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It's always springtime when you have an indoor garden complete with lights and shelving. With the right setup, you can start seedlings, grow herbs, or experiment with orchids and other flowering exotics.

One of the first things you will need to address for your indoor gardening is lighting. No matter what else you do for your plants, if they do not have the proper lighting they will not thrive. Lighting is, in fact, the most important aspect of indoor gardening. When choosing decorative plants for your home, if you want to start without special lighting, look for plants that require medium to low light, like Philodendrons, some ivy and some ferns.

Plant are quick to let you know they are unhappy when they are not getting enough light. Symptoms are thin stems and small leaves.

Most plants with medium light requirements will benefit from a south facing window. Windows that face east and west will generally give plants with medium light requirements adequate sunlight, as well. However, plants that prefer low light will probably prefer a north facing window. Even in the middle of winter, an unobstructed south- or east-facing window will admit sufficient light to nurture all but the most sun-loving plants. Of course, light will be increased if you open the drapes or pull up the shades. Additionally, houseplants should be rotated every other week to expose all sides to the sunbeams. Bay windows, sun porches and rooms with skylights that provide light coming from several angles tend to nurture your inside garden the best; but, any window will do if plants are positioned so they don't lurk in each other's shadows.

Now you get to decide what kind of plants you want to grow inside! There are hundreds of different houseplants that will happily grow and thrive on your windowsill. What you choose is based on your style and d'cor. I prefer the herbs that lend a Country French style, but you may like the Southwest style of cacti. Country living lends itself to the lush and leafy plants. Your interior style will often decide the plants you will chose. But there's nothing wrong with just picking your favourite! There are no rules when you unleash your green thumb.

When you arrive at your local garden center, look for foliage plants which appear to be insect and disease free. Check the undersides of the foliage and leaves for signs of insects or disease. Select plants that look sturdy, clean, well potted, shapely, and well-covered with leaves. Choose plants with healthy foliage. Avoid plants which have yellow leaves. Plants which have new flowers and leaf buds along with young growth are usually of superior quality.

For the serious indoor gardener, there are specially built lights and shelves. Home-built light carts are normally less expensive than commercial units. If you are handy with tools, you can build a shelving unit for only $50-$100 dollars while others have cost $1000 or more ready built commercial model. It all depends on what you choose. Your local hardware store is a far more cost effective place to shop for these rather than a specialty garden shop. You will enjoy many days surrounded by flourishing green plants despite the weather, when you decide to grown using indoor gardening lights and shelving.