Indoor Gardening Problems

On my last gardening update, I mentioned I have shifted my plants indoors.

However, I have been confronted by some issues that I knew deep within that this project really does not stand a chance. After happily sprouting from seeds, my basil seemed to slowed its growth down. We tried our best to supply it with constant lighting by installing 2 tube lights directly above it, but it did not seem enough. They just stayed as 2-leafed sprouts. 😔

Another thing that I noticed is that the top of the soil got white fungus on them and while I read that this is something that is not harmful to the plants, it is also a sign of poor drainage. I read that it can be removed manually, then add a light dash of cinnamon powder, to prevent them from coming back. I did just that, but I still thought that these babies might not just be suitable indoors or that our set-up does not really benefit them.

Let's try to bring them back outside.

Recently, @kennyroy added shade above the pathway from our gate, and added two shelves where we can put our plants.

Now at the peak of the summer here in the UAE, we are confronted with heat as reaching as high as 50 degrees celsius. That is just plain torture to us humans, and of course to plants which are not really desert plants.

With the shade, at least we are spared from direct sunshine which tends to hit this part from mid-day to around 3pm.

I decided to put the plants here and see how they'd react. So far, after almost a week, I think I can say that they are happier here.

Can you see them growing their second set of leaves?! I am so excited!

As you can see, within just a span of four days, they have improved a lot. These little babies did not seem to have a plan of growing their second set of leaves even after almost a month inside the house.

I'd say, they are so far enjoying natural lighting and the humidity and occasional breeze outdoors.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will now grow faster as they were doing when I kept them indoors.

There is a box wherein I am trying to grow some romaine lettuce, but it just keeps on dying. @kennyroy concludes that the seeds are bad, and I am starting to think so too. But I'd like to give it another try, and put them here too.

That's it for my mini-garden... or should I say, my baby plants. I take great pleasure in seeing them grow. It's therapeutic, and it is just great seeing something grow from mere seeds. It will be great if my next update will be about a harvest... I keep my fingers crossed!

Until next time!

Arlyn