Gardening Tips

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Gardening

March 23, 2021

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The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Gardening

Many people love gardening; it’s quite an interesting hobby. However, not everyone has the space required to practice it. If you don’t have enough space outdoors for a garden, you can simply do it indoors.

Yes, indoor gardening is a thing! Simply put, indoor gardening all boils down to creating an artificial garden in your home by altering the lighting, placing potted plants in the right spots, and knowing exactly what to grow. While it sounds a little complicated; it’s actually quite simple.

Find the Right Container

Choosing the right pot for your plant is very important. If you are growing fruits or vegetables, then you should go for a big pot.

Small pots won’t allow the plant to fully grow, so it’s not advised for you to use them. However, you don’t want to get a pot that is too big either because it could kill your plant.

You should also make sure that your pot has drainage holes to allow the water to flow through the soil to prevent the plant from drowning – which is ultimately what happens when you overwater your plants or if there aren’t enough draining holes in the pot that it’s contained in. You can choose ceramic, plastic, or clay pots.

Find the Right Lighting

You can’t grow plants without a source of light so before you take any step towards your home garden, you have to find the right spot.

You can plant your garden near a well-lit window. If your plants require moderate light, place your plant near an east-facing window. If your plant needs sunlight, a west-facing window is perfect for it.

In order to get the most light for your plants, place them near a south-facing window. Avoid north-facing windows in the winter because they usually receive the least amount of sun. However, you can put plants that need more shade near a south-facing window in the summer.

Choose Nutritious Soil

It is very important to choose the right soil for your garden. The difference between good and bad potting soil is draining: good soil drains well and holds moisture.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid purchasing soil from mainstream brands and instead opt for your local gardening store; you’ll get a cheaper price and the soil will more likely be of higher quality.

If you are growing vegetables, the folks a planteli.com recommend researching the climate, watering, and the kind of fertilizers they need. When shopping for soil, look at the ingredients and make sure to buy a bag that contains a mix of compost or bark.

These two wondrous ingredients add richness to the soil and keep it moist. Coconut fiber is also a good addition to the soil because it allows air circulation, and allows it to retain water better.

Water Your Plants the Right Way

Water to plants is like food to people. Plants need water to grow, transfer minerals and carry out photosynthesis. With all that being said, you need to make sure that you’re giving your plants exactly what they need and not more; overwatering your plants can eventually kill them, so make sure to set a schedule if you need to.

On the flip side, it is very important to water your plants regularly; the soil should never get dry. To test soil moisture, plant a finger into the pot; if the soil feels dry, you should water it.

If you’re worried about overwatering your plants, just make sure the water you add is successfully being drained and none of it is collecting at the bottom of your pot. Bear in mind that plants that don’t get enough water risk shallow roots, which can make the plant eventually wilt and die.

Water requirements also depend on the weather as well as sun exposure. For example, they need more water during the summer. You should make sure to water your plants first thing in the morning.

Benefits of Indoor Gardening

If you’re wondering why you should put in the effort that it takes to grow your own little garden in the comfort of your home, here are some of the benefits of having indoor plants all around you.

Improve the air quality in your home
Reduce stress
Have a positive effect on your mental health
Speed your recovery from illness
Allow you to grow your own vegetables and fruit to eat fresh
Make for a nice décor

Growing a garden in the comfort of your home is not as challenging as it may sound. Once you understand the basics and where to get started, you will see for yourself that it really doesn’t take so much work. You can grow your own vegetables and fruits without worrying about the weather, heavy rain, or wind.

Now that you know the benefits of growing plants in your house, it’s safe to say that indoor gardening is more than just a hobby. It is something that you and the people you live with can benefit from. Make sure to follow our guide if for a beautiful and luscious indoor garden.