Gardening, the Hobby That's Still Good During a Pandemic
Right now, there are a lot of things people used to do for fun that we can’t really do at the moment. Things like bowling, roller skating at a rink, going to the theater, getting together for a game of basketball, having an in-person writing workshop. Heck, even hosting a barbecue or meeting up at the bar.
But some people inadvertently prepared themselves for this. Because one of their hobbies was gardening. And as it so happens, you don’t need to be in public or in a group to do it.
Now, you may be thinking of a dozen reasons why you can’t garden right now, so I gathered up some reasons for you, and I’m going to tell you why they won’t get in your way.
Here are 3 excuses for why you can’t garden, and the reasons why these excuses don’t matter. You’ll also get my recommendation for the best starter plant…
Excuse #1: I don’t have a yard.
I get it. Not everyone has the luxury of living in a suburban neighborhood with room to plant flowers in the landscaping or vegetables in a patch in the backyard. (And some people just don’t want that lifestyle).
That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy gardening. In fact, The Tye-Dyed Iguana bases half our business around indoor gardening supplies. Even planting a few things in pots can start you off with a new hobby to keep you busy and improve the vibes and air quality in your home.
Also, if hydroponics is good enough for Fallout Shelter, then maybe it’s good enough for the rest of us…
Excuse #2: I’ve never grown anything before.
No worries. You can make gardening as complicated or as easy as you want. My advice if you’re a first timer? Get a few succulents. They tend to be easy to care for.
Check out our Guide for Everything You Need to Know About Indoor Gardening to learn how to start and maintain your own garden.
Excuse #3: I kill everything I try to grow.
I hear you, and there was a time when I was in your place. Remember those succulents I just mentioned? Now, a lot of people, when they hear succulents, immediately think of cacti. And that’s fine if that’s what you want to grow, but if you’re notorious for unintentionally offing all things green, then I have a better suggestion for you—from one failed grower to another—pick rainforest succulents.
Not all succulents are cacti. I’ve had great luck with rainforest succulents, like bromeliads, aka the earth star. In fact, there’s a trick to keeping these little plants alive. Grow them in your bathroom.
Seriously, I keep a couple earth stars on the ledge of my tub, near a big window. They get plenty of indirect light, and every time I shower, humidity is added to the room—just how they like it.
You see, these particular succulents are native to rainforest floors, meaning they tend not to get a lot of direct light or the majority of direct rain because they are sheltered by the leaves of trees and other plants. This is a perfect kind of starter plant because all that stuff about their preferred environment means that you don’t need grow lights or the best sun positioning, and if they go without direct watering for a bit, they’ll be fine.
Here are my earth stars:
I recommend potting them in a rainforest blend potting soil. This soil specifically retains moisture to mimic the humid environment bromeliads grow in naturally.
You can find bromeliads in a variety of colors at The Tye-Dyed Iguana in Fairview Heights. Ask about our curbside pickup option for maintaining social distancing.