It’s been proven that gardening can help reduce stress and create an overall sense of health and well-being. And although more and more people globally are living in urban areas without access to public gardening or personal yards, that doesn’t mean you can’t still grow your own garden indoors.
In fact, it’s not only entirely possible to have an indoor garden, but also easier and more cost-effective than you may think. All you really need is proper lighting, ventilation, soil, and know-how - all things which can be bought or learned about online. No green thumb required!
So if you’ve ever dreamed of munching on your own homegrown batch of carrots, onions, or hot peppers, or maybe breaking off your own signature blend of homemade and house grown spices, then read on to learn what you need to know.
To put it simply, indoor gardening is what you make of it. Sure, it is generally regarded as more than just a few succulents in a kitchen or maybe a potted fern by a sunny window, but really, it doesn’t have to be.
By definition, indoor gardening is what it sounds like: the cultivation of plants indoors that are normally grown outdoors, such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, or flowers.
So while house plants such as palms and fronds definitely make your space feel more homey and lush, for this article, we are mainly going to focus on plants that need a little more love and attention than, say, a cactus, but less effort than having your own greenhouse or nursery.
But really, the sky is the limit when it comes to indoor gardening as long as you play to your strengths and be realistic with your expectations. For example, if you live in a tiny studio apartment with no window, you can certainly still have a small indoor garden with the right tools outlined below, but chances are, you won’t be able to feed a family of four everyday on your harvest alone.
Yet, if you do have the room (or rooms!), the right set-up, and the inclination, you can definitely grow a great bounty year-round, which is actually one of the main appeals of indoor gardening in the first place.
In fact, one of the main benefits of indoor gardening is that you can grow plants indoors that otherwise would not survive outdoors, whether due to climate, seasonal limitations, or a combination of these two elements.
This means that if you can correctly master how to manipulate the conditions such as temperature, lighting, and humidity indoors, you will have access to fresh vegetables and herbs that aren’t limited to any time-period, season, or geographical location year-round, including various types of hot peppers such as jalapeños, herbs such as basil, and even exotic fruit such as lemons.
Yes! Depending on what you intend to grow, indoor gardening can be incredibly cost effective, especially for some more exotic herbs, spices, and vegetables that can’t grow locally outdoors.
The truth is, not much. For some more simple herbs and spices, all that is required is a little soil, some seeds, and patience - and perhaps some water and a sunny spot to place inside your home.
However, we do recognize that not everyone has access to good interior lighting, so in this case, we would highly recommend a plant light such as the one offered by Tasmor.
The Tasmor LED plant lamp offers a full spectrum of light similar to sunlight, and with 4 different modes and 9 brightness levels, it covers just about any plant you are thinking of growing indoors. Additionally, it also comes with a built-in timer that makes it as reliable as the sun, if not more so, since you never have to worry about cloudy days or cold fronts!
So even if you don’t have a sunny spot for your plants and choose to buy a plant lamp, it will more than pay for itself in the long-run if you intend to grow and eat your own vegetables, and save on trips to the grocery store.
Just like with many things, there isn’t a “One-size-fits-all” approach to indoor gardening. This is in-part due to your personal tastes, your passion/time, and the kind of space you are working with. But that being said, there are a few types of indoor gardens and plants that are more common than others, and we will rank them by their perceived cost and effort.
Terrariums are basically plants that live inside glass boxes or jars. Once properly set-up and sealed, they require little to no maintenance at all. In fact, these glass jars are essentially self-sustaining, mini ecosystems onto themselves.
Due to the unique nature of how they are displayed, terrarium gardens can be a lot of fun to look at, and even more fun to DIY (if you have the time!).
And although some terrarium-based plants can be a little difficult to maintain depending on how exotic the plant inside is, others are incredibly low-maintenance while still managing to be visually striking.
You can definitely browse indoor gardening forums online to find the right plants for your needs, but in general, the best plants for terrariums are Rock Ferns, Birds Nest Ferns, Ginseng, Fittonia, and basically any type of moss out there. These plants can thrive in damp, humid environments and don’t need direct sunlight, so anywhere in your house is good.
Additionally, perhaps the best part about terrariums is that they don’t need much watering at all. Because they live in a closed environment that produces their own oxygen, the condensation basically keeps the whole thing running (and growing) smoothly.
However, if your terrarium is looking a little bit dry, you can open it up every few months and give it a light mist. But other than that, you’re good to go!
Even if you’ve never heard of an “air plant” (aka tillandsia), chances are, you’ve definitely seen them. With over 500 different species around the world, they are actually quite common, with the best known being “Spanish Moss” that grows on Oak trees in the American South.
Although these types of plants were once rare to find indoors, in recent years, they have become all the rage for their super simple and convenient methods of maintenance, and elegant appearance.
