An indoor garden could be the perfect solution for you if you have limited space outside. With indoor gardening, you don’t need a lot of space.
There are other benefits as well. You won’t have to put up with the harsh outdoor elements and you have greater control over environmental conditions inside. You can create the best environment for your plants.
With an indoor garden, you can grow a variety of plants in containers right in your home.
We will teach you everything you need to know about gardening indoors: from choosing the right plants to setting up your garden.
These are the main topics covered in this article:
- Choose Your Garden Type
- Choose The Best Location For Your Garden Inside
- Start Small
- Decide What Plants You Want To Grow
- Get The Right Containers For Your Garden Type
- Other Supplies Needed For Your Indoor Garden
- How To Set Up Your Indoor Garden
- 7 Tips For Maintaining Your Indoor Garden
So get ready to set up your indoor garden and start growing some delicious produce!
Choose Your Garden Type
When it comes to indoor gardening, there are a few things you need to consider before getting started. The first thing you need to decide is what type of garden you want. There are three main types of indoor gardens: soil-based, hydro-based, and aeroponic.
Soil-based gardens use regular potting soil in pots and containers.
Hydro-based gardens use water with nutrients mixed into it instead of soil. They’re great for people who don’t have a lot of space since there’s no need to buy pots or anything else! [1]
Aeroponic gardens are the most advanced form. They use misting systems that spray plants with nutrient-rich liquid instead of soil. Aeroponic gardens require less water than any other garden type. They are a great option for anyone who lives in an area where it’s hard to find affordable water or doesn’t want the hassle of watering plants every day. [2]
If you are new to gardening, we recommend that you start with a soil-based garden. It is the easiest and most common type of indoor garden. It is simple to set up and doesn’t require any specialized equipment. For more information, check out our article called: How To Start A Garden.
Choose The Best Location For Your Garden Inside
Once you’ve decided on the type of garden you want to create, it’s time to choose a location for it. You’ll want to find a spot in your home that gets plenty of sunlight. South-facing windows are ideal, but east or west-facing windows will also work. If you don’t have a south-facing window, a fluorescent light fixture can provide enough light for indoor gardening.
You may also want to consider the temperature of your indoor garden. If you live in a cooler climate, it’s best not to keep plants next to an exterior wall or window. This will expose them to cold overnight temperatures. In warmer climates, you can place your plants in a spot where they won’t be exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.
Look for an area that’s away from indoor activities that might disturb your garden. If you have pets or children running around, find a location where they can’t easily get to it!
The last thing to consider is how much noise your garden will make. This is important, especially if you decide to set up a hydro-based or an aeroponic garden. If you don’t want a lot of noise, we recommend choosing a location that is away from social areas of your home where people might be talking or watching TV.
Start Small
It’s best not to start indoor gardening with too many plants.
If you’re new to this type of gardening, start small and grow only a few plants at first.
You’ll want to choose easy-to-grow vegetables like lettuce or herbs. This way, if something goes wrong, you won’t lose a lot of plants.
As you get more comfortable and gain more experience, you can add more plants to your garden.
Just make sure that the total number of plants doesn’t exceed the amount of light or space that is available in your indoor garden’s location.
Decide What Plants You Want To Grow
Once you’ve chosen a location for your indoor garden, it’s time to decide what plants you want to grow in it! You’ll want to choose plants that are suited for the type of garden you have.
If you have a soil-based indoor garden, you can grow just about any type of plant, as long as it’s suited for your climate. If you live in a cooler climate, try growing vegetables like broccoli and kale. If you live in a warmer climate, try growing tomatoes and peppers.
If you have a hydro-based garden, you can grow plants that don’t need soil, such as strawberries, lettuce, or herbs.
If you have an aeroponic garden, you can also grow plants that don’t need soil. Also, due to the high level of humidity in aeroponic indoor gardens, you’ll want to choose plants that are suited for a humid environment, such as orchids.
Get The Right Containers For Your Garden Type
For soil-based gardening, you’ll need a container for each plant. You can use any type of container that has drainage holes in the bottom. Some gardeners prefer to buy special indoor gardening containers. They make it a bit easier to grow plants indoors and they also look beautiful.
If you have a hydro-based garden, you’ll need to find suitable containers. They should be the right size for each plant. You can purchase or make containers specifically for indoor hydro-gardening. Or you can use recycled items. Some people use large plastic storage bins, while others prefer using old fish tanks or even glass jars.
If you have an aeroponic garden, you’ll need to find suitable containers. Your plants will need to be able to absorb air and water at the proper rate for healthy growth.
Check out our container gardening article for great tips on growing plants in containers.
Other Supplies Needed For Your Indoor Garden
There are a few other supplies you may need to have on hand before starting your indoor gardening. You’ll want to get these items at the same time with the containers so that you’ll have everything you need to get started.
- A light source for indoor plants (either natural sunlight from windows or artificial lights)
- Grow lights and timer
- Plant racks, for plant containers
- Soil (potting soil), if you’re using a soil-based indoor garden
- Watering can with watering nozzle or an indoor drip irrigation system
- Water hose and sprayer for aeroponic gardens
- Fertilizer (organic fertilizer is best)
- Plant food (liquid fertilizer is best, especially if you’re using a hydroponic system)
- A thermometer (for hydro and aeroponic systems)
- pH meter to test the acidity of your soil or growing medium
- Heater, to regulate indoor temperatures to optimal growing conditions
- Humidifier, if you’re using an aeroponic system
- Fan, to maintain good air circulation
Don’t forget, you’ll also need to get the plants for your indoor garden. But you can get them after you’ve set up your garden.
