Getting Started With Indoor Gardening
Getting Started With Indoor Gardening
STORY BY VIRGINIA BESHEARS, PHOTO BY MARKUS SPISKE
I’m sure you’re aware of the houseplants craze of the past decade. I want to introduce you to houseplants’ underrated sister: indoor gardening.
Indoor gardening is incredibly versatile. It allows you to grow flowers, fruits, veggies, herbs, and more year round, in any geographic area, even if you don’t have access to a yard, and eliminates many of the variables of growing outdoors.
Below are some ideas for getting started with indoor gardening.
Plants that do well indoors
Herbs are very popular to grow indoors. They don’t take up much space, they’re pretty, and they’re incredibly functional. Basil, parsley, thyme, dill, coriander, mint, rosemary, chives, and sage all do well indoors.
Carrots, hot peppers, and tomatoes all do well indoors, but will require more space than herbs.
Spinach grows very quickly and has shallow roots, making it a great choice for indoors growing.
Setups & Supplies
Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden via UncommonGoods
Hydroponic gardening is so cool, and this kit from UncommonGoods is a budget friendly way to give it a whirl. Hydroponic gardening doesn’t use soil, so you don’t have to worry about over or under watering. Bonus— the mason jars are very cute.
iPower 10W Dual Head LED Grow Light with Auto ON/Off Adjustable Gooseneck Lamp via Amazon
A grow light is definitely a good investment for an indoor garden. Light is the most important factor of an indoor garden, and natural light coming through a window is often not enough for indoor gardens to grow as healthy and strong as possible. A grow light like this one doesn’t take up much space and can reach across multiple containers.
TORCHSTAR LED Indoor Herb Garden Grow Light via Amazon
This grow light can accommodate fewer plants than the lamp above, but is a great option if you value aesthetics. It’s super sleek and has a built in timer to accommodate however much sun your plants need.
iDOO Hydroponics Growing System via Amazon
This hydroponic system makes indoor gardening incredibly simple if you’re wanting to keep things low maintenance. You do have to purchase specific seed growing pods that are sold separately, but the lack of mess and the automation makes up for the extra cost.
Herb Garden Starter Kit via Amazon
If you want to start simple, this herb kit is perfect for beginners. It comes with basil, parsley, and cilantro seeds, pots, soil, and a guide that explains how to care for your plants.
Here’s a bit of a wildcard idea I’ve seen online and seems incredibly cool: a glass cabinet greenhouse. You can mount a grow light above each shelf of a glass cabinet, maybe add a humidifier depending on what you’re growing, and voila, you have an indoor greenhouse. It blends right in with your decor and is space efficient. Make sure the cabinet you use is metal or otherwise moisture resistant. I chose the one above because it’s designed for bathroom humidity.
Things to Consider
Indoor gardening definitely takes some research to get started, but the payoff of getting to cook with herbs or veggies you grew yourself and that won’t go bad in your fridge is absolutely worth it.
Light, fertilizer, potting mix, humidity, and watering requirements change depending on what types of plants you choose to grow, but adjustments like misting your plants for added humidity or putting your grow light on a timer are easy to make. Online groups dedicated to indoor gardening are a wonderful place to find information.
Happy gardening!
