beGinner’s corner
Growing on the Edge:
Windowsill Gardening Other than bringing a baby into this world, or adopting a puppy or kitten, there’s no better way to bring new life into your home than by adding some greenery. Not to say that babies and fourlegged friends don’t offer the same fulfillment as growing your own garden, but plants are much easier to keep happy... and they don’t wake you up in the middle of the night or chew your favor favorite shoes. They just sit there in search of light, air and moisture, and they look cute while doing it. Windowsill gardening is also a great way to bring color and texture to a room. Even the apartmentdweller can find the space to beautify; all it takes is a well-lit windowsill, some pots, plants and a good attitude—the rest just kind of takes care of itself. Plus, windowsill gardens serve multiple purposes in that they literally breathe air into the space. And, you’re in for a treat if your plants are the food-bearing kind, especially during the winter months when outdoor growing isn’t happening. But during the summer, windowsill gardening can get somewhat tricky, as temperatures soar and the sun’s powerful rays beat down and threaten such life. Below are a few tips to starting and maintaining a windowsill garden, while keeping your plants burn-free. Feel free to offer your own, and enrich the information that’s already available.
by Karen Wilkinson
Growing on the Edge: Windowsill Gardening by Karen Wilkinson It always feels like you’re standing on the brink of a new adventure when you consider bringing a new companion into your home— even if that new friend is a windowsill plant! Here’s a crash course on how to grow on the edge.
Other than bringing a baby into this world, or adopting a puppy or kitten, there’s no better way to bring new life into your home than by adding some greenery. Not to say that babies and four-legged friends don’t offer the same fulfillment as growing your own garden, but plants are much easier to keep happy... and they don’t wake you up in the middle of the night or chew your favorite shoes. They just sit there in search of light, air and moisture, and they look cute while doing it.
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Maximum Yield usa | June 2013
It always feels like you’re standing on the brink of a new adventure when you consider bringing a new companion into your home—even if that new friend is a windowsill plant! Here’s a crash course on how to grow on the edge.
Tip #1: Choose the sunniest, best windowsill in your house. Eastern or southern exposure is ideal. Western-facing windows give off intense after afternoon heat, making life challenging for less healthy plants. Also, make sure trees and builddon’t block sun’sway light that the area Windowsill ings gardening is alsothe a great toand bring color receives at least of direct sunlight and texture to a room. Even six thehours apartment-dweller can a day. If needed, addall artificial A white or lightfind the space to beautify; it takeslighting. is a well-lit windowcolored prove useful as well; sill, some pots, plantsroom and awill good attitude—the restlight just colreflect the Plus, light, windowsill while darkgardens interior serve surfaces kind of takesors care of itself. absorbinlight. Finally, try to breathe avoid windowsills multiple purposes that they literally air into near heating vents or cooking the space. And, you’re in for a treat if appliances, your plants which are thewill naturalduring humidity the air. food-bearingupset kind,the especially theinwinter months when outdoor growing isn’t happening. Tip #2