Plant Indoors

For those of us who strongly feel the presence of God by being outdoors and in the natural world, winter can be a tough time; especially this year of covid. Last spring when we first experienced its isolation and other impacts, we were heading into spring. We were able to get out more, our yards were greening up and we could be outdoors either alone or socially distanced with friends. This fall and winter may require a little more creativity and flexibility to retain that sense of connection. Here’s a few ways to bring that restorative experience of His creation closer in to our homes and landscapes.

Indoors:  

• Houseplants are meant for inside. Some of the best are philodendron, hoya, jade, asparagus fern, airplane or spider plant, aloe, rubber plant. There’s even air plants that don’t require soil.

• Other plants that can do well inside are things you may have already brought inside—succulents, geraniums, begonias or herbs like rosemary and parsley. Some of them may not make it through the winter but they’re wonderful greenery, and in some cases taste-boosters.

• Mirrors can be placed to increase the light our indoor plants receive. It’s a matter of placing mirrors where sunlight lands and placing plants where that light is reflected; usually this means 45 degree angles from sun to mirror to plants.

• Some plants are easy to propagate indoors and it’s fun to watch their roots develop. Spider plant produces shoots that root easily in water; they can be left in the water or potted later. Leaves of African violets will root at the base when placed in soil. Individual leaves of succulents will grow roots from the base but they need to dry out several days first to prevent rotting. Growing plants from individual leaves takes patience but watching and helping something grow is always a good thing. Check online guides for specifics.

• Use good lightweight potting soil without fertilizer.

• Check soil several inches deep before watering; overwatering is one of the biggest problems with potted plants.

• Windows are important when we’re stuck inside. As much as possible, try to improve the view and the interest by putting birdfeeders and interesting plants or structures where they are visible from indoors (to feed birds but not squirrels, use safflower seed).

• Keep it guilt-free. If you kill some plants, no problem… that’s what compost piles are for.

Outdoors in yards or on small patios or decks: 

• Bring in the birds with birdfeeders and birdbaths. Having plants or structures at varying heights offers birds a wide range of options for shelter and roosting and, for us, great opportunities for watching them. Evergreens or prickly plants keep them even more protected from predators.

• It doesn’t have to be Christmas to add evergreens to our yards; clip off some junipers that need pruning, put them in a container or tree stand where they’re most visible. The more levels in your yard, the more there is for you to look at and the more birds and other wildlife they will draw.

• Twinkle lights aren’t just for Christmas, and well-placed solar lights make it more inviting to get outdoors or bring the outdoors in.

• Add structures for more visual elements in the yard. Even a half-buried old barrel hoop looks great covered with snow. Keep structures natural with twigs, stones or other elements that fit into the natural environment.

• When there’s snow or wet soil, pay attention to tracks to see what’s been visiting your yard; most likely you’re feeding a lot more critters than you realize. If we can’t have friends at our table, we can at least spread the table for outdoor visitors.

Email office@gracepca.com if you want help, other suggestions or some plant cuttings!