Page 12 - Real Estate Now Jan-Feb 2022

Indoor Gardens 101:

How to Grow Green in the Winter Months

Jules Torti courtesy realtor.ca
aint and plants can easily (and affordably) buoy moods meaning winter doesn’t have to be synonymous with
grey! Add some green to this monochrome season by filling your home with the joy of an indoor garden. For
Pthose who count a Chia pet as their only qualification, we’ve gathered the necessary tips, tricks and tidbits to
get you started with confidence.

Novice-friendly plant options
Succulents can double as natural place settings. They
thrive in sunshine in well-draining pots and will let you
know when they feel unwell or overhydrated by turning
pale. Aloe plants are a good entry-level succulent and can
provide instant relief from burns for newbie bread bakers
as well. You can also plant a broken aloe leaf in soil and it
will regrow like a lizard’s tail.

Beginners who admit to a limited attention span will
appreciate the self-sufficiency of a jade plant. Their leaves
allow for a lot of water retention and like a camel, they
can go a month without water or attention. If you live in a
condo or apartment with radiators, jade plants will love you
for the warm and dry climate.
Cacti are another resilient newbie choice. The soil should be damp, not arid like the desert! Cacti love bright light
and will enjoy a sunny perch in a windowsill. They come in strange and peculiar forms from the powder puff to
conversation pieces like the rat tail cactus.
Paperwhite narcissus (or simply, paperwhites) are a fragrant and easy-to-grow choice. They can be planted in bowls
or shallow containers (seven to 10 cm) packed with decorative stones and pebbles.
Greenhorns should also consider growing an amaryllis. The plant rewards its
doting owner by flowering within six to eight weeks of planting. With a little
TLC the amaryllis will continue to produce flowers for your Instagram, year
after year.
Indoor gardens with purpose

Why not turn your windowsill into an in-house grocery aisle? Grow your own
indoor herbs for tomato sauce or salsa, cocktails or truly homegrown tea. Your
favourite herbs (cilantro, mint, rosemary, basil) will add greenery to your
windows and menu. If your space permits, you can grow strawberries,
tomatoes, carrots and garlic greens too! With a little ingenuity, you can turn
your kitchen scraps into windowsill plants. Almost every fruit or vegetable
can sprout into life again from a sweet potato to the crown of a pineapple.
Microgreens are a fun pursuit too and will add some fresh crunch to your
sandwiches and salads.

12 | REAL ESTATE NOW | denise@BCislandhomes.ca