Gardening, like most
human activities, can be observed through a large spectrum of its variations
and different subtypes. My experience tells me that expert growers often lack a
consensus about the best way to grow a plant. Even though you’ll find different
opinions on this important topic, there are some basic tips that everyone can
use.
While trying to find
out what’s better - growing indoors vs. outdoors - I was forced to put my
knowledge on the subject to the test. I completed the search successfully and
here are the results of my quest.
Indoor Growing Requirements
If you want to grow indoors the
first step you must take is to set up the growing environment. Your growing
option will consequently influence your budget. Or you can do it the other way
around.
Decide how much money you are
willing to spend on your indoor garden and then choose the growing system.
Indoor growing systems can’t work without lights and nutrients. But unlike
outdoor growing, they can work without soil.
The best soilless gardening solution
is hydroponic gardening. It is fun, suitable for small
apartments and not expensive. What you need to determine is whether you want to
grow plants with the help of nutrient solutions or solid mediums.
Pros
When growing indoors, you have a
head start over growing environment. Actually, you control it. This way Mother
Nature is unable to ruin your ambitious gardening plans.
Indoor gardening is perfect for
fresh gardening starters. One of the reasons for this statement are multiple
harvests per year. Another advantage of indoors is shorter growing time.
Finally, let’s not forget the protection
against theft. Naturally, you wouldn’t like somebody else to enjoy the fruits
of your labor.
Cons
Depending on your growing system,
indoor gardening can have high startup costs. In comparison to outdoor
gardening, indoor gardening also means that you share your living space with
your plants. Are you willing to make that choice?
Maintenance, electricity costs and
good ventilation are primary preconditions for indoor gardening. There’s also a
question of limited
indoor space, although it can be taken off the list of gardening
problems with the help of little imagination.
Outdoor Growing Requirements
Almost any outdoor space can be
planted. I prefer small, tidy compared to big, messy ones. You must have a
water supply nearby.
Continuous presence of sunlight (6-8
hours per day) is essential for outdoor growing. At the end, note that every
climate type demands some additional growing conditions.
Pros
Most gardeners agree that it’s a bit
easier to start an outdoor garden. Plus, startup costs are lower. Also, outdoor
garden usually produces higher yields than indoor crops. When growing outdoors,
you can do it absolutely naturally.
Outdoor gardening is beneficial for
your health and muscular tonus. Everyone agrees that being outside, on a fresh
air, has no substitution.
Cons
You have to rely on the assumption
that Mother Nature has a good day. Otherwise, your efforts may go to waste.
Outdoor gardening usually involves longer harvest times.
According to my opinion, the
greatest disadvantage of outdoor gardening are annoying pests such as mealy bugs and ants. It is easier to
control pests indoors than outdoors.
At last, outdoor gardening is quite
difficult in large cities due to limited outdoor garden space.
What’s your opinion on indoor vs.
outdoor growing?
