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One of the joys of working with plants comes from creating your very own varieties. Your indoor garden can be made up of plants from the florist or local plant nursery, but at the same time, you are only being a care giver. When you want to start new plants from seedlings or cuttings, you are starting at the very bottom and the success of your endeavor is entirely in your hands.

There are two methods by which a gardener can increase stock; seedlings and cuttings. In the following article, we will discuss both methods in great detail. There are ways you cam really make the most out of your hobby, which results in a beautiful selection of plants. Starting a plant from a seed takes more time, dedication and devotion than simply buying a full grown plant from the store. It is more rewarding and is much cheaper than the alternative. This cost is especially greater in terms of a flowering plant versus a foliage plant.

You can find plant seeds that sell for considerably less than a single, mature plant. The seeds will also yield more plants and not just one. The time involvement is a factor that must be given serious consideration. Plants will vary in growth speed and if you are starting from scratch with a seed, you must plan your time accordingly so that you have a full grown flowering plant when you want it.

It is not that difficult to grow a plant from a seed and you can plant your home garden in a single day. But it does require a certain amount of time and care. All plants multiply by seed germination, but there are many which refuse to do so in a home garden, so it is best to take cuttings and grow from that stage. Here is some information regarding seed propagation.

There is no professional equipment needed other than a pot and some soil You want to take care not to over nutrient the soil, because this can burn the plants and any seeds you are attempting to plant in that soil. Until recently, the home gardener used a soil-sand mixture and peat moss for seed starters. This is still a very popular propagating method, but does have some drawbacks.

The main issue is surrounding the fact that it is difficult to sterilize this type of mixture. It may contain fungus, which can kill plants. In recent times however, a mixture called vermiculite has been added to sterilized soil mixtures. It makes a great growing medium for seeds. It is a sterile, mice-like mineral which replaces dirty sand. Seeds planted in this mixture, will germinate well and be disease free.

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It is rather surprising the number of people who will purchase an indoor plant from a nursery and then leave them in the plastic pot they came in. So, what’s wrong with that? Simple! These pots were not designed to be permanent homes for the plants. Indoor plants require appropriate containers that allow room for their root system to expand and develop.

The Terra Cotta Pot

The most commonly used indoor plant pot is one that is made from terra cotta, meaning “baked earth”. This style of pot is made from clay that has a high nutrient content. The clay is formed into the desired shape and fired in a kiln. If left unpainted, the pot is a rich orange color.Such pots can be given a unique painted treament by you. Alternatively, you can purchase from a wide range of pre-glazed pots. Most pots have a central drainage hole in the base of the pot, so you will also require a matching saucer to catch any overflow of water from the pot.

Sturdy, Strong Ceramics

A ceramic pot does not come unglazed as it does not have the same attractive qualities as a terra cotta pot. The glaze adds to the strength and durability of the ceramic as well as being decorative. There is an enormous range of styles, sizes and colors of ceramic pots available for purchase from a number of specialty stores including nurseries and craft stores. Because many of these pots do not come with a drain hole, it is wise to choose them only for plants that do not require drainage.

Resin or Plastic Materials

Worried about breakages? A great alternative to terra cotta or ceramics, resin or strong, flexible plastic pots are made using special molds to create a huge range of styles, shapes, sizes and colors. Resin’s flexibility and ability to be colored in an almost infinite range of shades allows you to choose a pot to suit your home’s decor.

Galvanize Yourself

Galvanised metal containers are ideal for the person who is wanting to achieve a relaxed “country” atmosphere in their home. The galvanising process prevents the pot from rusting. Whilst there are purpose-built galvanised plant pots available, you may consider hunting around for a truly “rustic” piece such as a tub or bucket. The advantage of these pots is that drainage holes can be drilled as required into the base and a tray positioned under it to catch the overflow.

So you can see that there are many styles of “homes” for your new plants like for example the yucca plant, so be sure to purchase the pot at the same time as the plant and don’t forget the proper plant care. You won’t have any excuse then for not “re-housing” the plant!

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Color is what makes a house a home, and your family will enjoy taking care of indoor plants as well. If you want to find additional benefits for houseplants, think about the quality of air that house plants are going to add, and the colors, the feel of living things all around you - it is all an outstanding feeling.

You are most likely wondering just how hard it is to care for houseplants. Well, caring for houseplants is actually quite easy. You need dirt, the plant, light and water. Very few plants require any special light, but you might want to read up on the plant you are purchasing if you feel you don’t know much about that one type. Many green plants will need some amount of indirect light, which means as long as you have a window in that room the sunlight will come in and the plant will enjoy it.

If you have never had any types of plants before, you will find that many plants are going to grow slowly. You could have a small potted indoor plant, and it could be a year before you need a bigger pot. You can then use the smaller pot for another house plant that you have. In the living room, you could have hanging plants, plants on the end tables, or on the coffee table. Sometimes if you have large window sills you could even put small pots on the window sill of your living room for a great overall effect.

There are some types of house plants that are going to also produce flowers. If you find that you have a plant, that you want to keep until it flowers, you may be waiting a few seasons. Some indoor plants, such as a Christmas cactus are only going to bloom once a year, and then sometimes it won’t bloom again for two years. It is a wonderful time in the living room where the plants are colorful and many textures of the leaves are available as well.

