With more and more people taking it upon themselves to start an indoor garden and grow their own plants and vegetables, it’s no surprise that growing spaces are finding their place inside. At the same time people are becoming more cognizant of indoor air quality, and also designing living spaces that focus on tranquility.

This makes indoor gardening a great concept to implement: plants will recycle air through their natural processes, improving air quality and the green space they contribute to décor is attributed as being soothing and peaceful. Plus there’s the benefit of fresh produce available right in your home.

Planning an Indoor Garden

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning an indoor garden. Some of the biggest considerations to factor in are how much space is available to work with, will you be doing hydroponics, how much natural sunlight is available, and which plants you’d like to grow. Space is a severely limiting factor in indoor gardening; it’s not possible to move walls or snap your fingers and gain square footage inside the home.

We are constricted, literally and figuratively, by the walls around us. Sometimes designing an indoor garden means getting creative with the space available. If lighting is conducive, indoor containers can be placed on windowsills, on top of cabinets and the refrigerator, or placed on tiered racks to maximum vertical space.

When lights for indoor gardening aren’t optimal for plant growth it may necessitate buying specific lighting optimized for plant growth. Indoor garden lights come in many options: varying sizes and outputs, within a wide range of costs to meet almost every budget. The AeroGarden Bounty Basic-Black Indoor Garden will provide plants with the correct lighting and growing environment. This will keep plants healthy and vibrant without becoming spindly or leggy from lack of sunshine.

Plants for an Indoor Garden

In terms of plants, some people choose to grow ornamental plants only; creating a lush, green space full of colorful blossoms and beautiful scents. Others mix ornamentals with herbs and vegetables. Some choose to focus solely on edible plants to reap extra benefits.

Those that are really ambitious put together indoor gardens consisting of a myriad of plants, sometimes mixing ornamentals, herbs, and veggies. With a range of plants to choose from, it’s easy to tailor an indoor garden to the specific desires of a homeowner. For someone with little to no previous gardening experience, an indoor herb garden can be a good, simple starting point.

They can be grown in small containers and require little maintenance; easy to fit on a windowsill and easy to reap the benefits. Those that are more adventurous can grow an indoor vegetable garden containing tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, beans, eggplant, broccoli, carrots, radishes, and peppers – all of these species are relatively easy to grow indoors. Squash, cucumbers and melons also grow well inside but the spreading vines will need more space than upright plants, and could easily take over a small area creating more of a jungle feel in your home than intended!

Growing an Indoor Garden

Once the types of plants (and quantity) are chosen the garden containers and potting soil can be purchased. Mix and match a variety of colors, sizes, and textures to create visual interest and compliment the home’s décor, or pick a single theme to create continuity and uniformity. The only limitation here is budget and imagination.

Use the biggest pot/pots possible to keep the soil from drying out as fast but keep in mind the larger pots will require more soil to fill them. Styrofoam can be cut into discs and placed into the bottom of pots to help fill some of the space, placing potting soil on top for the plants to grow in. Upcycling old items (wagons, wash tubs, barrels, etc.) for use as containers is a creative way to reduce supply costs and can add interest and whimsy to an indoor garden.

Make sure though, that any items upcycled for containers have drainage holes, yet will adequately hold soil. If necessary take newspapers and line the inside of containers to prevent soil from falling out.

When you begin planting, keep in mind proper plant spacing to encourage optimum growth and adequate air circulation. It’s tempting to plant seedlings/seeds closer together to maximize limited space but refrain. Giving plants the space they need will results in hardier, healthier plants and decrease the chance of diseases.

After plants are nestled securely into the potting soil, water the containers thoroughly, as often as moisture is needed. The goal is to keep the potting soil from drying out completely, stressing the plant, yet not allowing them to sit in waterlogged soil. Plants will require more frequent watering in warmer months and in dryer climates.

An indoor garden kit and self-watering systems can be purchased to help take the guesswork out of a watering schedule, and tend to plants when you are on vacation or out of town for a few days. In addition to ensuring your containers have enough sunlight and are properly watered it’s important to fertilize periodically to provide ample nutrients. Here are some tips on choosing the best fertilizer for gardens. Continuously watch for harmful pests (treating when necessary), and prune back tattered leaves and spent blooms to encourage new growth.

