Gardening is a relaxing and fulfilling hobby. The joy of seeing a plant that you religiously took care of bloom is one of the best feelings in the world. Not everybody can garden or grow the plants you love in the great outdoors, though. Some homeowners don’t have a yard, others live in areas with harsh winters or summers hence year-round gardening is difficult. Luckily, there is a solution: indoor gardening.
Indoor gardening may appear very much like outdoor gardening, but it requires different tools and instruments to be productive. In this post, you will find a list of essential gardening tools that every indoor gardener should have. Have a look!
HYGROMETER
All plants have their specific humidity needs. If you want yours to grow healthily, you’ll need to create a comfortable climatic zone for them. And that is impossible without a hygrometer to monitor the relative humidity level.
Indoor humidity level has a direct impact on your plants’ nutrient uptake and appearance. A hygrometer lets you keep it in check so you give the plants the most suitable environment that promotes their growth and development. Look for a model that is accurate and durable.
HAND FORK
Unlike outdoor plants, indoor plants don’t have access to unlimited soil nutrients. You have to add fertilizers and compost to keep them healthy. But to mix them properly inside the pot, you’ll need a hand fork.
Just like its full-size counterpart, a hand fork features three or more prongs that help you evenly distribute the nutrients and aerate the soil. They also come in handy while planting and transplanting.
TRANSPLANTER
Since indoor gardening is usually conducted in small, confined spaces, you often have to shift plants from one pot to another. A transplanter is a tool that helps you accomplish the difficult feat very easily, and without a mess. It minimizes wrist and hand strain so you can work without exertion or overextending.
SOIL TESTER
A good soil tester takes the guesswork out of watering and fertilizing. These nifty devices test your indoor plant’s soil for moisture levels, pH levels, and light levels, so you don’t overwater or over-fertilize it. And they are pretty easy to use. With most models, all you have to do is insert the testing probe into the soil and read the display for results.
INDOOR WATER CAN
A full-size outdoor watering can could possibly not be the right choice for your indoor garden. With its big size, it will end up being more cumbersome than useful. For maximum effectiveness, look into getting water cans with a smaller capacity. A 64-ounce unit with a long, thin neck is a suitable size for watering most indoor pots.
MISTER
Most indoor plants do well in humid conditions, so a dry indoor climate can be detrimental to them. While an inexpensive plastic spray can is one way to revive the dry leaves, a handy mister is a better option to introduce some moisture into the air. Its fine, gentle spray provides humidity to the foliage without directly spraying the leaves. Plus, it also helps oxygenate the soil.
GROW LIGHTS
We don’t need to remind you how important light is for plants to grow. Since they are placed inside, indoor plants usually don’t receive an optimum amount of sunlight. Especially during the winter months. Grow lights are a great alternative to natural sunlight. Although you can achieve the effect with common fluorescent bulbs if you use one warm and one cool together if you want a dedicated grow light there are many options to suit your budget and plant needs.
TAKE AWAY
Each of the tools we mentioned on the list is absolutely essential for successful indoor gardening. Be sure to get them for a productive journey. And if you are not into gardening yourself, they make an excellent gift for the indoor gardener in your life.
