While we spend a lot of time
discussing what to add to your home garden, or the types of plants you should
be aiming towards growing for each season, we wanted to veer off just a bit. We
feel that a common area that can be turned into a whole new space with the help
of a few plants, is the cabin area on a boat.
In general these cabin areas are
under deck and a bit small. On top of this, there is usually very minimal
natural light coming into this area, so you must choose your plants very
carefully. While we personally love seeing lush green vines growing against a
dark wood finish, these plants below fall on the smaller side.
the 3 plants the will be
discussed today, each of these plants require very little upkeep, and will not
completely take over the cabin area on your boat. The added bonus is that a few
of the plants below actually have some very handy uses while out at sea.
The Christmas Cactus:
This plant is a bit different
than a normal cactus in that, it actually blooms some very beautiful pink
flowers. Since this plant is classified as a cactus, a very nice thing is that
not a ton of water is required to keep this plant going.
The Christmas Cactus does
require a bit more sunlight to keep growing, so a covered area above deck would
be a great location for this plant. This plant can still function below deck,
as long as it is near the main natural light source down there (the biggest
window).
Being a cactus, this plant is a little prickly at certain points, but not nearly as prickly as a normal cactus
one would find in the desert. However you should find a way to keep this potted
plant in place, as you should with all your plants on board, but especially
with this plant. The last thing you want is for a Christmas cactus to come
flying at you in the middle of the night when a large wave hits the side of
your boat.
Aloe:
This plant is incredibly resilient to the
elements. Salt water
does not affect this plant nearly as much as it does to others, aloe plants
need very little water to survive, and it really thrives in areas with a lot of
sun. While aloe can grow well in sun, a lack of sun does not completely kill
this plant off.
An added bonus to having an aloe
plant on board, is that you can break off a piece of the plant at anytime to
rub onto a bug bite. Although it could be used on a bug bite, aloe will most
likely be used for dealing with any sunburn that may occur when out on the
water.
While many boating enthusiasts
do take the necessary precautions when protecting their skin from the UV rays,
aloe is a nice thing to have on hand. If for some reason you missed rubbing
sunscreen on a part of your arm, or you didn't have anyone get the back of your
neck; aloe can really help cool off the pain of sunburn quickly.
Mint:
Last but not least is the Mint plant. While
there are various versions of mint plants out there, these plants are also a
bit harder than the other two listed above when trying to grow it on a boat. A
mint plant needs plenty of sunlight, and moist soil, so place right next to the
main window below deck would probably be best.
One of the great benefits to
this plant is the aroma it brings with it. This mint plant can act as an
instant air freshener for below deck. No
harmful sprays or overly pungent car fresheners required for your boat anymore. This mint aroma instantly makes your boat
feel a bit more like a home away from home.
For even bigger boats, another
nice thing with having a mint plant on board is its multiple uses in cooking.
If your boat has a kitchen, or at least a small burner, the mint can be added
to any meal for that little extra zest, and can even be added to a nice cup of
hot tea for a refreshing kick. Mint plants grow very fast, so they are the
perfect companion to have on board.
So take the next step and liven
up your boat area. You can buy colourful new boat cushions, repaint the cabin below, or make a minor
tweak to an area just by adding a new plant. Do not forget the added bonuses of
some of these plants. Break off a mint leaf and chew on it for instant fresh
breath. Use the aloe plant to soothe any burns out at sea. Most of all, relax
and enjoy your time out at sea!
DG