Summer is over and the garden outside is finished for the year. All the plants outside have either gone dormant for the winter or finished their life cycle. But gardeners who still crave the satisfaction and rewards of growing things can put their gardening talents to work indoors during the winter.

Whether your gardening need itches during the winter or not, having plants in the house can add to the overall health of your household. Having one plant for every 100 square feet in your house helps remove indoor pollutants. In addition, plants take up carbon dioxide and give off oxygen as a waste product.

Humans, of course, take up oxygen and give off carbon dioxide as a waste product. So, having plants in the house makes for a healthy and equitable exchange for humans and plants.

A fancy greenhouse is not necessary to grow vegetables and beautiful flowers indoors. Many plants can thrive in your house and there are several techniques to help you keep your green thumb working all winter long.

Lighting

One of the first things you will need to address for your indoor gardening is lighting. No matter what else you do for your plants, if they do not have the proper lighting they will not thrive. Lighting is, in fact, the most important aspect of indoor gardening. When choosing decorative
plants for your home, look for plants that require medium to low light, like Philodendrons, some ivy and some ferns.

Plants and indoor light

Plants that are not getting enough sunlight will generally have thin stems and smaller leaves. The leaves will also be lighter on a plant that is not getting adequate light.

Most plants with medium light requirements will benefit from a south facing window. Windows
that face east and west will generally give plants with medium light requirements adequate sunlight, as well. However, plants that prefer low light will probably prefer a north facing window.