- What is indoor gardening?<\/a><\/li>
- Conditions for an indoor garden<\/a>
- Sunlight<\/a><\/li>
- Temperature and humidity<\/a><\/li>
- Space<\/a><\/li>
- Containers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Soil, water, or air?<\/a>
- Aquatic plants<\/a><\/li>
- Air plants<\/a><\/li>
- Soil plants<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Easy plants for indoor gardening<\/a>
- Plants for windowless rooms:<\/a><\/li>
- Easy-to-grow indoor herbs and vegetables:<\/a><\/li>
- Cacti and succulents:<\/a><\/li>
- Indoor-friendly flowers:<\/a><\/li>
- Non-flowering Houseplants<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Where should I buy plants?<\/a><\/li>
- How to take care of your indoor plants<\/a>
- How to water your houseplants<\/a><\/li>
- How to fertilize your houseplants<\/a><\/li>
- How to prune your houseplants<\/a><\/li>
- How to repot your houseplants<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Benefits of indoor gardening<\/a><\/li>
- Pros and cons of indoor gardening<\/a><\/li>
- Dos and don\u2019ts of indoor gardening<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ About Indoor Gardening<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
What is indoor gardening?<\/span><\/h2>
You don\u2019t need a sunroom dedicated to plants to start indoor gardening. Whether you\u2019re bringing the plants in for winter, have a small yard<\/a>, or just want to bring more life into your home, indoor plants are a great way to start a new hobby, feel connected with nature, and relieve stress. <\/p>
Conditions for an indoor garden<\/span><\/h2>
When creating an indoor garden, it\u2019s not enough to throw plants in pots, water them occasionally and hope for the best. It\u2019s important to understand what plants need to thrive, then create the conditions that ensure that happens. <\/p>
You\u2019ll need to keep four main things in mind:<\/p>
- Sunlight<\/li>
- Temperature and humidity<\/li>
- Space<\/li>
- Containers<\/li> <\/ol>
![\"Sunlight](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sunlight-window_800.jpg\")
Max Vakhtbovych<\/a> | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure> Sunlight<\/span><\/h3>
All plants have different sunlight needs, but few plants can thrive without sunlight. Most plants need between low and high levels of light, and some prefer indirect over direct sunlight. <\/p>
- Low-light houseplants<\/strong> need very little sunlight and thrive in rooms with artificial light but no windows — just make sure not to leave them in the dark. Low-light plants can be great for small apartments, windowless offices, and bathrooms. <\/li>
- Medium-light houseplants<\/strong> typically need several hours of bright or indirect light from windows or skylights. <\/li>
- High-light houseplants<\/strong> require at least five hours of bright light, within 6 feet of a window. These plants are great for sunrooms or rooms with south-facing windows.<\/li>
- Direct (bright)<\/strong> light is light coming directly from a window. <\/li>
- Indirect light<\/strong> is light that comes from artificial lightbulbs or sunlight that\u2019s filtered through your curtains. <\/li> <\/ul>
Where should I put my plants?<\/strong><\/p>
- East-facing windows<\/strong> are the ideal spaces for most plants to receive bright, indirect light in the morning.<\/li>
- South-facing windows <\/strong>supply harsh light for most plants, and you\u2019ll probably need to install light curtains to filter the light and keep your plants from getting too much sun. This is a great spot for plants that require bright or high levels of light.<\/li>
- West-facing windows<\/strong> will not provide morning sunlight but usually provide plenty of afternoon and evening light. <\/li>
- North-facing windows<\/strong> aren\u2019t ideal for most plants, so you might want to consider choosing low-light plants or investing in grow lights. <\/li> <\/ul>
If your living conditions don\u2019t allow for lots of natural light, you can choose low-light plants or you can adjust your environment to be more welcoming to plants by installing artificial grow lights. <\/p>
What are the best grow lights for beginner gardeners? <\/strong><\/p>
You can buy LED lights for plants in dimly lit rooms or grow lights that are shaped like regular light bulbs. <\/p>
The two best kinds of grow lights for indoor plants are: <\/p>
- LED lights<\/strong>: energy efficient with a low heat output and a spectrum of light.<\/li>
- Spiral CFL bulbs<\/strong>: fluorescent light with a light spectrum designed for enhanced growing.<\/li> <\/ul>
If you\u2019re growing vegetables indoors or are putting all of your plants in the same area, you\u2019ll need about 100 watts of light for every 18 by 18-inch section of your garden. <\/p>
![\"Indoor](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/indoor-ac_800.jpg\")
Link576<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> Temperature and humidity<\/span><\/h3>
Temperature<\/strong><\/p>
Tropical plants tend to be popular for indoors, but they can\u2019t handle cold temperatures. Research each plant you intend to grow to learn more about its temperature requirements and whether it can survive the typical environment in your home. Generally, most indoor plants thrive in the same temperature range:<\/p>
- Daytime temperatures: 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit<\/li>
- Evening temperatures: 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit<\/li> <\/ul>
Keep plants away from air conditioners and air ducts that could blow hot or cold air on them. <\/p>
Humidity<\/strong><\/p>
You\u2019ve probably walked into a greenhouse before and felt an instant change in temperature and humidity. Humidity<\/a> is a very important factor in plant care, and is easily overlooked. <\/p>
Since most indoor plants are tropical or subtropical, they\u2019re naturally used to hot and humid conditions. Medium relative humidity for indoor plants is between 40 to 50 percent, and most homes have between 10 and 20 percent relative humidity, which is considered low. You don\u2019t need any fancy equipment to ensure that your plants are getting the right level of humidity, though.<\/p>
How can you boost the humidity around your plants without turning your home into a sauna?<\/strong><\/p>
- Arrange plants so they\u2019re close together.<\/li>