Other supplies may be needed for advanced hydro-based or aeroponic gardens. But we won’t cover those in this article.
How To Set Up Your Indoor Garden
It’s important to set up your garden in a way that will allow for easy maintenance. For example, if you’re using indoor gardening containers with soil, make sure to place them on a tray or rack so that you can easily move around them to water and fertilize the plants.
If you’re using a hydro-based or aeroponic garden, make sure to set up your garden in a way that will allow for easy access to the water and nutrient reservoirs.
If you’re using an aeroponic garden, consider setting it up near a sink or window. This will allow you to easily hose down the system and clean the grow trays.
7 Tips For Maintaining Your Indoor Garden
The first step on the road to creating an indoor garden is simply putting it all together. After everything is in place, you must watch and care for your garden to make it flourish.
Don’t worry we’ve got you covered.
Here are seven tips to help you maintain your indoor garden and keep it in top shape.
Tip 1 – Monitor Plants Regularly
It’s important to monitor your plants regularly, especially if you’re using a hydroponic or aeroponic system. You should check the pH levels and nutrient levels in the water at least once per week. If you notice that any of these are not within the proper range for healthy plant growth, it’s time to change out some of the water.
You should also check to see how much your plants are growing per week, and adjust the lighting accordingly. If you notice that your plants aren’t getting enough light (or too much), this could be a sign that it’s time to change out some of the bulbs in your grow lights. Or, you may need to move the lights closer or farther away from your plants.
Tip 2 – Water & Fertilize Plants Correctly
It’s important to water your plants correctly.
For soil-based indoor gardens, you should water the plants when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. Be sure not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
For hydro-based indoor gardens, you should check the level of water in the reservoir every day and top it up with fresh water if needed. You’ll also need to add new nutrients at least once per week (depending on how quickly your plants are growing).
For aeroponic indoor gardens, you should water the plants by spraying them with water from the hose every day. You’ll also need to add new nutrients at least once per week.
Tip 3 – Fertilize Plants Appropriately
It’s important to fertilize your plants appropriately, to help them grow healthy and strong.
For soil-based indoor gardens, you should use a liquid fertilizer once per week to give the plants all of the nutrients they need for healthy growth. You can also add some organic fertilizers such as worm castings or bat guano into the soil at the time of planting. (Be sure not to overdo it, as too much fertilizer can also be harmful to plants).
For hydro-based and aeroponic indoor gardens, you should use a liquid fertilizer once per week.
If you’re interested in learning how to make your own fertilizer, we have a great article on “Homemade Fertilizer“.
Tip 4 – Keep Temperature & Humidity Levels Optimal
It’s important to keep the temperature and humidity levels in your indoor garden optimal for healthy plant growth.
For soil-based gardens, you should aim to keep the room temperature between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a heater to regulate the temperature if necessary.
For hydro-based and aeroponic indoor gardens, you should aim to keep the room temperature between 70-80 degrees F.
You should also try to keep the humidity levels in your indoor garden between 40-50 percent. You can use a humidifier to regulate the humidity if necessary.
Tip 5 – Maintain Cleanliness & Sanitize Your Indoor Garden At Least Once Per Month
It’s important to keep your indoor garden clean, to prevent problems such as fungus and bacteria from developing.
For soil-based gardens, you should remove the top inch of soil and replace it with fresh soil at least once per month.
For hydro-based and aeroponic gardens, you should sanitize the entire garden by cleaning it with a diluted bleach solution. (Be sure to rinse off any leftover bleach solution afterward).
Tip 6 – Keep an Eye on Pests
It’s important to keep an eye on your plants for signs of pests and remove them immediately if they are spotted.
For soil-based gardens, you should check your plants on a daily basis for signs of pests such as aphids or fungus gnats. If any are found, remove them immediately by hand or with an insecticidal soap spray (be sure to follow the directions on the label).
Apply the same principle to hydro-based and aeroponic gardens.
The health of plants is dependent on how well problems in the garden are identified and treated. It’s important for indoor gardeners to be diligent about maintaining their gardens so that they can enjoy healthy plants at all times.
Tip 7 – Harvest Your Plants At The Right Time
You need to harvest your plants at the right time in order to get the most out of them. You’ll want to make sure you do it when the yield and quality are at their best.
For example, tomatoes should be harvested when their color begins to change and they are still hard (before they turn completely red). Carrots should be harvested two (2) to three (3) months after the seeds are planted. Lettuce should be harvested when the heads begin to fill out (between 1 to 2 months after planting).
Be sure to research the best time to harvest your specific plants.
Harvesting is a very important part of growing plants indoors. You need to make sure that you know when to harvest your plants, so you can get the most out of them.
Take The Next Step
Now that you know the basics of indoor gardening, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. Once you’ve decided that an indoor garden is right for you, here are some steps that you can take to get started:
Start by deciding what type of garden you want to create. Do you want to grow plants in soil, or would you prefer a hydro-based or aeroponic garden?
Once you’ve decided on a garden type, decide which plants you want to grow. Research each plant thoroughly and be sure that it will thrive in your indoor environment. Also, take note of how much time and effort is required for each plant (some are easier to grow than others).
Create a plan for your garden layout, including where each plant will be located. You’ll want to make sure that you have enough space for all of your plants, as well as a growing medium (if needed) and lights.
Once you have everything set up, start planting! Be sure to follow the guidelines outlined above for maintaining your indoor garden and harvesting your plants at the right time.
Check out our other gardening guides for more ideas and information.