Perhaps you want something a little different in your indoor garden such as exotic plants. You could choose from plants that are sun loving, desert loving or that are even aquatic. The choices you have are vast and you don’t have to have an indoor garden that is all green hanging type of plants as many people think about, but you can have flowers indoors, or plants that smell like candy.

What you need to watch for are plants that are going to attract insects. Insects are attracted to some plants but rarely. Geraniums indoors are going to attract small white flies. Spider mites are attracted to plants that are overly wet but there are also sprays for all types of little pests that you can use if you would happen to have a little creature in your plants. Don’t worry though the little pests are few and far between for the normal semi warm climates such as the indoors of your home.

Watering is not going to take much of your time at all. Indoor gardens really only need attention once a week or every two weeks depending on the variety of plants that you have chosen. The yucca cane plant is low in the water needs area for example. What you can look for is a calendar in your kitchen or on your computer and make little notes to yourself if you really think you are going to forget for weeks at a time. Otherwise, when you put your finger in the dirt and you find that it is a little dry add a little water and your indoor garden is going to be thriving!

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If you plan to grow more than one or two plants at a time, chances are most of them will be foliage plants. Though they aren’t as showy as the flower bearing varieties, foliage plants can also be quite beautiful. In addition, they are simple to grow, easy to propagate and acclimate well to nearly any indoor environment.

Foliage plants are the backbone of every home garden. With few exceptions they know no seasons, growing and prospering throughout the year. Thousands of species of foliage plants are common and easy to find, and a large number of hybrids extends this variety even further. While planning your indoor garden you have almost an unlimited choice of plant size and shape, leaf form and colour. The two species described here will grow in any part of the country with equal ease and are available everywhere.

Peperomia sandersi is one commonly cultivated Peperomia. It has been called the Watermelon Begonia because the distinctive color and striped pattern of its leaves resemble the watermelons found in the American south. As the leaves of this plant are smooth, shiny and oval-shaped and the stems are red or pink, how it acquired the nickname Begonia is a mystery.

Peperomia is a low growing, bushy plant with fleshy leaves and stems along with being an indoor house plant. Originally found in the jungles of Brazil, these plants like lots of warmth and humidity and dislike exposure to wind or even slight drafts. Place them in partial shade, being careful not to give them too much sun, and provide them with plenty of water and good quality plant food. To keep your Peperomia happy, give it only room-temperature water. Propagate it by stem or leaf cuttings, preferably in the spring when the growth rate is at a maximum.

Pick-a-back Plant, also known as Piggy Back Plant (or by its botanical name, Tolmiea menziesi), gets its name from the curious way that it propagates: new plantlets sprout from the joint where the leaf meets the stem on the parent plant. The pretty, heart-shaped leaves of this species are light green, delicate and grow at the end of long stems. Pick a-back Plant should be well watered and kept in only partial sun.

In its natural state the plantlets root as soon as they touch the ground, so propagation is simple: just place a new leaf-bearing plantlet in a starting mixture and allow it to root. If you prefer you can place the plantlets in water, but be sure to used purified water. A good way to do this is to treat it with dissolved charcoal. The Pick-a-back originates on our own West Coast, growing from California on up to Alaska.

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The world over, gardening is a popular pastime among people from all walks of life. Whether planting vegetable patches to save money on produce, or planting a variety of plants for the sheer pleasure of the craft, gardening has remained a relaxing and humbling experience for hundreds of years. While outdoor gardening is the preferred style of most serious gardeners world-wide, giving your inner sanctum some plant love is much advised as well, and brings with it a new set of techniques and tricks that may escape even the veteran outdoor gardener.

Indoor plants function largely as decorative, while also instilling the room with a sense of nature and cleanliness. From window sill herb gardens that provide an extra dash of charm to both the room and dishes, to an elegant vine plant hanging its tendrils down lazily from its perch, to a small rubber tree in the corner of a room, the options for indoor gardeners are as diverse as the ones available for outdoor gardeners.

The variety of options doesn’t end there though. Annuals and perennials can get a head start by being groomed indoors for the coming season, and gardeners with a real eye for meticulous detail and the wish to cultivate something truly extraordinary can take on the task of rearing begonias or African violets.

Coleus are a striking plant, with a dazzling display of colors made especially effective when catching the rays of the sun from a windowsill perch. Baby’s tears are evocatively named for the striking image they portray, teardrop shaped leaves spilling elegantly over the side of the pot. A plant favoured for fall time grooming is the chrysanthemum. The winter doldrums can be beaten by planting a variety of striking flowering plants to bloom before their time, such as daffodils, hyacinths or crocuses.

Hanging baskets containing a variety of plants can supply any room with a unique look. Just make sure they’re high enough to avoid the heads of your tallest house mates. Kitchen windows are the perfect place for herb gardens and other salad friendly delights. They’ll provide your kitchen with a sumptuous smell that just may cause others to think it’s meal time all the time.

For the salad lover the tiny gourmet leaves of the mesclun plant will tempt your palate and those of all around you. The best things in life take time is a saying that the mesclun doesn’t adhere to. It grows its delicate leaves quickly, and spoils just as quickly. The indoor gardening enthusiast must constantly be on the lookout for the perfect opportunity to harvest these leaves and make them a part of a delectable salad immediately. The extra monitoring effort will be well rewarded with a great tasting salad.

Indoor gardeners are certainly not wanting for options like bamboo palms for example when it comes to their craft. What it lacks in the appeal of being outdoors and knee deep in dirt under a baking sun, if you want to call that appealing, it more than makes up for with variety and charm.