Adding more green into our homes can really make a difference in our mood and stress levels. Numerous studies also say that being around nature improves our brain activity. Since most of us can’t just go out and head to the park because of the pandemic, a small home garden is a good alternative.
However, not everyone actually has the time to take care of plants. We can get busy and sometimes forget to water them. Or, you could be traveling a lot for work and gone for days. That doesn’t mean gardening is completely impossible.
Here’s what you can do to start your own garden even if you have limited free time:
Choose the right plants
Not all plants were made equally. Some of them require a lot more work to grow because of how sensitive they are. An example of this are orchids and certain types of roses. There’s a reason why you only see some flowers on holidays and special occasions, such as poinsettia and lilies. Some bloom at a specific period, and it often doesn’t last very long.
If you can’t dedicate too much time or would often be away, consider more low maintenance plants. A lot of people love succulents, and many cacti actually grow amazing flowers in the right seasons. For flowers, shasta daisies and hibiscus are great to have around.
A lot of green and leafy indoor plants are really easy to take care of, too. Rubber plants, money plants, and snake plants are ones that are commonly seen at home. Aloe is also a fun option because it naturally retains moisture, so it can last quite a bit even if you are away.
Don’t hesitate to get plastic
Sadly, some places just don’t get a lot of natural sunlight. In this case, don’t feel bad about having to get fake houseplants. Many of them can actually pass as real plants.
Artificial plants aren’t just for indoors; they are often used outside, as well. Many households use artificial grass because it can be difficult to maintain their lushness. Aside from that, they often have to compete with other roots, which causes unevenness. Grass is an important part of landscaping, so design is easier with these.
Learn about mulching
If you don’t have the time to remove weeds all the time, you can avoid this by heavily mulching your garden. To those who haven’t heard of it, this is the process of adding a layer of mulch over the soil. Mulch is basically material made out of organic material and is used to retain moisture and nutrients.
It is a natural deterrent to weeds because it prevents weeds already in the grown from growing. Also, future weeds will not be able to plant their roots on the soil because of the layer of mulch.
Mulch comes with a variety of benefits and can even make your plants grow better. Studies found that adding mulch to potted plants helped preserve moisture in the soil by 35 percent. More moisture means that the plants won’t dry out as fast, and it also produces more crops and flowers.
This material also acts as an insulating material for winters and summer. It insulates the soil during these extreme conditions. Mulch keeps soil cool in the summer, and it makes the soil warm during snowy weather. Certain crops, such as garlic, need this because they tend to freeze over during winter.
Automate watering
If you can afford it, invest in a good sprinkler system. Not only does it help you remember to water your plants, but it can also be programmed to water at certain times. You can get special sprinklers that let you adjust the intensity as well to prevent overwatering plants.
Irrigation systems are also another option that you can do. They are similar to sprinklers, but they are more like pipes that water the ground. They directly water the roots, so you are guaranteed to cover all your plants. With sprinklers, there may be times that plants with large leaves are blocking the ground. An irrigation system won’t have that problem.
Similarly, there are also self-watering pots for indoor plants. They rely primarily on capillary action to help the water moisten the soil. The water is usually stored at the bottom. The soil absorbs the water, but there is also a separate hole that drains the excess water.