Being limited on outdoor space doesn’t mean having to forego gardening. With some ingenuity, it is possible to design a beautiful indoor garden space capable of purifying the air in your home, creating a serene, tranquil environment to enjoy and providing edible herbs and produce to savor.

Plant diseases take the fun out of growing a garden which can be extremely fulfilling when seeing your hard work pay off. Taking the time to work the soil beds, adding amendments, planting seeds/plants and then watching them grow through to harvest can instill a great sense of satisfaction. But there are very few things more frustrating, and bewildering, than seeing garden plants succumb to garden pests and plant diseases. To fix them you need to diagnose the cause in order to treat the problem. This plant disease list will hopefully help you identify and treat some common plant diseases.

Types of Plant Diseases

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Miniscule, microscopic single celled organisms are the cause of the visible foliage damage associated with bacterial leaf spot. Early identification is crucial to save plants from extensive damage. Bacterial leaf spot shows up on lettuce, beets, eggplant and pepper plants as dark, necrotic looking spots on foliage. When the bacterial disease attacks the leaf edges, leaves become papery and delicate often breaking off due to the dryness of the tissue. Severe infestation will cause defoliation and severely impact the health of a plant. There are no recognized chemical treatments so prevention and control are important. To prevent bacterial leaf spot make sure to rotate crops, plant disease resistant varieties and avoid overwatering. The best control method is removing infected plant parts to prevent the spread of bacterial leaf spot.

Blights

Early Blight

The beginning symptoms of early blight show up as small 1-2mm brown or black lesions on the fruit/stem/foliage of tomatoes, and the stem/foliage/tubers of potatoes. If the conditions are conducive to progressing the small lesions will grow, forming the characteristic “bulls eye” pattern early blight is known for. These concentric rings are often surrounded by a halo of yellow tissue. If lesions are allowed to worsen the entire leaf can become chlorotic and die.  Lesions that form on fruit/tubers appear leathery in nature, often causing premature drop from the plant. Preventative measures include a 3-year crop rotation, promoting good air circulation around the base of the plant, and/or applying a potassium bicarbonate solution to the plants and soil starting approximately two weeks before early blight symptoms occur. Chemical controls are limited – a copper based fungicide being one of the few, albeit expensive, options – and it is highly recommended to remove infected plants entirely and dispose of properly.

Plant Diseases – Tomato Blight

Late Blight

Late blight also affects tomato and potato plants, spreading quickly and wreaking havoc on a stand of plants. As its name implies it occurs later in the growing season, most often after the plant blossoms. Triggered by rainy, damp weather, late blight causes plants to rot and die if left untreated. Early symptoms look like grayish-green water spots on older leaves; as it matures the spots darken in color and a white fungal growth occurs on the undersides of foliage. Like early blight the chemical controls are limited to expensive copper sprays that work best when the disease is caught early. Often times, an entire stand is infected and plants need to be removed entirely and then disposed.

Bacterial Blight

Similar in symptoms and treatment to late blight in tomatoes and potatoes, bacterial blight is a fungal disease that affects legumes in Eastern and Southern North America. Symptoms appear on foliage and pods as grey water spots that eventually turn necrotic and drop out of the leaf tissue. To control plant resistant cultivars in a 3-year plant rotation; remove and dispose of infected plants to prevent spread to other plants.

Damping Off

Soil borne fungi cause damping off in wet, cool conditions. Seeds or seedling are typically affected by the pathogens; seeds rot before germination or seedlings deteriorate immediately after emergence, causing them to fall over. Damping off can be prevented by ensuring the soil is well amended with organic matter prior to planting, keep the soil damp but not waterlogged, encourage ample air circulation in seeding areas, and make sure the soil is warm enough for that specific seed before planting.

Downy Mildew

Downy mildew affects many vegetable plants, causing the growth of white or purplish “down” on the undersides of foliage. The top side of older leaves may demonstrate patches of white or yellow. Symptoms of downy mildew are exacerbated in cool, wet weather prone to occur in early spring and late fall. Downy mildew affects many vegetables crops and prevention is a critical management method: plant resistant varieties is they exist, water the roots of plants early in the day, avoid overwatering, encourage good air circulation around the base of susceptible plants, and apply copper spray as a preventative every 7-10 days when the weather is cool and wet. Infected plant tissues should be quickly removed and disposed of in an area away from the garden, to reduce contamination of other plants.

