Table of Contents
- What Do I Need to Create an Indoor Garden?
- Garden Ideas for Small Spaces
- Windowsill Plants
- How To Set Up an Indoor Garden On A Windowsill
- Hanging Indoor Garden
- What You Need to Set Up a Hanging Indoor Garden
- How To Set Up a Hanging Indoor Garden
- How To Create a Hanging Wall Herb Garden?
- How To Create a Vertical Herb Hanging Garden?
- Window Box Indoor Garden
- How To Set Up a Window Box Indoor Garden
- Conclusion
- FAQ
If you enjoy having a garden or have always wanted a much leafier look to your home or office, then having an indoor garden may be what the horticulturist ordered. Several indoor garden ideas for small spaces with various houseplants could suit any present or eventual gardener. These indoor gardening ideas are the difference between having a lush, decorative eco-friendly living space.
When gardening indoors, space can be limited; an excellent indoor gardening layout is necessary for small spaces.
What Do I Need to Create an Indoor Garden?
Setting up an indoor garden requires a little effort and a few items. The first thing to consider when starting an indoor garden is deciding where you want to set it up in your living space. The next stage would involve picking out a plant(s). Plants vary and have different growth requirements ranging from the amount of water and sunlight needed to the kind of soil you can use in potting them. You would also need to get a suitable potter and quality potting soil to which your plants would be transplanted or grown.
Depending on how much indoor gardening you would be doing, you would need to get some gardening tools to make the gardening process much more manageable. Essential indoor gardening tools you might need include a watering can, a hand trowel, pruning shears, a hand fork, and any other device as required for the gardening task at hand.
Garden Ideas for Small Spaces
The layout of your garden would depend on your taste, the materials available to you, and of course, the amount of space you must work. Here are a few indoor gardening ideas for small spaces to suit just about anyone.
Windowsill Plants
Windows are located all around homes and offices. An excellent way to make use of these easily forgotten areas would be to place indoor plants. This works well for a variety of plants and herbs and is relatively easy to set up.
When indoor plants are grown on the windowsill, they generally receive direct sunlight, which may not be ideal for some plants. Plants that would work well when planted or grown on a windowsill include Succulents, Cacti, Venus flytrap, Pelargoniums, and several other direct sun-loving types.
How To Set Up an Indoor Garden On A Windowsill
You have first to find out exactly what direction your window faces geographically. Locating this will help tell how much sunlight is getting in from time to time. South and east-facing windows usually receive the most sunlight during the day, while the west and north-facing windows receive the least direct sunlight.
Plant selection for a windowsill garden should depend on its light requirements and the available space on the windowsill. You wouldn’t want to overcrowd a window you regularly use with plants. After planting your desired plant in an adequately sized pot, place it on the windowsill and water from time to time based on the plant’s need. Be sure to check up on your plant regularly to ensure they are doing well under their present growing conditions. Fluctuating temperatures at night or during winter might not be so ideal for some plants.
Hanging Indoor Garden
Hanging indoor gardens help save space if set up correctly and will appease the eye. Try setting up your hanging indoor garden somewhere around your living space where it can receive a lot of light but avoid jam-packing them close to each other.
What You Need to Set Up a Hanging Indoor Garden
The materials you would need for a hanging indoor garden would generally depend on the exact kind of hanging garden you are trying to create. You will need to gather some wall hangers, rope, a lightweight container, and of course, the plant itself.
How To Set Up a Hanging Indoor Garden
When picking out garden ideas for small spaces, there are several hanging indoor gardens to choose from, such as vertical wall gardens, vertical plant hangers, hanging wall planters, ladder shelving, and much more. Generally, the setup would depend on the layout you are trying to create.
How To Create a Hanging Wall Herb Garden?
- The first step is to get a lightweight pot or pot-like container. A plastic pot would be ideal for this purpose. That way, it hangs perfectly on your wall without causing too much stress to the wall structure. Drill a hole into the side of the plastic pot close to the top but not too close, so it doesn’t break off when hanged.
- Next, fix the wall hanger or hook to the wall with a nail or some glue, depending on the type you are using and make sure it sits firmly enough to support your herbs after they are mounted. Hang the empty plastic pot on the wall hanger and make sure it fits properly.
- At the final stage, all you would have to do is add your already potted herbs into the plastic container, and voila, you have created a hanging wall herb garden. You can make as many of them as would be ideal for you.
How To Create a Vertical Herb Hanging Garden?
- A store-bought hanging planter would ideally come with holes in them already to assist with hanging, but if you intend to use a container you picked out yourself, you might have to make those holes yourself. Drill a hole into the side of the plastic pot close to the top but not too close, so it doesn’t break off when hanged. The holes should be big enough to allow the ropes to pass through easily.
- On the next step, pass the rope you picked out through the openings in your plant hanger. Add as much length of rope as you feel you would need; longer lengths of rope would mean that your plants would hang lower. If you are hanging more than one plant hanger, you might want to vary rope lengths, so they are all hanging close to each other comfortably.
- Tie the ropes into a knot and hang over a wall hanger or hook on the wall. Ensure the wall hanger is placed firmly to avoid giving way once the plants are transferred into the plant hanger. Position the empty plant hangers just as you want them to be and make sure everything fits appropriately.
- Finally, add your already potted plants.
Many plants do well as indoor hanging gardens such as Golden Pothos, English Ivy, Air Plant, Bird’s Nest Fern, Boston Fern, Arrowhead Plant, Chenille Plant, and Burro’s Tail.
Window Box Indoor Garden
Window box gardens can help you save a lot of space and look nice when put together well. To set up a window box garden, find a window box that you could get online or make yourself with a repurposed container. Next, gather potting soil and the plants you want to grow in the window box.
Always try to match the width of the window box to the size of the window. That way, placement looks a whole lot more aesthetic. The length of the window box should be no more than 25% the length of the window; that way, it does not obstruct your view through the window. When picking out or making a window box yourself consider using resistant woods such as cedar, teak, cypress, and redwood. Softwoods such as pine tend to rot after some time.
How To Set Up a Window Box Indoor Garden
Window boxes are easy to set up. The only difference between a window plant and a window box is that window boxes are built rectangularly to fit the outline of your window.
To set up your window box, simply:
- Place out your window box (DIY made or store-bought)
- Add potting soil into the window box evenly throughout.
- Transplant your plants into the soil in the window box, or you can plant your seed so that they can grow.
Consider trying out companion planting when setting up a window plant box. Companion planting involves growing different plants together in the same garden. This helps because certain plants have pest repellent abilities that could protect other plants in the garden. In contrast, several plants have different nutrient requirements meaning they can be in the same soil without struggling for nutrients.
Conclusion
Bringing a garden indoors, even with small spaces to work with, is entirely doable and is a fantastic creative outlet.
