Karuna Sahu, Department of Vegetable Science
Bharti Singh, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
Indira Gandhi Krishi Viswavidalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Indoor gardening is a method of overcoming lack of outdoor space by establishing an artificial garden atmosphere within your home. It is beneficial for those living in homes or apartments where there is no land or yard to garden on. In Indoor gardening, plants are grown in containers, pots, ceramic-made pots, or any other container. The trend of indoor gardening is tremendously increasing as people are more interested to beautify their home indoors with different types of plants which include ornamental, vegetable, and herbal. It has decorative benefits and it brings a piece of nature to the house. Indoor gardening can be a quick way to enhance urban greening while boosting mental health. You can alter the growing condition of the plant within the house depending on the plant type and its requirement (controlled temperature and environment). For example, some plants require more lighting and some require partial shade, so accordingly you can place the pots in the house. All kinds of air pollution can be reduced by indoor plants and also give other benefits such as psychologically relieve people, and decreases stress and negative feelings.

In Indoor gardening, shade-loving plants are preferred as most of the indoors are less exposed to sunlight. Bedrooms, balconies, verandas, the front area of the house, kitchen, terrace, or roof are the best areas of indoor gardening. Engage in natural activities is a sort of nature-based remedy as well as a cost-effective invention of health. But also as a preventive measure for various physiological and metal health problems.

City life gives us all necessities which we need for living a good life but cities are crowded with buildings, routes, Multiplex etc., which all are sources of pollution. The places are so crowded that it’s impossible to plant a single tree. There are parks but in our so tightly scheduled life no one has time to hang in park. So think of your own garden where you can grow all plants of your taste. The greatest option is an indoor garden, where you may relax and enjoy a cup of tea in your free time. Plants are needed in our lives, all around us, everyday. They have a civilizing effect; they humanize our surroundings.

Indoor Gardening Benefits:-
  • Indoor gardening is the best option for stress-busting.
  • Conducive to a regular of physical exercise, clean air and being close to nature
  • Improvement to the environment
  • An indoor garden can be set up very easily within your house and it won’t require much space, unlike outdoor gardens.
  • Pests and disease attacks in indoor plants are very less when compared to outdoor growing.
  • Indoor gardening not only beautifies your home but also produces fresh organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
  • The best benefit of some plants is they can purify the air of toxins. Some examples like Money plant, Peace lily, Snake plant, Spider plant, Aloe vera, Areca palm, Sword fern, Bamboo palm, Rubber palm etc.
  • Indoor Gardening provides all of the green living benefits.

Indoor plants helps in reducing stress: Watching slides or videos of nature has been found to help most people recover from stress more quickly than viewing photographs of urban scenes. Even visual representations of nature can make people feel less stressed. Small indoor plants were found to be effective and cost-effective for business owners in reducing stress-related illness. Seeing live green plant around and working with plants makes mind happy and Plants can be useful in lowering down the pain, anxiety and fatigue. It was reported that presence of plants in the room brings positive vibes to the humans. Gardening is a good hobby to relieve from stress and to have a good body exercise.

Indoor garden essentials:
  • Potting mix- Soil: Sand: Cocopeat (3:1:1)
  • Compost or fertilizer
  • Plants or Seeds
  • Pots or Containers
  • Watering can
  • Neem oil (For organic pest control)
  • Hand tools like pruning shears, rake, trowel and spade.

Places for indoor garden
  • Open area of house
  • In front of the house
  • Living room and drawing room of the house
  • Veranda of a house

Selection of Plant
  • Weight of pot and plant species
  • Price of plant species in that particular area
  • Plant species susceptibility to contamination
  • Creating medium significance and it's piece 
  • Housetop height
Cost for indoor gardening

1. Pots 10-500 Rs

2. Hanging pots 50-100 Rs

3. Plastic bags 8-10 Rs

4. Coco-peat 5kg (Expands to 75L) 200 Rs

5. Vermi-compost 5kg 60 Rs

6. Plants 10-500 Rs

Plant Eradicated pollutants

1. Chlorophytum comosum (Spider plant)

2. Dieffenbachia spp. (Dumb Canes)

3. Aloe vera

4. Chrysanthemum morifolium (Florist’s chrysanthemum)

5. Sansevieria trifascata “Laurentii”

6. Spathiphyllum wallisii (peace lily)

7. Dypis lutescens (Areca palm)

8. Anthurium andreanum (Flamingo lily)

9. Nephrolepis exalata (Boston fern)

10. Ficus elastic (Rubber plant)

11. Philodendron cordatum (Heartleaf philodendron)

12. Hedera helix (English ivy)

13. Gerbera jamesonii (Barberton daisy)

14. Dendrobium spp.

15. Bamboo palm

Different types of house plants that we can use as a indoor plant to make air quality are classified into various groups-

Climber: Creeping fig, Ficus radicans, Syngonium podophyllum (Arrowhead plant), Philodendron elegans, Asparagus plumosus (Asparagus fern), ivy etc.

Trailers: Suitable species of plants for this groups is Chlorophytum, small leaf spiderwort, Zebrina pendula (Inch plant) etc.

Bushy and upright foliage plants: Plants suitable for this group are painted leaf begonia, Dieffenbachia exotica, Crotons, Tree Philodendron, sansevieria (Snake plant) etc.

Flowering House plants: These types of plants have attractive foliage and beautiful flowers such as Begonia spp., Passiflora caerulea (Passion flower), Star jasmine, Zebra plant, Saintpaulia ionantha (African violet), Azalea, tuberous, chrysanthemum, Coleus, Pelargonium (geranium) etc.

Ferns: Sword fern, Cretan brake fern and different species of Selaginella etc.

Palms: Cycas revolute (Sago palm), European fan palm and Dwarf date palm etc.

Cacti and succulents: Some suitable species are Agave, Aloe, Opuntia, Cactus and svarious species of sedum etc.

Bonsai
The art of growing plants to a miniature from having a natural look of old age. It requires special types of containers. For indoor decorations, bonsai are very good. Their architectural shapes are attractive enough for decorative display, when they are deficient of leaves. Suitable plants are various species of ficus, banyan, rubber fig, bougainvillea, firebush, juniper, jackaranda, pine, neem, duranta gold etc.

Terrariums
A terrarium is an indoor gardening container that holds plants. It is usually made of glass that is fully or partially enclosed to allow heat and light to enter and confine moisture. Suitable plants for terrarium are: Angeloweed, bird’s nest fern, Asparagus spp., Lucky bamboo, Golddust dracaena, Begonia, Dwarf lilyturf, Peperomia spp., Snake plant, Columnea microphylla etc.

Bottle gardens
Bottle garden is a type of closed terrarium in which plants are grown. They usually consist of a plastic or glass bottle with a narrow neck and a small opening. It requires much attention to construct. Suitable plants are Fittonia, Ferns, Cryptanthus etc.

Conclusions
If the population doesn't stop growing, as it is doing at a very quick rate, indoor air pollution will become a significant issue for future generations. Since we are all aware of the different effects of air pollution on the environment and human health, it is imperative that we wake up and take action to stop it. In order to maintain a healthy and aesthetic life style in urban area, art of indoor gardening with ornamental as well as herbal indoor plants need to be promoted and implemented.