I’m trying something different here at

The Gardeners Rake.

You see its snowing out and its way too cold (7 degrees) and I would rather be out playing in garden dirt. So, I’ll have to play with my indoor plants instead.

So tell me what your favorite indoor plant is and ask a question if you have one. Or tell me about your favorite plant.

photo credit: idalingi

Here’s a tip my neighbor gave me about African Violets. They grow best in a window with northern lighting. My neighbor, Irma, always had the most amazing African Violets and it was a plant I struggled to grow.

So I switched my plants to a window in the north and the plants recovered and were beautiful.

Send me a comment, story or a question about indoor plants and lets see where it leads.

Technorati Tags: ask a question about indoor plants, indoor plants

At this time of year my gardening turns to indoor plants. Flowers, vegetables and house plants get all my attention.

photo credit: sausagecemetery

Over the years, one of my favorite plants has become the Aspidistra, which is commonly known as the Cast Iron plant. This plant will beautify any dark room or corner. And in my home this is a plus for the rooms on the north side.

Many gardening experts describe the Aspidistra as one of the toughest and most adaptable house plants. Its long blades of slender dark green or variegated dark green and white leaves shoot straight out from the soil but in clumps and up to 75 cm in height and 15 cm wide.

It is such a low maintenance plant that it only needs very low light, average temperature and humidity and just occasional watering. This is truly the perfect plant for hard to grow homes or for the person who has a brown thumb.

Low-light plants are usually defined as those that can survive in 25 to 75 foot candles – that is, a spot that is 4 to 5 meters from a bright window, just enough light to read by comfortably, but where artificial lighting switched on by day would give a brightening effect.

photo credit: marc kjerland

You can easily find the Aspidistra in your local garden center nursery. In addition, here are suggestions for five other plants that will suit very low light situations:

Aglonema (Chinese Evergreen) which are among the few plants that prefer only moderate light and adapt well to low light. It has large dark green oval then tapering leathery leaves later developing a caney base.

Drachaena deremensis varieties (also know as Happy or Fortune Plants) which are slender leafed and usually white variegated. The Drachaena family are caney plants crested with decorative rosettes of straplike foliage.

Holly fern which adapts to low light and Boston fern a fishbone type of fern that will remain in low light for many months but need a spell in brighter light to rejuvenate.

Neanthe Bella or Parlor Palm, which is more suited to low light situations than most palms.

Sanseviera (also known as Mother-In-Law’s Tongue) which stands low to very bright light has waxy, erect straplike leaves usually with cream-colored margins and an unusual banding of the grey-green center.

If you are finding it difficult to find a plant that will brighten up that dark corner, why not try one of these hardy favorites of mine?

Indoor plants add to any home and they also have health benefits so talk to your local garden center and adopt a plant today.

Technorati Tags: garden plant, indoor plants, plant nursery, plants for low light conditions

I had read that there were numerous advantages to setting up your own nursery indoors at home. The prices of fresh produce were very expensive and I often could not afford it. I also liked the fact that my own produce could remain pesticide free.
photo credit: schnaars

After I read about all of the benefits of setting up an indoor nursery at home I was excited to give it a try. The article recommended the equipment that I would need to get started.

First you will have to find an area that has enough space to set up your plants.

Just make sure that the area you select does not get too cold. Garages and basements make great places to start your seedlings as long as they are heated.

Assemble whatever table or shelving system that you will be using for your plants and set up your trays filled with potting soil.

When starting your own indoor nursery, you should experiment with a variety of different seeds. Try out some fresh herbs and vegetables and a few different types of flowering annuals.

Remember whatever you can not plant at your home, your neighbors and friends will be happy to use in their gardens.

Many people choose a fluorescent grow light to stimulate the initial growth of the plants. These light are energy efficient and perfect for use in small areas, such as an at home nursery. A fluorescent grow light generates a lot less heat than some of the other types of grow lights and can be placed in much closer proximity to the plants.

A fluorescent grow light is also very affordable. You can use them in virtually any size space and there are a number of models available to fit your budget.

The article also informed me about the latest in technology for nursery and greenhouse lighting. Ufo led grow lights are environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and an excellent choice for starting seedlings. Many nurseries and greenhouses have already made the switch to ufo led lighting.

Even though ufo led lights are more expensive to purchase initially, in the long run they will save you money. Your electric bill will be lower and the bulbs will not need to be replaced as frequently as others.

In these economic times it just makes sense to establish your own indoor nursery.

You will save yourself money and have direct control over the types of plants that are available to you.

Technorati Tags: container gardening, fluorescent grow light, indoor plants, ufo led