Inspect the area in which you plan to grow your plants before you do anything else. The potted plant should receive natural light, several hours per day. If your budget allows, you can also employ artificial light. You can use special indoor lamps and lights to replace natural sunlight. Temperature is the easiest factor for you to control, but be sure that your home’s temperature is right for the plant.

Choose a container that is the appropriate size for your potted plant. The bigger the plant, the bigger the pot should be. If you put a big plant in a small pot it can become unhealthy due to the roots’ inability to “breathe” properly and stunted growth. Similarly, small plant will usually look odd if placed in a large pot, although it may grow large enough to fit the pot. Or you can simply grow your plant in a smaller pot and transplant it to a bigger pot when it grows. You can also choose from various styles and sizes. As a general rule, the diameter of the container should be at least half the height of the plant. To prevent the roots from drowning, ensure the pot has draining holes in the bottom.

The next step is to look for the proper soil or growing medium. Because it doesn’t properly drain, garden soil is usually unsuitable. It might also contain insects or fungi that can be harmful to your plant. Instead opt for packaged potting soil, which can aerate the roots of the plant and help it hold moisture.

When the plant should be watered can be affected by several factors. Sun, rain, wind, heat and the type of plant you’re growing are among these factors.

You should water most plant regularly, although not to the drowning point. But some desert plants, such as aloe vera, may do better when their soil is allowed to dry out, and is then flooded with large amounts of water. For this reason, people who find it difficult to remember to water their plants regularly may do better with desert varieties. The amount of water any plant needs can vary each day.

Potted plants dry up more quickly than their counterparts that grow in the ground. Stick your finger into the soil to determine if the plant needs to be watered. If it is dry, then it needs to be watered.

Potted plants generally require fertilizers every two weeks. You flush the nutrients from the growing medium when you water a plant. Use organic fertilizers – especially if there are kids or pets around the area where you keep the pot, if you are growing an edible plant, or if the plant will be used for personal care or medicinal purposes.

Note that some plants are poisonous to humans and/or animals. Before you bring a plant into your home, thoroughly research it if you have children or pets in your home. (See Pets and Plant Poisoning for more information on this.)

Protect plants from harmful pests when you grown themin or around your home. Insects can enter your home and destroy your plant even if you house it indoors. To combat this problem, you can use one of the organic pesticides on the market.

Growing pot plants – whether inside the home, in a window box, on a patio or balcony, or in an outdoor garden, is a rewarding and worthwhile endeavor. Potted plants can provide herbs for teas or natural remedies, edible fruits and vegetables, fragrance, or simply decoration.

As is the case with any gardening project, growing indoor plants does require a bit of study and application of standard practices and proper growing techniques, but this will become easier with practice, and will be well worth the trouble.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live cleaner lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Reusing Reducing and Recycling.

This article was originally posted at Grow Plants in Pots Easily.

Growing Potted Plants is a post from: Residential Power

Inspect the area in which you plan to grow your plants before you do anything else. You must place the potted plant in an area where it will receive natural light several hours a day. If you have the budget for it, artificial lighting is another option. Special indoor lamps and lights that you can use to replace natural sunlight are on the market. You can ensure that the temperature of your home is ideal for the plant yourself, since this is the easiest factor to control.

Choose an appropriate container for your potted plant. The larger your plant will grow, the larger your pot should be. Putting a big plant in a small pot can result in the plant not being able to breathe properly or the roots’ growth being stunted. Although it’s possible it will grow large enough to fit the pot, putting a small pot in a large pot usually doesn’t look good. Instead, you should start your plant in a small pot, transplanting it to a larger one when it outgrows the smaller size. Various styles and sizes of pots are also available. The diameter of the container should be half the height of the plant. Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot so the roots will not drown.

Look for the proper soil or growing medium next. Garden soil typically is unsuitable because it isn’t able to properly drain. Additionally, insects or fungi that might be harmful to the plant could be in the garden soil. Instead choose a packaged potting soil that will aerate the roots and help the plant retain moisture.

The appropriate time to water the plant can be affected by several factors. These are sun, rain, wind, heat, and the type of plant you are growing.

You should regularly water most plant, although not to the point of drowning. That said, aloe vera and other desert plants tend to do better when you let them dry out a little instead of flooding them with water. Because of this, desert varieties are often ideal for people who find it difficult to remember to regularly water their plants. The amount of water any plant needs can vary each day.

Compared to plants that grow in the ground, potted plants dry up more quickly. To find out whether a plant needs to be watered, you can stick your finger into the soil. If it is dry, then it needs to be watered.

In general, you should fertilize potted plants every two weeks. Watering a plant flushes the nutrients from the growing medium. Use organic fertilizers – especially if there are kids or pets around the area where you keep the pot, if you are growing an edible plant, or if the plant will be used for personal care or medicinal purposes.

Note that some plants are poisonous to humans and/or animals. Thoroughly research a plant before you bring it into an environment where children or pets can access it. (See Pets and Plant Poisoning for more information on this.)

Protect plants from harmful pests when you grown themin or around your home. Even if it’s inside the house, insects can get in and destroy your plant. To combat this problem, you can use one of the organic pesticides on the market.

Growing potted plants can be worthwhile and rewarding whether you grow them in a window box, on a balcony or patio, or in an outdoor garden. Potted plants can provide herbs for teas or natural remedies, edible fruits and vegetables, fragrance, or simply decoration.

Although study and application of standard practices and proper growing techniques are necessary when growing plants indoors, the process will become easier and is worth the trouble.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn to live more environmentally friendly lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Living Resourcefully.

Original Article: How to Grow Potted Plants.

Growing Plants in Pots is a post from: Residential Power