Indoors Planting/ Starting.
(incomplete pleas wait for latest 6/09 before complaining it is so)
a lot of us grow plants indoors and out. well this instuctable is documenting my new (low to no cost) indoor plant starter. (for the moment I'm just planting some indoor plants in February to March I'll cover starting outdoor plants.)
what you need
a tub or the like to catch and hold water (a good reservoir is important for people who may forget to water on accession.)
pots (I'll be using clay for indoors and peat or recycled plastic pots for ones I intend to transplant.)
potting mix (for in I have Chia growing sponge I picked up in a discount bin, for out a combination of peat moss and compost.)
and finally seeds.
tools you may need.
trowel
watering can/spray bottle.
possibly a drill and or screw gun.
what will make it easy.
light(s) (sun isn't as reliable as it could be.)
timer (for light(s))
soda bottle (for watering)
a lot of us grow plants indoors and out. well this instuctable is documenting my new (low to no cost) indoor plant starter. (for the moment I'm just planting some indoor plants in February to March I'll cover starting outdoor plants.)
what you need
a tub or the like to catch and hold water (a good reservoir is important for people who may forget to water on accession.)
pots (I'll be using clay for indoors and peat or recycled plastic pots for ones I intend to transplant.)
potting mix (for in I have Chia growing sponge I picked up in a discount bin, for out a combination of peat moss and compost.)
and finally seeds.
tools you may need.
trowel
watering can/spray bottle.
possibly a drill and or screw gun.
what will make it easy.
light(s) (sun isn't as reliable as it could be.)
timer (for light(s))
soda bottle (for watering)
Cost
seeds $0.05-$0.25/pack buy in the fall most seeds can survive many years so 80-90% savings balances out a 5-15% decrease in fertility.
tub 0.00 its easy to find suitable things being thrown away.
light $6.95 (a real deal considering it comes with a bulb.)
timer $3.75-$5.99 after Christmas sails (just get the grounded if you need one)
pots (peat) $1.00 for 48 end of season sales.
Chia set (I bought mine for $5.00 with one broken pot)
you can easily squeak in under $20.00 for a setup like mine.
tub 0.00 its easy to find suitable things being thrown away.
light $6.95 (a real deal considering it comes with a bulb.)
timer $3.75-$5.99 after Christmas sails (just get the grounded if you need one)
pots (peat) $1.00 for 48 end of season sales.
Chia set (I bought mine for $5.00 with one broken pot)
you can easily squeak in under $20.00 for a setup like mine.
Watering
watering can be such a chore. so don't do it. a simple bottle filled with water will drain when the water level is low. meaning you may only have to add water to it 2-3 times a month instead of a week.
note have something thin under one side of the bottle so when the water is getting low it starts to drain.
I'm using a little piece of Styrofoam (added after picture taken)
note have something thin under one side of the bottle so when the water is getting low it starts to drain.
I'm using a little piece of Styrofoam (added after picture taken)
Sprouts.
always add too many seeds. that way you increase the chances of some germinating. but remember to thin them out. I'm usually bad on this part and allow them to get crowded, grass won't mind but the lettuce (doesn't look like the basil going to have this problem) might get over crowded. then again with lettuce the baby plants are just as edible as the adults so I'll let them grow a bit more.