Indoor Container Garden Design
I'm definitely a fireside gardener at this time of year with just an occasional trip outside to dig parsnips, dead head pansies and check nothing is dying of drought or neglect! The beauty of indoor container gardening is that you can work on the kitchen counter keeping yourself and the plants nice and warm. These are quick to make, easy to customize to your color scheme and a lovely way to bring the outside in - without a jacket and warm scarf!
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| Design with Calla lily and miniature cyclamen |
1. Choose your container. It has to hold wet soil so if using a basket, line with heavyduty plastic. Ceramic, wicker, plastic and metal are all suitable materials for indoors.
2. If your container has no drainage holes add an inch of horticultural charcoal to the base of the pot (available from the indoor plant supply section of nurseries)
3. Select an assortment of indoor foliage plants which vary in height and leaf texture, plus one flowering accent plant e.g. orchid or cyclamen. Be sure they all have similar light and water needs; ask the nursery staff for help. Also find a spare plant pot which is the same size as the one your flowering plant is in.
4. Use a lightweight indoor potting mix and a basic granular slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote.
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| Dracaena spikes add height |
5. Plant foliage plants and the empty plant pot (don't add the flowering plant yet), and tuck soil carefully in all the nooks and crannies between the plants.
6. Remove the empty pot and slip the accent plant in the space; do not take flowering plant out of its pot.
7. Dress up the soil surface with moss, pebbles or other decorative items.
8. Water carefully! Print this care sheet for guidance. I present a copy of this to clients when I deliver indoor container gardens as it explains the watering regime.
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