Clean T.O: A Guide to Indoor Plants in Small Spaces

Whether you grew plants on your balcony this summer or not, you should consider bringing indoor plants into your small space this winter!  Not only can indoor plants liven up the décor of your condo, they have a number of health benefits, including increasing the air quality! However, there are a few things to consider when bringing your plants indoors for the winter, or choosing indoor plants for your condo.

Moving Plants Indoors

If you already have plants growing on your balcony you might not have brought them in because of the usually gorgeous September weather. But, it’s time to start thinking about the transfer. At the end of the day, light is all plants need to photosynthesize and grow. Unfortunately, with that said, plants that have already been struggling in the fresh outdoors may not make it in a small space.

That means that you should only move plants that you deem strong enough to handle the transfer, and say goodbye to the rest. Because, unless you’re sentimentally attached to a weak plant, you don’t need the added stress of failing health when you’re already attempting to garden in your condo!

The Process

Don’t be fooled, the transfer will be process. Just think how different the environment on your balcony is compared to inside your condo! And so, your plant needs a careful transition to the indoors so that it adjusts to the sudden changes. At the end of the day, being mindful during each stage of the transfer is the key to maintaining your plant’s health.

Remember, that sudden change in temperature, light and humidity could traumatize your plants. Ultimately, leading to wilting, yellowing and in worst case- death. However, if you do your research on how to assimilate your specific plant types and act accordingly, everything should be fine!

The Transfer

We recommend to transfer all your plants indoors before night-time temperatures sink below 7 degrees Celsius. This is especially true for tropical plants, so think about bringing them in! However, remember to inspect all pots for bugs, spiders, earthworms, snails, moss or mold if you plant to bring them inside. Unless of course, you’re looking for new roommates!

However, even if you didn’t find any creepy crawlers on your pot, there’s something you need to do before you bring your baby in. As a precaution, you should let the pot sit in a tub of lukewarm water for 15 minutes, forcing any hidden critters out.  Then, scrub the exterior of the pot with a simple DIY household cleaning solution like vinegar until you’re satisfied! Next, just rinse off until clean. For guidance on the actual transferring process, check out this video that will walk you through the transfer process step by step!

Plant Placement

If your plants are moving in for the winter, have you thought about where they’ll live? Consider adding ceilings, wall hooks or shelves to small space to store your plants over the winter. Think about which areas get the most sun, and how easy it will be to water them.

In terms of lighting, supplementary indoor plant lights are a terrific option if you don’t get great sunlight in your condo. It’s been found that many different plants like herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers and greens can flourish under a mix of sun and artificial light, so give it a shot!

Welcome, to the Indoors!

To prevent shock when bringing plants indoors, they should be gradually exposed to the reduced lighting. In fact, as the plant adapts to the new setting, it will start to regenerate any wilting or leaves it has lost. So, you may want to consider the LED lights until they adjust.

You need to feed your plant a little differently during the transition, too! Overwatering is the silent killer of many unsuspecting houseplants, so you should let the soil surface dry before watering. When in doubt, don’t water- because your plant isn’t getting enough light to dry out properly. Last but not least, give you brave plant a boost of fertilizer, for strength! After the boost, your plant will be satisfied for the winter months to come.

Choosing an Indoor Plant

There’s a wide variety of indoor plants you could incorporate into your condo that thrive in low light conditions, and also serve to improve air quality! However, if you enjoy indoor gardening and want plants that require a more involved role, check out these practical & edible plant ideas! So, if you play your cards right, you could be munching on avocados, mushrooms, salad greens and lemons this winter!

Air Quality

A Boston Fern

Not only are Boston Ferns great at improving air quality, but they will pre-historic aesthetic to your small space! These ferns are low maintenance, thriving in indirect light- though they do require extra humidity in the winter months. Check out this article to learn more about humidity and growing a Boston Fern in your condo.

Snake Plant

Snake plants are great because they can go for weeks without being cared for. This means, you can go on that business trip and come back to healthy looking plants! In addition to being attractive, Snake plants help purify formaldehyde and benzene toxins from the air. Check out this article to learn more about Snake plants, and how to care of them.

Aesthetic

Succulents

By now you must have heard of the succulent craze sweeping the nation. And for good reason! These cute, low maintenance additions to your condo will give you nature without the work. Plus, you can get creative with them, because they can live anywhere! For instance, you can plant your succulent within a mason jar, in a shell- you name it! Just think, you could have your own succulent garden in your small space this winter!

Peace Lily

The Peace Lily, a classy addition to your condo that will raise your décor level up a few notches. Lucky for you, this gorgeous flower is fairly low maintenance. However, though it doesn’t require direct sunlight or daily watering, it does need to be re-potted semi-often! If you’re up for a wee bit of maintenance, you may have found a match. Still not convinced? Check out this article to see why this couple always have a Peace Lily in their home.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how much time you want to spend tending to your plant. Remember, many people enjoy maintaining plants indoors and in small spaces. In fact, there’s lots of products being designed to make indoor gardening easier. Check out this list of cool gardening gadgets to help you keep your garden in check this winter!

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