Settling for a single season of growing per year? Why the devil would you do that? There are so many options now for indoor cultivation that it seems daft to deny yourself the pleasure of plants for the greater part of the calendar.
The means to grow ‘out-of-season’ are now so user-friendly, consumer-oriented, and cost-effective that anyone can succeed with just a little bit of indoor or semi-indoor space. Whether you’re new to growing or new to indoor growing there is nothing to fear. It’s easy to master the kind of simple, innovative, productive devices and materials that make year-round cultivation possible.
Think such equipment is ugly and intrusive? Well, it might be time to think again. Many devices can genuinely compliment contemporary interiors. Who’s to say a tastefully arranged corner or shelf full of plants isn’t enhanced by slimline LED strips?
And some kit is so discreet you’d barely know it was there. Modern heat mats and tube heaters are a virtually invisible source of radiant warmth. If you’ve an empty space in which aesthetics are of no concern you can go even further. Let’s take a look at some of the kit you might need, how to use it, and where a watering system fits in.
In terms of ease of use, aesthetics, flexibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness, LEDs are now by far the best lighting option for pretty much any indoor grower. Let’s be clear here though – we’re talking about LED grow lighting – not general LED interior lighting. Always be sure that your choice is designed for horticulture.
LED grow lights run at a far cooler temperature, fit in tighter spaces, and demand much less energy than rival technologies such as HID or the rapidly vanishing T5 fluorescents. For those who are, understandably, conscious of how all of this is going to look there are several excellent options.
Small-medium hanging fixtures are really the ideal thing to aim for in terms of effectiveness. All you need is a hardpoint from which to suspend the light. If you’re setting up in an alcove you could consider a decent metal wardrobe rail and a couple of nicely matching end sockets to span the space. Blending with sleek decor? Why not try a powdered black finish. Partial to industrial chic? Bare metal pour vous! Either way, it’s worth setting your bar at a height that allows for adjustability as your plants develop.
The height at which you suspend your light will depend upon the stage of plant growth and, to some extent, the variety grown. Most LEDs will include some form of rope ratchet or draw cord that you can use to elevate or lower the position of the fixture. The following are rough guidelines as to suitable headroom between the top of your plants and your light:
If you’re setting up in a more confined space then strip or angle poise LEDs can also help to give your plants a real boost. As with hanging fixtures, these are available in any number of sizes.
Strips can be clipped to the underside of an overhanging shelf. Angle poise LEDs are typically freestanding units that simply sit on your shelf or the floor with adjustable strip light heads that can be positioned to suit.
Perhaps the area in which you’re growing gets a little cool? Or maybe you’re not up for running your central heating in service of your plants – which is understandable. In this instance a heat mat might represent a good solution for propagation and beyond.
Placed underneath seed trays, heat mats are a very discreet choice for stimulating seedlings during propagation. They generate a gentle, ambient, uniform warmth that seeps into the grow media in your pots or trays and raises the temperature by a few degrees.
These heaters are not ‘hot’ as such. Heat mats only really seek to create soil temps of of spring / summer soil. You can continue to use these devices with more established plants but keep a close eye on moisture levels at all times as roots can get dried out if the mat runs constantly. Thermostatically controlled mats are brilliant for curbing excess heat and ensuring your rhizosphere remains healthy.
Are an effective, space-efficient, and flexible way to introduce extra heat in close proximity to your plants. These easy-to-use units can be mounted to walls, shelves, or floors and produce a nice amount of growth stimulating warmth. Again, thermostatically controlled models are a great choice. These help ensure that your heat is appropriate and efficiently used, they simply cut out once a pre-set target temperature is reached.
If you’ve got the space (and appearances are less of a concern) then a small grow tent or mylar-lined area can be a terrifically versatile and productive home for both young and maturing plants.
Such set-ups provide superb conditions for propagation, helping to instil your creations with unparalleled robustness during their formative weeks. Alternatively, you can use tents or lined ‘cubbies’ to produce a wide variety of finished crops indoors, allowing you to enjoy greater self-sufficiency year-round.
What can an AutoPot Watering System offer when it comes to indoor growing? Aside from the inherent value of automated irrigation, it’s really all about flexibility. By this we mean the flexibility of the systems and the types of plants they can ably support indoors.
Because they require no electricity or mains water pressure you can set up with AutoPot practically anywhere, allowing you to utilise virtually any available space.
As the systems are controlled by the plants uptake of water they’re also highly responsive and able to cater to the demands of all varieties, whether they be fruiting, vegetable, or ornamental. In short, the systems are a great way to grow anything you like indoors.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that – without the need for utilities – you stand to save a fortune by using AutoPot instead of a powered system. Nor do you have to worry about leaving electricity or water switched on. With AutoPot you can simply set up and leave the gravity-fed setup to run itself.
This year sees the introduction of the Khloris Watering System from AutoPot, which combines a tasteful, sculpted, interior-friendly aesthetic with our proven, highly effective, easy-to-use irrigation technology – you can read more about it here.
One of the best things about all these little bits of kit is that they are low maintenance and portable. So if you’ve got an outdoor or semi-outdoor location that you use during the traditional growing months you can easily move things outside and use them there.
An LED, a heat mat, tube heater, or watering system can be just as useful in your greenhouse or shed as it is indoors. This is especially true on cold spring / summer mornings or evenings, in spots with limited light, or in generally fluctuating climates.
The bigger picture is that simple, effective, innovative horticultural technology is increasingly making it’s way into indoor living spaces. Such equipment offers growers the chance to enjoy doing what they love, wherever and whenever they like – and what could be better than that?
