Bright lights, big payoff in VS .NET

Paint GTIN - 13 in VS .NET Bright lights, big payoff

In providing light for your indoor plants, the goal is to mimic the light spectrum of the sun as closely as possible Several indoor light gardens special plant stands that have light fixtures suspended over each shelf are on the market Most gardeners use regular fluorescent bulbs, ideally a mix of warm white bulbs (to provide light from the red end of the sun s spectrum) and cool white bulbs (for the blue end) Alternatively, you can look for fixtures that use T-5 high-output fluorescent bulbs that provide full-spectrum light Avoid incandescent bulbs; they give off too much heat You can make your own light garden by purchasing a standard shop-light fixture that holds two bulbs under a hood so the light is directed down at your plants instead of out into the room The bulbs should be no farther than 6 inches apart Most of these fixtures hang from a chain or cable, which enables you to move them higher or lower For seedlings and cuttings, the lights should be only a few inches away from the plants Mature herbs should be about 10 to 12 inches away from the lights Give your herbs 14 to 16 hours of light daily by plugging the light fixture into an inexpensive timer

Good air circulation is also essential to growing herbs indoors, where plants need air movement but not gale-force winds or even a cold draft To encourage cross-ventilation, keep the door of the room where they re growing open And don t crowd plants together space them far enough from their neighbors so their leaves don t touch If your house or apartment is well-sealed, use a small tabletop fan to get the air moving Because the air in most homes is very dry, especially in winter, set your containers in trays lined with pebbles and filled with an inch or so of water The herbs should sit over the water, not in it Some may like it hot, but most herbs like it cool, around 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day Nighttime temperatures should be 5 to 10 degrees lower Make sure that the leaves of plants sitting on a windowsill don t touch the glass if the windowpane freezes, so will the leaves!

Just as outdoor containers tend to suffer from too little water, indoor plants often get too much Plants that are growing rapidly use more water, but many perennial herbs go semi-dormant or completely dormant in winter These plants need much less water than they did in summer Watering on a once-a-week schedule may help you remember, but like a good waiter or waitress, you should inquire first as to whether your service is needed Water most herbs only when the soil surface is dry Other watering tips: Water less often if your home is cool or if your herbs are growing in plastic pots rather than clay Water less often if plants seem to be ailing (rapid growth adds to their stress) Don t let your plant sit in a saucer of water Don t shock plants with cold tap water; water should be tepid about room temperature Let tap water sit overnight to dispel much of the chlorine Observation is key Some plants are simply thirstier than others For example, basil seems to need even more water when grown indoors than it does outdoors

For a handsome houseguest with a scent that will drive you wild with desire (for dinner), try cardamom The ground seeds from this member of the ginger family are crucial to Indian cuisine The white flowers, tinged with violet, are elusive indoors But the perfume of the 2-foot leaves, which resemble thick lances, will have you pining for curry and kebabs

Use less fertilizer and use it less frequently indoors than you would outdoors, because most plants are growing more slowly If you re using fish or seaweed emulsion, which we recommend, this will be a relief, because they can smell of last week s halibut Give the plants a monthly shot at one-fourth the recommended dose (If the smell bothers you, put the plants on a tray and whisk them to a warm porch or garage at mealtime, or look for formulas described as odorless and hope for the best)