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If you have a sunny, south-facing window in your home or apartment, try growing indoor cactus. Indoor cactus are easy. Many grow slowly over time, don t require frequent watering and tolerate our dry, indoor air conditions in winter. Use cactus potting soil, and water throughly, but infrequently, and don t mist the plants. It s good to choose the right cactus. While all cactus are considered succulents, not all succulents are cactus. Cactus have growth points or areoles where spines, hairs and flowers grow. Here are some of the easiest cactus to grow in your sunny spot.
Angel Wings cactus is related to prickly pear cactus. It has hairs, not spines, on its pads so it s easier to handle. It grows slowly to 2 feet tall and with enough sun, it will send out yellow flowers in spring.
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Winter is a good time to plan for better garden soil. Soil is the soul of your garden. As goes the soil, so grows your plants. In my new book, The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening, I talk all about growing vegetables, herbs and flowers without tilling, turning or disturbing the soil. There are many good reasons for gardening this way.
No-dig doesn t disturb the billions of soil creatures in your soil or the natural structure, so plants grow better, there s less weeds, water and air flow better and it s less work for you. And it sequesters carbon in the soil. No dig beds are usually raised. Either add a combination of compost and topsoil or layer organic materials in the bed as you would a compost pile. As the materials break down they create rich soil. In weedy areas place cardboard under the bed. If mice and voles are a problem in your beds, attach ¼ inch mesh, hardware cloth to the bottom of the bed.
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Houseplants are popular for adding lush greenery indoors. But what if you don t have space for large floor or tabletop houseplants? The solution is trailing or climbing houseplants.
There are a number of climbing houseplants that thrive in low to medium light conditions, can grow in a hanging pot and are easy to propagate and maintain.
Probably the most common and easiest to grow are philodendron and pothos. The heart-shaped leaves come in dark green or variegated white or yellow colors. They thrive with just bright, indirect light and slightly moist soil. Growing up, my mother always had some growing in little pots in her kitchen. Philodendron and pothos will creep along and can be attached to the edge of windows or doors. Like many climbers, if they get too rangy, simply cut back the vine and root the cuttings.