These plants require no soil, just a little misting now and again, and some direct light. But they are actually quite flexible. Even if you don’t have a lot of natural light, they can definitely survive in your house - they just may not bloom at all, depending on the species.
However, do make sure your home has proper ventilation. As these plants actually get their moisture from the air and not the soil, they are a little sensitive to stuffiness, so make sure you don’t suffocate them with too much moss or improper airflow.
In fact, as is to be expected, most air plants thrive when suspended in the air, which can give your home a truly graceful, draping appearance that is well worth the minimal maintenance required to keep them around.
Aside from the plants above, herb gardens are by far the most popular and easy of indoor gardens to start and maintain, as herbs tend to be less fussy than other large vegetables and fruits, and most herbs can and do thrive indoors. So if you’re just getting started with an indoor garden as a hobby and not quite ready to commit tons of time and energy into maintaining a bonafide indoor jungle, then an herb garden is definitely for you!
You can start your herb garden from both seeds or cuttings. For example, if you already have an outdoor garden (or perhaps a friend who does), simply cut a branch off of an existing plant and soak it in water until it begins to grow new roots, then transfer it to a pot. That, or just buy some seeds from your local shop (or online) and do the same.
Basically any pot or container will do, that’s the beauty of an herb garden! We’ve seen tons of creative solutions online depending on how quirky you want to get, including using colorful boots, shoes, and old mason jars.
However, no matter what you choose to buy or DIY, just make sure it has a little “drainage” underneath. This will make sure you don’t completely soak your herbs and risk drowning them in too much moisture.
So if you do opt for something like a mason jar or vase without a hole in the bottom, do consider putting a layer of pebbles in the bottom to make sure your precious herbs don’t get too saturated. And speaking of which:
Actually, not as much as you think. The biggest mistake most new-comers to indoor gardening make is that they tend to water their plants or herbs too much, which will surely water-log them.
As a general rule for herbs, just make sure that you keep the soil consistently moist and don’t overdo it. This could mean a light spray in the morning as part of your daily routine (perhaps when you have a cup of water, tea, or coffee yourself), or a daily drizzle under the sink.
Remember: If the leaves begin to wilt or turn yellow, it doesn’t necessarily mean your plants are thirsty. It usually means they actually have too much water!
… or not enough sunlight.
The short answer: A lot. At least six hours a day to reach their maximum potential. So if you have a particularly sunny south-facing window, that’s your best bet to get the most out of your herb garden. Anything else and you run the risk of losing your plants!
But even if you don’t have this option, it’s OK - there are tons of great grow lights out there that will definitely help your plants grow to reach their full potential. As mentioned, we always recommend the Tasmor LED plant lamp as our favorite.
Most herbs, actually! This is why herb gardens are considered an easy starting point for indoor gardening. They are low risk, and high reward. That, and they provide the freshest possible flavor for enhancing dishes, garnishing drinks, and adding a fresh fragrance to your home.
However, the ones that tend to be the most popular for growing indoors are: parsley, basil, chives, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and mint.
In a traditional garden, plants need water, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients, which they normally get from their soul. However, a hydroponic garden is actually a method for growing plants that don’t require any soil at all. In this case, plant roots are often suspended with their roots immersed in nutrient rich water. This often results in big, beautiful plants that grow much more quickly than regular soil-based methods.
Although this may sound incredibly high-tech, it’s actually a very ancient technique that is over 2,000 years old. So if the ancient Aztecs and Babylonians can do it, so can you! And really, it’s not actually that difficult.
A hydroponic garden actually uses less water than traditional soil-based systems, and by dropping nutrients directly into the water and letting them dissolve, you are often sure to get bigger, better plants than your outdoor garden - granted you put the time and effort to maintain them.
However, due to the sheer variety of plants that can be grown hydroponically, we are placing this method of indoor gardening as the most difficult. Not for the methods required to grow them, but for the different methods required to grow various plants. After all, a lemon tree grown hydroponically is going to be much different from a potato, and both are going to be a little harder than an herb such as rosemary.
Just do it! Don’t think too much about it. Buy a pot you like, buy an herb you like to eat or a fern you like to look at, and let nature do the rest. It really is as simple as that.
Those who are into indoor gardening swear by the nearly zen-like tasks of watering and maintaining plants, plus watching them grow is incredibly rewarding in its own right. After all, having plants around the house is not only therapeutic to look at, but caring for them is also a pleasure in itself.
So if you’re looking for some indoor gardening advice, just know that it’s always best to keep it simple, and always best to try. And if you really do want to try something a little more complicated like hydroponic gardening, there are plenty of indoor gardening forums to find a supportive community to help you out, such as helpfulgardener.com.
And sure, perhaps not all your thyme or basil will grow properly the first time, but that’s just nature, right? If at first your plants don’t grow, don’t fret! Try a different plant, or better yet, just plant a bunch!
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