GENERAL TIPS FOR GROWING INDOORS:

• Don't start your seeds too early, especially tomatoes! Most annual flowers and vegetables should be sown indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost in your area.

• Use clean containers. Most seed catalogs offer seedling flats, peat pots, and other growing containers, but egg carton compartments make good containers, too. Be sure to poke holes in the sides near the bottom of the containers you use.
• Label your containers now! There's nothing more frustrating than forgetting what you planted.
• Seedlings will grow well in a container that holds 3 to 4 ounces of seed-starting mix, which is one-third to one-half cup. Be sure to punch drainage holes in the bottoms of containers that don't have holes.

• Plants need to photosynthesize in order to survive, and photosynthesis requires light. Without adequate light, your plant won't produce flowers, or fruit/vegetables. Even plants grown near a window will probably require an additional light source during the winter months to thrive. Plants have photoreceptors that absorb specific wavelengths of light. Regular light bulbs won't provide your plants with the energy they need to photosynthesize.

• In order to supplement the natural light your plants will receive by being near a window, it might be necessary to purchase a special light, commonly referred to as a "grow light." Because there are so many different types of "grow lights" available on the market, take the time to research your options before purchasing. The two most common options for grow lights are listed below:

• Fluorescent Lights: work best for growing herbs and other plants that don't require a lot of light. They are not good for plants that are budding or flowering because they don't put off enough light. They're inexpensive though and can be purchased at the local hardware or garden supply store.

• Compact Fluorescent Systems: Very bright and efficient, and in some cases better than (the fancier) high intensity discharge (HID) lights. Compact fluorescents are smaller and more efficient than older forms of fluorescent lighting so they can be used for all plants. They also produce less heat than incandescent and HID lights and consequently can be placed much closer to the plant.

TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY

• Temperatures of 65-75°F are best for most plants. A variance of 10°F either way won't have a major effect on our plants. Plants that are too hot will be small and weak. Plants grown at too-cold temperatures may have yellow leaves that fall off.

• A growing environment that is too dry or arid will pose a challenge for indoor gardeners. Winter tends to be drier than summer, and if you run the heat in your house the problem is further compounded.

• You know you have a low-humidity problem if: the tips of your leaves are turning brown, plants look withered, or plants are losing their leaves. In order to increase the humidity of the room where you're growing your garden, place a tray of water near your garden and fill the tray with lava rocks to increase surface area for evaporation.