Desert Gardens

» Belinda Mooney - How can one bring the desert indoors successfully if you don't

How can one bring the desert indoors successfully if you don't live in a desert climate?

Belinda

Kids Crafts

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» Robert Dailey - How can one bring the desert indoors successfully if you don't

In response to How can one bring the desert indoors successfully if you don't posted by belinda14:

It may be difficult to simulate a desert climate indoors, although many desert plants can grow indoors if they are handled properly.
Xeric plants (low-water-use plants) can be planted in pots indoors. However, they shouldn't be watered like "normal" plants. Instead, they should be watered sparingly. The amount of water they will need will depend not only upon the plant, but also on the amount of humidity inside.
Also, plants get a lot of sun in the desert, so they should be kept in an area (sunroom maybe or a room with southern exposure and lots of windows) that gets a lot of light.
But this also sounds like a great idea for an article. I will do more research on it, and hopefully have more answers for you.

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» Georgene A. Bramlage - How can one bring the desert indoors successfully if you don't

In response to How can one bring the desert indoors successfully if you don't posted by bobcajun:
How about using a large rectangular fish tank _ one can often get them cheaply or free if the glass is cracked - where the environment can be more easily controlled?

Some of the "big box" stores carry extremely small succulents and cacti which are ideal to transplant into such an environment.

Ambient light can be supplemented with a wide-spectrum flourescent light as winter days get darker. I have used "wide-spectrum plant light bulbs" in regular lamps when I wanted to grow larger plants during our N.E. winters.

G. (aka Cercis)

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