The Ultimate Guide to Growing Indoors
Matt Owens
A part of the team at Urbotanica, Matt is passionate about sustainable living and growing his own fresh food!
Everyone can draw on an experience in life where plants have played a role in crushing your expectations. The process on face appears quite simple: seeds, fertile soil, water, and sunlight – yet even the greenest of thumbs have moments where nothing seems to go right. From a family member who emphasized the ‘durability’ of the pot plant they gifted to you, to the confidence you had when you planted your tomatoes only to have crows eat them, growing has left us all in a dark place once or twice.
Those of us who are time constrained and love-growing face having to sacrifice one for the other, and in most cases the noble garden is demoted to the next free Sunday afternoon or Season as the time to maintain it doesn’t exist.
Here at Urbotanica, we created a hassle-free solution to growing your own produce that works for even the brownest of thumbs - in the midst of winter for the majority of Australia, we wanted to highlight the benefits of moving your healthy habits indoors.
Whether you learn visually, with numbers, or just through common sense our description of the benefits of indoor growing has you covered! Our avid customer base means we hope to have communicated this message, however with many newcomers in recent months we wanted to provide an even better understanding.
The Common Sense
Location, Location, Location:
Ideally, plants need to be placed in a bright area without direct exposure to UV rays. In a home, this can be a difficult task but is essential for maintaining their well-being, as plants located near heaters or cold drafts won’t survive. With the Urbipod, we provide the optimal setting for your plants regardless of where they or you live.
You can survive 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water:
Your plants are similar too! If sediment is peeling from inside your pot your plants are thirsty, while if the soil is still wet then its best to wait before watering. Timing when you water is vital for efficiently growing indoors. The benefit of the Urbipod is that it uses gravity to constantly hydrate the plants, as the wicking system provides up to three days’ worth of precious H2O depending on the season, and allows you to grow stress-free knowing your herbs are being looked after all year round.
Sewing in Fertile Ground:
There is no point sewing your seed if the ground being used is infertile. It is important to remember that indoor herbs and plants need more care than their outdoor counterparts, as the soil these plants inhabit cannot benefit from the natural nutrients of the earth. The purchase of a suitable substrate is therefore ideal if you want to give them longevity, we recommend an organic fertilizer that is far more beneficial to you and the environment.
Investing in a Self-Watering Solution:
There are several indoor gardens and pots on the market today that aim to take away the hassle of gardening. Some, like the Urbipod, only require a water refill twice a harvest cycle as a result of our smart wicking design. The other benefit to automated growing devices like the Urbipod are in the LED Light system, which can be programmed at whatever time you desire, and run for 16 hours a day to keep your favourite condiments happy all year round!
Comparing the Numbers
If the average Australian family spent $10 a week on store bought herbs, this would amount to $120 a year on pre-packaged greens that only stay fresh for a few days. It makes sense to consider switching towards having your herbs ready and on-demand, and to also reduce the inevitable waste they produce.
At this point you have two choices; create your ideal garden outdoors and subject it to all the elements, or create a controlled setting indoors that is predictable and protected. If you chose the first option, you’re likely to have a few costs when setting up your initial garden, they are:
Raised Garden Bed: $150-$400
5 Bags All Purpose Garden Soil: $19.75
Natural Mulch: $14.50
Fertiliser: $19.50
Seedling Variations: $22.50
TOTAL = $226.25 to set up your own garden.
The risk of unsuccessful propagation means you might not see a return on your investment in the form of produce for at least the first few weeks, in addition to the cost to set-up.
By using an indoor growing system, you can become a green thumb as soon as the package is open and setup. With the Urbipod, your herbs, micro-greens and plants are given the ultimate environment to thrive in - and all you have to do is follow the simple instructions we provide you! What’s more? With our Free Starter Kit, you can harvest your first herbs and micro-greens within 3 days, so why not take the guesswork out of growing?
