Gardening is fun. It can put food on your table that’s healthy and toxin-free and adorn your yard in beautiful splendor. But, as you may well know, it can be an expensive hobby.
Here are some tips to keep your gardening expenses to a minimum even when you aspire to have a beautiful display of flowers or a bountiful vegetable garden.
1. GET TO KNOW THE PLANTS.
A little investigation will tell us which plants like the light and which ones like a little more shade. Some plants like to be by the window and others do not. Some plants are more suited to a particular room in the house than others. And some like lots of water and some like their soil a bit drier. Knowing our plants and what they need to grow will help keep them healthy for the longest time.
2. PLANTS LIKE THEIR MORNING COFFEE TOO.
Coffee is not only our friend but, it’s also a good friend to our plants. If there is some leftover coffee in the pot, dilute it with an equal amount of water and feed it to the acid-loving plants in place of regular watering.
3. CREATE A MINI-COMPOST PILE.
Leftover coffee grounds, egg shells, and vegetable trimmings make a wonderful fertilizer for our plants. Have a little bucket to dispose of the excess plant-based food material and mix it into the soil of the plants. Both indoor and outdoor plants can benefit from this nourishing and natural insect and slug repellent. An interesting tip: Starbucks and some local coffee houses offer used coffee grounds free to customers.
4. FILTER IT.
And on the subject of coffee, line the base of the plant pots with coffee filters. This is an inexpensive way of keeping things clean and tidy. Put the filter on the base of the pot before it is filled with compost. Excess water will be able to seep through, but the compost will be kept where it’s meant to be, making the life of a houseplant owner just a bit easier.
5. RECYCLE WATER.
Water that has been used for cooking and even for washing up can be recycled back into the plants and into the garden too. When we cook vegetables, rice or pasta, or boil some eggs, we can use the cooking water to keep our plants thriving. If it’s dish-washing water, make sure that it’s a plant-based detergent that we use for washing up; then the water is good to go. One thing to remember; water that has been used to cook meat or to clean pots that contained meat or dairy is unsuitable for use in the garden.
6. GIVE SEEDLINGS A GOOD START.
Plant them in hollowed out lemon halves or egg containers cut into individual pots and filled with compost. Used toilet roll centers also work well. Just fold in the ends, and it’s now a little pot. When the time comes, put the seedling and its container in the ground.
7. CREATE AN INDOOR HERB GARDEN.
There will need to be natural light to have a thriving indoor herb garden. Scout out the best location, which is usually in a south or southwest window location. Most herbs require at least four hours of sun each day and water when the top of the soil is dry.
8. CREATE MINI GREENHOUSES.
Use jars with lids or plastic jugs cut in half to make mini greenhouses, This helps plants thrive, especially in their infancy. Greenhouses can help regulate temperature and maintain a moist environment for seedlings. Not only do they give young plants a better start, but they are also great conversation starters.
9. CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLANTS.
There are several plant species that do not require a green thumb. Aloe vera, the spider plant, jade, and ponytail palm are just a few examples that are practically impossible to kill. In fact, even the blackest of thumbs with minimal skill have a good shot at keeping these plants alive.