Fusarium Wilt

A soil borne pathogen that affects nightshade plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers, fusarium wilt is commonly found in gardens all across North America. The plant disease enters through plant roots and interferes with the vessels within the plant that are responsible for water transport. Once in the plant, fusarium wilt spreads up the stem and into the leaves, restricting water flow. Without proper water the foliage wilts and turns yellow. This fungal disease is more rampant in hot, dry weather and can survive for years in the soil. The best methods of control are to remove affected plants quickly and dispose of them away from the gardening area. Also make sure to sterilize gardening implements with a dilute bleach solution to prevent transferring the disease. There are some fumigants available to treat fusarium wilt but many require professional application, making them a costly solution. If the disease persists in a garden area, it may be necessary to sterilize/solarize the soil to kill the pathogens. To do this remove all plant materials and cover the bare ground with black or clear plastic. Allow the plastic to sit on the soil for 4-6 weeks during the hottest part of the summer; the intense sun and heat generated will kill fusarium wilt.

Mosaic Virus

Mosaic virus is a viral disease found all across the United States that affects a wide range of horticultural and vegetable crops: roses, beans, tobacco, tomato, potato, cucumbers, and peppers. Some of the symptoms include yellow, white or green stripes/streaks on foliage, pronounced yellowing of foliage veins, wrinkled/curled or stunted leaves, overall stunting of plant growth and reduced yields. Mosaic virus spreads through the feeding of insect pests and has no cure once a plant is infected. The only treatment option is to remove and destroy anything infected. To minimize infection prevent resistant plant varieties, spot treat with diatomaceous earth around plants as preventative pest control, and avoid using tobacco around susceptible plants as it may harbor the virus.

Powdery Mildew

The most common, widespread fungal disease in plants, powdery mildew attacks vegetable plants, ornamental species, and fruit trees. Hot and dry summer weather favors its spread and it can be difficult to control. Powdery mildew is easy to diagnose; it presents itself as patches of white or light-grey, talcum-like powder on plant leaves and stems. Planting mildew resistant plants, giving them plenty of room for air circulation around the base, and watering the root system – avoiding the foliage – early in the day are great preventative methods. If plants fall victim to this plant fungus, quickly remove and discard infected plant tissues, making sure to not spread fungal spores to other garden/yard areas. Some sources recommend spraying infected plants with a combination of neem oil and soap, mixed in water, but the results vary.

Rusts

Common rust is a fungal disease typically found on a variety of mature plants: roses, hollyhocks, lilies, snapdragons, tomatoes, beans and lawns. Rust looks like its name implies – reddish-orange spots made up of masses of fungal spores on older, lower leaves of the plant. If untreated these spots can turn yellow to black, deform the entire leaf, and in worse case scenarios cause leaf drop. Garden areas receiving low light (4-8 hours of low intensity sun) are more susceptible to rust diseases; especially when the climate is warm/hot and humid. Cultural methods are the most effective methods of control/prevention: keeping weeds out of the garden bed, allowing good air circulation around the base of plants, watering early in the morning, removing infected leaves when the disease is spotted. An application of neem oil such as Organic Neem Bliss 100% Pure Cold Pressed Neem Seed Oil – (16 oz) High Azadirachtin Content – OMRI Listed for Organic Use can kill rust spores on the plant and works well if the disease is caught quickly. Copper sprays and sulfate powders also work well if applied early.

Plant diseases can quickly spread and cause major damage if left untreated and allowed to proliferate in a garden area. Often times there are limited chemical options available for treatment of plant diseases, so preventative methods become even more important for plant disease control. A handful of best management practices can help to reduce the risk of infection: purchase resistant varieties of plants if available, keep garden area free of weeds and debris, water the base/roots of plants early in the day while avoiding overwatering, maintain good air movement around the base of plants and promptly remove and dispose of infected vegetative matter to minimize the spread of infection with these plant diseases.

