Managing organic houseplants not as simple as not using chemical pesticides on your houseplants.

An organic approach to gardening includes considering the nature of your plants, which ones will get along well together and, where possible, choosing hardy plants that will thrive in the indoor climate that you can give them.

Organic houseplants

When choosing houseplants you will want to be sure that they have been raised organically and that the soil they are in is free of chemical fertilizers. Ceramic pots are usually better than plastic which may leak chemicals into the soil, especially if the soil is a little acid.

Never buy a plant that shows signs of disease or pests, or has been stored next to an affected plant. Always quarantine new houseplants for a couple of weeks before introducing them to your other plants, in case they are carrying fungal spores or insect pest eggs.

Pests are hard to treat on indoor plants. Check regularly for signs and segregate any plants that look suspicious. Aphids and other insects can be washed off with soapy water but you will probably have to do this every day for a while.

Organic fertilizers and humus (composted plant waste) can be used to enrich the soil. Most houseplants will need this several times a year because they are not getting the natural action of worms, bacteria and fallen decaying vegetation that they would have outdoors.

Most plants will also benefit from more unusual kinds of plant food that you can get for free. These include:

- organic coffee grounds and diluted black coffee (unsweetened of course)

- the contents of your used organic tea bag or herbal tea bag (avoid any contact with milk)

- the water out of an aquarium when you clean it

- water that has been used to wash organic vegetables or rice

- water that vegetables have been cooked or steamed in (when cool)

- individual fish bones that you can poke into the soil.

Indoor organic herbs

Most herbs, whether perennial or annual, can easily be grown in pots indoors. A sunny windowsill is the ideal spot for most. Except for parsley, rosemary, thyme and mint, which are happy with partial shade, herbs require around 6 hours of sunlight a day. If you live in a small apartment without much light, you may want to invest in a growing lamp to be sure that your indoor herb garden has all the light that it needs.

They also need good circulation of fresh air. Leave a window open for them if it is not too cold, or use a fan to improve air flow. Do not place the plants too close together or they risk transferring any pest or fungal infection from plant to plant.

Most herbs need well draining soil. Generally a standard organic pot plant soil that you can buy from a garden supplier will be fine, although you could add some sand or gravel to the pot to improve drainage. Do not allow the roots to become waterlogged.

Watering requirements vary for different plants, but many will survive with frequent light water spraying and only occasional deep watering of the pot. Rosemary, lemon balm and mint need more watering and should not be left to dry out.

Organic fertilizers can be used from time to time (at least twice in the season). Fish emulsion and kelp are good sources of nutrients for most herbs. Don't use too much or your herbs may grow too big and lose their flavor.

Perennials will benefit from being moved outdoors in the summer if you have the chance to do that. Be sure to harden them gradually by taking them outside for just a few hours a day at first. Annuals will be fine indoors all the year.

Perennial houseplants may outgrow their container every year for the first few years. Check the roots to make sure they have not become too long and tangled, and change to a larger pot whenever required. They will also benefit from a change of soil.

With these tips you should be able to enjoy the pleasures of indoor organic gardening in any home, whether large or small.

Editor
Peter Charalambos