Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor Plants

By | September 11, 2014

miniature treesGardening is a hobby of growing and cultivating plants. This habit relieves us from stress and gives relaxation to the mind. Gardening are generally of two types. One is indoor gardening while the other is outdoor gardening. Indoor gardening refers to growing of plants in indoor such as homes or offices. Outdoor gardening is growing plants outside, in the open air.

There are some differences between indoor and outdoor gardening. These include:

Plant species
Climate greatly affects the plants to grow indoor or outdoor. Indoor plants need controlled climate. So that indoor plants grow inside as the climate can be controlled and environment can be manipulated to suit the plant requirements. Outdoor plants can withstand climate changes and can grow in open air.

Space requirement
Indoor plants require less space to grow where as outdoor plants require more space. Unlike outdoor plants, indoor plants can not grow to the mature size. Its growth depends on the container in which the plant is growing. Its growth is restricted by the container. The size of the container we choose for indoor planting is based on the space we have in home or office.

Lighting
miniature treesEvery plant species require light but the amount required varies depends on the plant species. Outdoor plants require more amount of light and can get through sun light where as indoor plants gets light through windows. The lighting can be provided to indoor plants by proving artificial lights too. Some indoor plants require little sunlight and must be placed in shadow places.

Water
Another difference between the indoor and outdoor plants is the water regulation. Indoor plants can be provided water by ourselves where as outdoor plants receive periodic water supply from rainfall. Adequate water should be provided to the indoor plants. Excess water makes the indoor plant to become susceptible to fungus which leads to damage to the plant where as outdoor plant drains the excess water. Inadequate water supply leads to the binding of indoor plant roots by their containers where as outdoor plants continue to grow in search of water.

Soil preparation
Soil preparation and maintenance is the complex one and is required for the outdoor plants. Nutrients in the soil can be diminished on repeated planting. Soil in indoor gardening will not adjust itself as in outdoor gardening.

Fertilizers
miniature plantsFertilizers are incorporated to kill the fungus that causes harm to the plants. Fertilizing and disease controlling become more challenging now a days. It is difficult to incorporate fertilizers to indoor plants compared to outdoor plants. Indoor plants accumulate too much of fertilizers so care must be taken to incorporate fertilizers to indoor plants. If any disease or fungus found on indoor plant can be treated easily where as in outdoor plants it is difficult to treat.