The honey bee is distinguished from other bees by the production and storage of honey and their construction of colonial nests from bees wax. There are seven recognized species, with the most popular being the Western honey bee which has been domesticated for crop pollination and honey production. About 30% of the food consumed on American tables is pollinated by the honey bee; it is the only insect that helps in food production.

Honey Bee Population

Over the last handful of years, the plight of the honey bee has come to light in agricultural and horticultural systems, including the home garden. The honey bee populations are decreasing at an alarming rate and potentially putting food production in danger. As their numbers decrease the impact is felt. Fortunately the honey bee is being seen for the benefits it brings to gardens, fields, nurseries and orchards worldwide. People are becoming more aware of how their choices impact bee populations and changing how they do things.

The honey bee population has been in decline for some time now. Research points to a couple of different causes. One cause is thought to be electromagnetic radiation from cellular towers, mobile devices and wireless internet. This electromagnetic radiation damages the navigational skills of honey bees and prevents them from returning to their hive. Bees navigate by using the vibrations in the air. The magnetic frequencies emitted from the aforementioned devices interfere with their navigational skills. When female worker bees fail to return to a thriving hive, the hive will begin to flounder. An increase in pesticide and fungicide use is also contributing to the demise of honey bees. Some pest and fungal sprays work by directly killing the honey bees. Some affect populations by disrupting their navigational skills – causing colony collapse disorder – or inhibit their ability to reproduce. No matter the way, the honey bee population feels the damaging effects.

Honey Bee Friendly Plants

One of the most important things gardeners can do is to grow plants in their gardens and landscapes that attract honey bees. Giving them a solid source of food will help encourage population growth. Fortunately there are many plants that attract honey bees:

• Natural wildflowers are a great option to use to bring in honey bees. They are easy to plant, easy to grow and require very little attention to flourish.
  • Sunflowers
  • Black Eyed Susans
  • Lilacs
• Berries are a plethora of flowers in a small area. This is a huge attractant for honey bees as it concentrates a large food source for the bees within a limited space.
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
• Fruit trees are another concentrated source of food in a small expanse.
  • Apples
  • Peaches
  • Cherries
• Flowering herbs work well to attract bees because of their strong scent.
  • Mint
  • Basil
  • Lavender
  • Oregano
• Vegetable plants can produce beautiful, yellow flowers that easily attract bees to the home garden.
  • Tomatoes
  • Pumpkins
  • Cucumbers
  • Squash
• Weeds are another green attractant, although one we try to discourage in our gardens. If possible allow some of these weeds to grow freely, and flower.
  • Dandelions
  • Milkweed
  • Goldenrod

One of the best ways to bring them into a garden is to group plants together to encourage the honey bees. If possible, plant an area about one square yard in size with the same plant to attract them to the area. Pick plants that have a long blooming season to keep bees coming back, and encourage flowers to bloom so the nectar and pollen is available for them to feed on. A water source such as a bird bath, a backyard waterfall, or even a dripping hose will give bees a place to rest and drink.

Honey Bee Safe Chemicals

Equally as important as encouraging bees into a garden, is making sure chemicals applied for pest control are not harmful to the insects. Neem oil, vinegar and Epsom salts such as Epsoak USP Epsom Salt – 19 lbs. Resealable Bulk Bag are natural alternatives that can be used safely without damaging bee populations. Neem oil is highly effective at repelling garden pests such as aphids, spider mites, and certain plant diseases such as powdery mildew. Both white and apple cider vinegar works extremely effectively as a weed killer due to their high acetic acid content. Fill a spray bottle or watering can with straight vinegar and apply directly to the weeds you’d like to kill. Epsom salts work well at keeping slugs and snails off of garden flowers, and also benefit vegetables because of the magnesium they contain. If absolutely necessary, Spinosad and Pyrethrum can be applied to gardens at dawn or dusk when bees aren’t active. Once the chemical dries, they are no longer harmful to bees.

There are many things home gardeners can do to help encourage honey bee populations. Flowering plants and trees can be added to a garden to attract bees, and bee safe methods can be used to help control pests and weeds instead of harmful chemicals. These thoughtful changes can help to build their populations and in turn ensure the pollination of food crops for human consumption.