Indoor gardening: supplies to get you started

Starting an indoor garden does require a little preparation. Your space and lighting will likely be the biggest factors determining what supplies you'll need to get your garden growing. Here, we'll take a look at some basic and special needs supplies.

The basics

No matter what type of indoor garden you're planning, you'll need these supplies for each of them.

• Surface protection. Use drop cloths or plastic trays under your garden pots and planters to protect your surfaces from water damage and unsightly soil spills.

• Good soil. A good quality, loose potting soil should contain all the nutrients your houseplants will need for at least eight to 10 weeks. Plants growing for longer time periods may require some fertilization; add a water-soluble fertilizer at a recommended rate for your plant every few weeks. You can also add some nutrients to soil by sprinkling pots with compost or fish emulsion.

• Containers. Other than the plants themselves, one of the other key components in your home garden will be your plant containers. Choose containers big enough for their particular plants and make sure they drain well; standing water at container bases can cause deadly root rot. Plant tropical plants in plastic containers, which retain humidity better than clay or terra cotta containers.

• Distilled water. Tap water can contain mineral deposits or harmful pH levels that can damage plants. Instead, water your plants with purified distilled water.

• Ventilation. All plants benefit from air flow, so position them near windows or oscillating fans. Do make sure plants are not exposed to a direct air flow for too long; if they are, they'll likely dry.

• Natural pesticides. To keep your family and pets safe, combat houseplant pests with natural pesticides such as dish soap, alcohol, and hot peppers.

The special needs: lighting

Some houseplants will survive and thrive in simple pots placed in open, undisturbed areas of indirect sunlight. For these areas, you'll need the basic supplies listed above. Some homes, though, might not have the large, low-traffic spaces indoor gardens demand; instead, you might find your garden fits best in a relatively dry unused closet or basement, where you'll need to install special lighting.

• Lighting. Some indoor gardeners maintain fluorescent lighting is a fine substitution for natural or incandescent light; other indoor gardeners claim the pricier HID, or high intensity discharge, lighting is the real way to go.
  
  HID lights are the same kind of energy efficient, industrial lights used in street and parking lot lights; the bulbs turn electricity into a usable light and energy source for plants. HID lights for home use are scaled-down and produced with the same commercial parts used in industrial HID lights for durability and longevity.
  
  The size of your garden and garden space will determine what HID bulb wattage you'll need; most plants will sit a foot off the floor in a container, and most HID fixtures will hand about a foot down from the ceiling. For small rooms with 10 to 40 square feet of floor space, one 400 watt HID lighting system should be sufficient. Larger spaces should do well with a 600 or 1,000 watt HID lighting system.

• Light movers. While not typically necessary, light movers can certainly improve light dispersion around your garden. Electronic movers should be mounted securely to the ceiling. You can also use rope or chain pulleys to adjust the height of your lights.

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