I Love Nature: My First Indoor Garden

I Love Nature: My First Indoor Garden — page 3 — TOOLS I NEED Gardening indoors doesn't mean you don't need tools They just won't be the same ones you would use in the vegetable patch A tray to keep dirt from getting everywhere When you are handling plants and dirt at home you might get a little dirty even if you're very careful It's easier not to get dirt everywhere if you use a plastic potting tray with raised edges Spoon and fork To make potting soil mixtures fill pots or clean your plants roots you will need a small garden fork and spade But even the smaller versions of these gardening tools might be too big for you so it is probably best to use an old fork and spoon from the kitchen Make sure you ask your grown ups before using the fork and spoon for gardening 6

I Love Nature: My First Indoor Garden — page 4 — A small watering can To water your plants you will need a watering can Choose one that is small easy to fill at the kitchen sink and easy to pick up without spilling A nice little shower A small spray bottle To moisten the leaves of certain plants that might be too hot inside your house or to gently water the soil after planting seeds use a small spray bottle Choose one with a long spout Watering cans with long spouts make it easier to water the center of a pot Gloves Potting soil is black and can stain Contact with certain plants may irritate the skin and cause a rash You don’t have to wear gloves but you can if you want to A variety of pots Gather pots in different sizes and shapes It is very important to make sure that they all have at least one drainage hole in the bottom so any extra water can escape after you water 7

I Love Nature: My First Indoor Garden — page 5 — As you know all plants grow outside some grow in places where it is never cold but they are still always outside To keep them alive in your house you will have to try to give them everything they would have if they were outside Now the pot won’t make a nasty stain on the table Arranging My Indoor Garden Saucers under pots Saucers are used to collect the water that the soil cannot absorb and that drains through the holes in the base of the pot Saucers prevent flooding and keep your bedroom from getting dirty And clay pebbles in the saucers Plant roots hate when the soil is soggy and full of water This is why you should always use pots with at least one drainage hole in the bottom This is also why you should fill the saucer with clay pebbles and place the pot on top of them This way even if the saucer is full the soil will not into a sponge turn 8

I Love Nature: My First Indoor Garden — page 6 — My plants are leaning toward the window What plants miss the most when they are inside is light You might think there is enough light to play or walk around your living room but for plants it’s almost completely dark Remember that they should always be fewer than six feet away from a window otherwise they will bend over trying to get closer to where the light is coming from Littles in the back big ones in the front Always keep your plants together To make sure you can observe and care for all of them and so that they can all enjoy the light use shelves of differing heights This way the little plants will not be in the shadow of the bigger ones My indoor garden on wheels If you have several plants and want to make it easier to clean your living room or bedroom you can place them all in a cart small wheelbarrow or wagon They sure do like living together 9

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