Lawns and Gardens
Creating An Indoor Garden
By
Feb 21, 2008, 20:50

(NAPSI)-You breathe fresh air into your home and add color and interest to your surroundings simply by adding some houseplants to your interior décor. You won't be alone.

In a recent Garden Writers Association survey, 57 percent of Americans were involved in some form of indoor gardening and nearly half of those did it as a form of decoration.

"Houseplants can be used as room dividers or simply as a natural way to create color accents," says Bayer Advanced™ Garden Expert Lance Walheim, author of "Roses for Dummies" and "Lawn Care for Dummies." "Think of them as an integral part of your interior design."

It's easy to beautify your home with houseplants. Here are a few that grow well indoors year-round and bloom repeatedly:

Chenille plant (Acalypha hispida) produce fuzzy, long, red, cat tail-like blooms that dangle from the ends of the branches. The plant grows best in bright light and high humidity-great for a sunny kitchen window.

Bromeliads are tubular, succulent plants that produce tall spikes of dazzling flowers. There are many types, some with brightly colored foliage. Grow them in bright, indirect light and loose soil kept on the dry side.

African violets (Saintpaulia) are dainty plants with fuzzy leaves and beautiful clusters of white, red, pink and purple blooms. They prefer bright indirect light, even moisture and regular fertilizer.

Spathiphyllums are sometimes called peace lilies and are one of the most reliable blooming houseplants. The shiny, dark green leaves are topped by stunning bright white blooms with a strong tropical feel. Some types are just a foot or two high; others can reach up to six feet. The taller the plant, the bigger the blooms. They flower best in bright, indirect light but will do well in low light, too. Water regularly and fertilize often.

Each flowering houseplant has its own requirements when it comes to blooming but most will do best with bright indirect light such as you'd find near a west- or south-facing window.

Keep plants away from cold drafts and maintain vigorous growth with regular watering, fertilizer and insect control. Bayer Advanced 2-in-1 Insect Control plus Fertilizer spikes do two important jobs in one single product. They contain a slow-release fertilizer plus insect protection (MERIT® insecticide) that lasts up to eight weeks. Just insert in the soil using the no-touch applicator and water in. It's that simple. Always read and follow label instructions.

You can learn more by visiting www.bayeradvanced.com or by calling (877) BAYERAG.

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