As an avid gardener who loves nothing more than to stick my hands in the warm soil and making sure that the plants provide a great space for wildlife, I have SUCH a hard time in the winter! I’ve overwintered my perennials, spread out leaves, and keep a careful eye out for little buds to pop up above the soil surface – but I want to do more!
Fortunately, there are many ways to keep the gardener inside of me happy all winter long.
The first and most obvious solution for indoor gardening is to keep houseplants! There are many low-maintenance plants that do well inside. I spend much of my time in the winter making sure that these plants are getting adequate sunlight and watching them grow.
My personal favorites are my Monstera (see below for terrarium with some Monstera & Philodendrons), Asparagus Ferns, Air Plants (see image at left from when I got my 2-year-old Tillandsia to bloom!), and Lemon Tree …. But don’t tell the others!
I create terrariums (Check out my calendar of events for upcoming DIY Terrarium Nights!), mosaic decorative pots to help aid in self-watering, and photograph their bright foliage.
Winter is a great time to learn about plant health care in regards to pruning, changes in water uptake, and dealing with potential pests in plants that are crowded next to each other. While these items may sound challenging or frustrating to deal with – I enjoy learning about them! The more that I learn about and experience a plant’s problems, the more I come to appreciate the beauty and importance of the plant’s life.
Another way to get into winter indoor gardening is by setting up mini hydro & aquaponic systems! These can be made easily and provide a great way to grow your veggies and herbs inside so you can have them fresh year-round!
One simple way to set up an aquaponics – or growing system where the plant relies on the natural cycle of nutrient uptake via fishy – system is provided below. Enjoy!
Keep in mind that this is designed to be quick and easy – there are more sophisticated, fish-friendly designs out there. Let me know if you have questions about these designs!
Materials:
Methods:
The fish will eat its food and excrete waste. This waste contains valuable nutrients that the string will absorb and carry up to where the plant’s roots are. The plant will absorb these nutrients and the water, making it grow healthy.
While this is a fun way to get plants back into your life even during the winter season, it’s also fun to watch the little fish go about it’s fish business! The connection between plants and animals is an amazing one and this aquaponics system really highlights the connection that the plant growth has to the fish’s daily life.
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