as long as other pots due to their porous material, and are often recommended for Cactus's and other plants that don't want wet roots for very long, but terrible for plants like Calatheas that need consistently moist soil. <gallery widths="150" heights="150">