As greenery gets harder to come by, more and more Bengalureans are growing gardens indoors.
Indoor gardens add life to concrete structures, and are credited with a host of benefits. Alarmed by the poor air quality, people are banking on indoor plants to purify the air.
“The trend is now towards big and leafy indoor plants that also cleanse and purify the air, like the fiddle-leaf fig and areca palm. People read reports about how these are good for health and come to us,” says Vrinda Keshav, founder of Mudfingers, an online site providing plants and terrariums.
Plants also add to the aesthetic appeal of a house, and indoor gardens can be planted even in tiny spaces, says Radeesh Shetty, founder and director, The Purple Turtles. He has now started ‘Beruru’, a garden lifestyle brand which, through its root-to-roof concept, offers customers everything they need to grow a patch of green.
“One could have a small garden anywhere indoors—by the window, near the kitchen, in the passage, near a doorway—as long as there is enough light, water and love,” he says.
What plants?
Radeesh says that the most preferred plants are sansevieria (or snake plant), zamia, acacia palms, raphis palm, chlorophytum comosum (often called spider plant), devil’s ivy and Swiss cheese plant (Monstera Adansonii).
“Both Indian and exotic plants thrive if we know the type of soil and amount of water they need,” he adds.
Plants grow well in Bengaluru weather, but maintenance is the challenge.
“Ensuring adequate water and sunlight is the primary concern. Self-watering planters are a good solution for when people who travel and are away for long periods,” says Radeesh.
Some dos and don’ts
Cost factor
The cost of setting up an indoor garden depends on the planters and the choice and size of plants. It can range anywhere between Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
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