Bring Spring Inside

Sometimes all it takes to brighten your day or room is a little green. Indoor plants can add that little something to a dark and dreary room [HTML_REMOVED] not to mention that it's good feng shui.

HINTS FOR STARTING YOUR INDOOR GARDEN:

[HTML_REMOVED] Carnivorous plants are fun, you can feed them bugs

[HTML_REMOVED] Buy your plants from a professional [HTML_REMOVED] check out Fremont Indoor Sun Shoppe

[HTML_REMOVED] Confused about plants? Ask someone at the UW greenhouse on South Campus. While there, you can also check out the infamous Corpse Plant, due to bloom soon

[HTML_REMOVED] Tour the Medicinal Herb Garden, also located on South Campus

Don't have a green thumb? Does every plant you buy seem to slowly die? It's not uncommon, especially here in Seattle, where sunlight can be a little scarce.

Most plants need a lot of light, especially the more exotic and flowery plants, UW greenhouse caretaker Paul Beeman said.

"[Don't] over-water [HTML_REMOVED] that's a really common mistake. Plants actually respond well to a little water stress," said Cory Arce, graduating senior and botany lover. "Grapes, for example, are sweetest in drought years when they don't get enough water. Sunlight, however, is a must."

Carnivorous plants, like Venus flytraps, sundews or pitcher plants, are examples of light-loving exotics. But be careful of how warm they get, as these plants can't tolerate high temperatures.

You don't have to worry about over-watering carnivorous plants, but they do need filtered water instead of tap water if you want to keep them longer. Fertilizer is also not recommended.

Sundews are extremely useful for catching pesky fruit flies with their long, sticky branches.

"Venus flytraps are really cool," Arce said. "You can buy them at Target."

But be careful [HTML_REMOVED] over-stimulation can kill them, so they may not make the best gift for certain people.

It takes a lot of energy for the traps to close, so continual teasing with no gain for the plants will cause them to die off, Beeman said.

"Pitcher plants trap flies, wasps and beetles," Beeman said. "[And they have] cool flowers in spring."

Cacti and succulents make for interesting plants, due to their unique shapes and diversity. However, they do require a lot of light, so place them by windows facing the sun.

Beeman recommends the Rebutia cactus in particular. They're small and make good table or desk plants. These cacti also have pretty flowers.

Haworthias have interesting forms, and Mammillarias have a crown of small flowers in the spring and early summer.

Some plants that are easy to grow with low light include Dracaena, pothos and philodendrons. Plants that require less light tend to be less showy, but they are very green and leafy.

"Garlic actually grows really well and very quickly, with little light," Arce said. "Herbs like basil, chives and thyme are great. They grow quickly, aren't too sensitive to light and water and you can cut them and eat them when the plant gets too big."

For someone who is busy [HTML_REMOVED] or a beginner [HTML_REMOVED] Arce recommended bamboo sticks or any fast-growing herb.

"[Bamboo sticks] take almost no work," he said. "The kind you can buy at IKEA are perfect. They're young, cheap and hard to kill. ... I stick to indoor herbs I can grow in small spaces and on kitchen shelves."

Air plants can also make a pleasant addition to your dorm room or kitchen. They don't require dirt and only need to be misted or dipped in water.

If you use fertilizer, Beeman recommended using a quarter of what the bottle says. Dorm rooms also tend to be dryer, so water them at least every other day.

Air plants need a decent amount of sunlight, so place them by a window. You can also attach them to pieces of driftwood or shells as decoration.

As for orchids, Beeman doesn't recommend them to beginners, since they can be difficult to re-bloom.

"Unless you are experienced, treat as long-term cut flowers," Beeman said. "Don't expect [them to] re-bloom."

But if you really like the style, try the Phalaenopsis, or moth orchid. It is the easiest to grow indoors with moderate light. Place in a window facing east, and it will often re-bloom.

"Don't cut [the] old flower spike off, unless brown," Beeman said. "[They] will often re-bloom an old spike."

When buying plants, make sure you have someone with a background in horticulture help you. Many places, like Fred Meyer or Home Depot, have great plants, but the longer they've been there, the less healthy they are, and sometimes it's hard to tell the condition of a plant.

Arce recommends Ravenna Gardens in the U-Village, City People's on Sandpoint Way, IKEA and Safeway.

"[They] have great, small indoor plants that work almost anywhere in the house," he said.

Beeman also recommended checking out the Swanson's or Sky nurseries.

Fremont Indoor Sun Shoppe is a great place to purchase exotic plants, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable. Their price range is also perfect for college students, but bring cash.

A "Carni Combo" is $16.27 after tax, and includes a pitcher plant, Venus flytrap and sundews.

"I love the Carni Combo. It eats a plethora of bugs," plant enthusiast Kyle Vierling said. "I love to watch the bugs squirm in the Sundews, and Jonah the beetle, who is still clawing for his life from the bottom of the Pitcher plant. Venus flytraps are pretty ... pretty sweet!"

Reach reporter Doris Wu at features@thedaily.washington.edu.