7 Essential Beginners Tips for Indoor Gardening
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Indoor gardening allows you to grow flowers, plants, herbs and produce inside your home, as long as you prepare the containers correctly and have a sunny spot. There are many advantages to indoor gardening, from the ability to grow plants and produce even if you don’t have a large yard and having the convenience of keeping a close eye on the plants.
But let’s learn a few essential beginners tips for indoor gardening so that you get started on the right foot.
What is indoor gardening?
Indoor gardening goes beyond just having a houseplant or two. It is the idea of overcoming a lack of natural outdoor space by using part of the house to grow plants of all kinds. It is particularly useful for people who live in spots such as apartments or houses that have no gardens.
It is also a great way to either grow plants or even grow your own food all year round. Plants that would struggle outside in many parts of the world during the winter can thrive indoors with a little care and attention.
Essential tips for indoor gardening
Let’s look at some of the important tips you’ll need to consider when setting up indoor gardening. These can apply whether you want to grow food plants such as vegetables or herbs, edible flowers or even shrubs and flowering plants.
Pick plants you like and will grow indoors
There’s plenty of advice on what plants to grow indoors but the important thing is that they are suitable for the conditions and you like them. You don’t want to be surrounded by plants you don’t like, that have a smell that irritates you or even that causes problems for allergies!
Also, understand if you can provide what the plant needs to thrive and that it won’t grow too big for where you want to keep it. Some fast-growing plants might seem great but can take over the house. Other really slow-growing plants can seem like nothing is happening – and we all get a little impatient when we start something new!
A few popular ideas for starter plants can be:
- Herbs such as basil and coriander
- Greens such as spinach or lettuce
- Microgreens such as bean sprouts
- Edible flowers such as violas or pansies
Choose the Right Container
The container you choose for indoor gardening is more important than you might imagine.
There are many containers to select from, including different sizes and materials. Glass and ceramic are more expensive, but provide a high-quality appeal to the plants or herbs. There are also less expensive options and recyclable containers.
Make sure it is large enough to accommodate the plant after it is fully grown and that it has drainage holes. It also needs to fit in a tray that catches water as it drains.
Face Plants Toward the North
One of the most difficult things about having indoor plants is that when they like to have a lot of sun, it gets difficult finding a good location in the home. The best thing to do is place them somewhere facing the north.
This is where all sun-loving plants thrive. When facing north, they will get the best sun exposure regardless of where in your home they are placed. You can also place them northeast.
If you see any withering of the leaves, move the container near the middle of the room.
Know How Much Water is Needed
Plants need to be watered according to the individual plant’s instructions. When you have plants or herbs indoors, it is tempting to over-water them, since it is convenient. However, over-watering can cause it to drown and die prematurely.
Do your research and know how much water is needed for each plant in your indoor garden. If you find that the soil is flooding when watering them, lift the plant from the dish beneath it and fill the dish with water. Put the plant back on the dish and let the water slowly soak up into the plant’s roots and soil.
Use the Recommended Amount of Fertilizer
A common mistake made when having an indoor container garden is not using fertilizer. People often believe this is only intended for outdoor gardens. However, even indoor plants thrive with potting soil.
You can either use traditional potting soil or make slow-release fertilizer. Make sure you know how much fertilizer each of your plants needs to feed enough, but not too much.
Too little is better than too much in general, since overfeeding plants can burn them due to the additional salt and acid.
Understand the signs they need repotting
Sometimes, as plants grow, they need to be repotted into a larger container. It is a good idea to get to know the plant enough to be able to spot the signs that it needs repotting and what to do when this happens.
For perennial plants that keep going year after year, every 1-2 years is usually often enough for repotting.
Put Plants in the Bathroom
Finally, if you intend to grow plants that like moisture, such as ferns, place them in the bathroom.
This area of your home tends to have more moisture and humidity, which allows them to thrive. The moisture in the air provides natural misting on a regular basis, but watering and adding fertilizer is just as important as with your other plants.
Start indoor gardening confidently
If you aren’t sure what plants or herbs are good for indoor gardening, speak to a nursery professional. Most nurseries are staffed by people who are familiar with indoor container gardening. They can help you choose a plant and give you additional tips to grow the plant successfully.
