Window sill Garden

Growing vegetables indoors is impractical without an expensive greenhouse — except for herbs, which grow big enough for a satisfying harvest with minimal space or attention. 

A large south-facing window is ideal for an indoor herb garden, as most varieties require at least four to six hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive (mints can get by on less). Lacking this, you must supplement the available natural light with artificial light or the plants will quickly become stunted. Herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, mint, chives, savory and dill are the best herbs to grow with limited space. Rosemary, lavender and sage are options if you have a bit more room.

Indoor herbs, it’s not always enough to simply water when the soil is dry. For best results, mimic rainfall by spraying down the leaves in the kitchen sink once a week. Alternatively, spritz the foliage with a misting bottle every few days. Feed every few weeks with a natural liquid fertilizer; products intended for houseplants are generally sufficient. If insects like aphids or whiteflies appear, spray them with diluted soapy water — find our instructions for this all-natural insecticide here.
You can check out our Facebook page to see a step by step post on creating a window sill gardening! https://www.facebook.com/printhousedesign1.0

Old man Cactus

Old Man Cactus is one of the easier cactuses to care for, especially when you follow these easy care instructions. The name is unique because it  gets its name thanks to the long, white hair-like hair that stands out of the spiked column that makes up the whole plant. 

By placing the cactus in your home with as much light as possible. I would suggest placing your plant in a South-facing window. Think of the window that gets a lot of sun. The more suited the window is. If you manage to give the plant enough light, the thicker and longer their hairs will be.  When watering the cactus, be sure to wait at least several days before watering again. A good rule of thumb is waiting for the soil to dry out completely. One of the most common reasons why the Old Man Cactus dies is because people tend to over-water their plants. You mustn’t water your succulents when you feel the soil is still wet. A great idea would be planting your succulent in well-draining succulent soil.The Old Man Cactus is a slow-growing cactus, so it might take several years for your plant to grow up a pot size. When you finally re pot, be sure to change the soil as well. 

The plant thrives on warm, dry air with enough sunlight. The long hairs you notice standing out of the plant are there to cool the plant down. As the plant grows, it will grow slowly if planted in a pot while when grown outdoors, it can reach up to 13m (45 feet). Most people prefer growing the Old Man Cacti indoor, where it will stay small and easy to care for.

By following the steps above you should have a thriving and cool cactus in your home!

Growing Mint

Growing mint is easy!. Learn to plant, grow, and control mint in your garden by following this post below. 

All types of mint (including sweet mint, spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint) are fast-growing, spreading plants. You can contain mint in tight places such as between pavers of a walkway where your feet will brush against the leaves to release its fragrance.

Plant mint in spring after the last frost. 

This fast-growing herb can grow just about anywhere and makes an excellent addition to indoor and outdoor gardens. Space mint plants 18 to 24 inches apart. It’s best to grow them in pots to keep them from taking over your garden (even if you’re planting in the ground).Keep soil consistently moist and water when the top inch becomes dry.

 Promote excellent leaf production by regularly feeding with water-soluble plant food. Once plants are established, harvest mint leaves regularly by pinching off the stems.

Harvest mint leaves at any size by pinching off stems. For a large harvest, wait until just before the plant blooms, when the flavor is most intense, then cut the whole plant to just above the first or second set of leaves. In the process, you will remove the yellowing lower leaves and promote bushier growth. Three such harvests per season are typical for mint.

Hens and chicks

Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) are succulent plants that are low-growing perennials that stay close to the ground as they self-propagate, making them good groundcover plants. These succulents may be known for their hardiness, but it’s worth keeping these tips in mind.

  • Choose a location with full sun. As outdoor succulents, hens and chicks need at least six hours of full sun every day. Adequate sunlight will promote colorful foliage and the propagation of chicks.
  • Plant hens and chicks in sandy soil. Hens and chicks do best in rocky, sandy places, making them ideal for rock gardens. They also do well in flower beds with well-draining soil.
  • Use clay pots. If you choose to grow hens and chicks succulents in a pot, choose a clay pot and potting mix specifically formulated for succulents and cactus plants.
  • Water your plants rarely. These drought-tolerant plants need very little water once they’re mature and can go weeks without watering. Once they’re established, water your hens and chicks only when the surrounding soil dries out—typically once a week in warm climates.

Growing hens and chicks is easy. The plants are readily available in most nurseries, by following the steps above you can create a beautiful succulent garden. 

Ionantha Red/Pink Air Plant

These air plants are absolutely “blushingly” beautiful as they have touches of red and pink which is commonly called “blushing.” These are prone to blooming as well so they are a real show off and perfect for blooming special plant lovers.

The ionantha is a mesic variety of the Tillandsia genus, meaning it’s much more suited to a tropical environment with a high temperature and humidity.

As with all Air Plants, they’re happiest in open terrariums and larger containers with plenty of airflow, but this species can grow in a closed environment with the right care.

Ionantha is one of the most popular air plants.  It is often the first Tillandsia in a beginner’s collection. This is because these grow very easily and also readily produce pups. You will often see these form into clumps of 3-5 plants. These air plants can withstand a variety of conditions, but prefer brighter light levels and routine watering’s. This is one of the air plants that can either be misted, or submerged in water.

Our shop Printhousedesign1 on Etsy will be adding these beautiful air plants this spring. 

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