- Fill a shallow container with gravel and water, and place it next to your plants. The evaporation from the container will increase relative humidity.<\/li>
- Buy a humidifier.<\/li>
- Mist your plants. This is not as effective since, ideally, you would need to continuously mist them throughout the day, but misting them a few times a day can help. <\/li> <\/ul>
Pro tip: <\/strong>Don\u2019t mist or spray plants with hairy leaves. Water can get trapped on top of the leaves and allow spores or diseases to germinate.<\/p>
![\"Vertical](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/vertical_gardening-800.jpeg\")
Vertical Garden | Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure> Space<\/span><\/h3>
You don\u2019t have to give up your gardening dreams just because your space is tight. <\/p>
How to make the most of a cramped space:<\/strong><\/p>
- Think vertically — use ladders, backless bookshelves, and accent tables. <\/li>
- Hang plants from the ceiling. Just be sure to place them so your taller friends won\u2019t hit their heads the next time they visit.<\/li>
- Spacing your plants out away from the center of the room can help make your space look larger.<\/li>
- Put plants on shelves, on window sills, on desks, or in corners.<\/li> <\/ul>
If you have limited space, you\u2019ll want to be extra mindful about which plants you\u2019re choosing. Not only to avoid picking plants that will grow to a large size, but also for the benefits of the plants you\u2019ll be growing. <\/p>
Do you want your plants to be decorative or edible? It might be more worthwhile for you to grow herbs instead of succulents if you enjoy cooking. If you don\u2019t cook much, you might prefer a flowering plant with more flair.<\/p>
When you\u2019re looking for plants, research how tall they can get. You don\u2019t want to unknowingly purchase a small plant that later grows into a tree. Learning about the plant\u2019s size will also help you find the right kind of container.<\/p>
![\"Potted](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/potted-plants-800.jpg\")
Ksenia Chernaya<\/a> | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure> Containers<\/span><\/h3>
Plant containers can be stylish and show off your personality, but it\u2019s important to make sure that you buy the right size and the correct kind of container for your plants. <\/p>
When shopping for containers, keep in mind:<\/p>
- Durability – is it classic terracotta or flimsy plastic?<\/li>
- Weight – will Fluffy knock it off the shelf with her tail?<\/li>
- Design – does it have drainage holes? <\/li>
- Size – will my plant have enough room to grow?<\/li> <\/ul>
Unless you\u2019re growing aquatic plants, every container should have a drain hole on the bottom. The soil around your plants needs the opportunity to drain. Soil that stays wet for too long can lead to diseases and mold. <\/p>
If you want to use a pot without a hole, you can place the plant inside a smaller container that has holes, and then put that inside the larger pot. Fill the bottom of the larger pot with rocks so that the water has room to fully drain out.<\/p>
Beware of planting a small plant in too-big of a container. Too much soil around the plant can hold in excess water and lead to unhealthy, wet conditions. <\/p>
Containers come in many materials, but terra cotta is an indoor gardener\u2019s best bet. Terra cotta pots have porous surfaces, which help fresh air pass through and circulate around the soil. If you don\u2019t trust yourself, you can purchase self-watering containers to get the job done for you. <\/p>
Pro tip: <\/strong>Label your containers with the name of the plants inside. You can apply a temporary label, paint it onto the pot, or even paint the outside of your container with chalk paint to easily re-label and add some flair to your plant containers. <\/p>
Soil, water, or air?<\/span><\/h2>
While shopping for plants, you might discover that some don\u2019t need soil at all. Some plants are aquatic, can grow using hydroponics, or can just grow in the air. <\/p>
![\"Aquatic](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/aquatic-plants_800.jpg\")
Aquatic plants | D\u0169ng Nguy\u1ec5n Vi\u1ec7t<\/a> | Flickr | Public domain<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Aquatic plants<\/span><\/h3>
There are three types of aquatic plants<\/strong>:<\/p>
- True aquatic plants: plants are totally submerged in water.<\/li>
- Semi-aquatic (emergent) plants have roots that grow in water, but foliage grows into the air. <\/li>
- Floating plants are shallow-rooted and live on the surface of the water.<\/li> <\/ul>
Most aquatic houseplants you\u2019ll find are semi-aquatic, which are easy to grow in glass vases or jars. Most aquatic house plants will need their water to be changed every few days. <\/p>
Common houseplants that can grow in water:<\/strong><\/p>
- Spiral CFL bulbs<\/strong>: fluorescent light with a light spectrum designed for enhanced growing.<\/li> <\/ul>
- South-facing windows <\/strong>supply harsh light for most plants, and you\u2019ll probably need to install light curtains to filter the light and keep your plants from getting too much sun. This is a great spot for plants that require bright or high levels of light.<\/li>
- Medium-light houseplants<\/strong> typically need several hours of bright or indirect light from windows or skylights. <\/li>
- Low-light houseplants<\/strong> need very little sunlight and thrive in rooms with artificial light but no windows — just make sure not to leave them in the dark. Low-light plants can be great for small apartments, windowless offices, and bathrooms. <\/li>
- How to fertilize your houseplants<\/a><\/li>
- Easy-to-grow indoor herbs and vegetables:<\/a><\/li>
- Air plants<\/a><\/li>
- Temperature and humidity<\/a><\/li>
- Conditions for an indoor garden<\/a>
![\"Air](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/air-plant_800.jpg\")
![\"Potted](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/potted-cactus_800.jpg\")
![\"Indoor](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/42632151832_dbbeb16a93_c.jpg\")
![\"Outdoor](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/5880874072_0a1fec9214_c.jpg\")
![\"Watering](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/water-plants-800.jpg\")