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Home > Guides > Urban Gardening > Edible Houseplants |
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Edible Houseplants |
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Houseplants have long been appreciated for the life and natural beauty they infuse into our surroundings. Ancient cultures recognized the value of organic life in interior design, and Egyptian hyroglyphs remain intact today commemorating these sensibilities. Through medieval Europe and Victorian times, houseplants remained popular and at times came to reflect local customs and values. Perhaps the most poignant example is the bonsai within Japanese culture. The persistence and precision necessary to awaken the graceful beauty of these finicky potted plants became synonymous with these ideals in the Japanese character.
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Edible Houseplants
 In modern times, houseplants have sometimes taken on a much more practical role, as edibles cultivated indoors provide both natural charm and a convenient source of healthy food. Such practical uses would largely have been impossible in times past as stable, dependable sources of warmth within the home are a relatively modern possibility. Carefully regulated heat and humidity enable a much wider range of botanical possibilities within the living space. No longer only for show,  edible houseplants today embody both elegant form and seamless function.
Cultivating edibles indoors requires additional consideration, relative to traditional houseplants. Of penultimate significance are the growing medium and fertilizers used to support such crops. Carefully select a medium that is rich in organic compost and nutrients, and free of petrochemicals and other harmful, unnecessary additives. Soil pulled from outdoors is likely not ideal due to excessive clay content that can impair drainage. Additionally, fertilizing should only be undertaken with blends that are composed of safe, non-toxic, organic constituents.
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