Indoor Garden Ideas

If you live in a flat or unit, with little space for an outdoor herb garden, an indoor herb garden may be just the answer. Or perhaps you would like to grow some of your favourite culinary herbs closer to the kitchen and out of the way of pests and inclement weather.

Can herbs thrive indoors? Certainly. Growing your culinary herbs in an indoor herb garden, in or near the kitchen, is easier than you may think, and provides some advantages over an outdoor herb garden. The same simple rules apply to an indoor herb garden as to growing herbs outdoors.
- Some available space - the good thing about indoors gardening is that it can thrive in as little or as much space as you are willing to spare. Devote a sole windowsill, or a small table and you can have yourself enough space to get started. Shelves make another excellent option, as they offer a lot of room for planting, while taking up vertical space in the most effective manner.
- Consider light - light is an important requirement for healthy indoors produce. Every gardening expert would agree that in order for plants to grow, they require adequate light. Sometimes placing your plants near a window may not be enough during the winter months. What you can do is purchase some grow light. Be careful in choosing the right product, if you want to ensure that your plants receive the best care.
- Ensure adequate temperature - anywhere between 65-75 degrees F is acceptable for most plants. You may allow for slight variance of 10 degrees either way, but consider the downsides - plants grown too hot will likely be of smaller size and be weak, while plants grown at cold temperatures may have their leaves falling off.
- Higher humidity is required - plants grow well in humid air, which is one thing you must ensure. This may be challenging during winter months, when your heating is on. If the tips of the plant leaves are brown, or they look puckered and withered, you may want to find a way to fix the issue. There are few ways to go about this. You can mist the plants daily, or even more often, if need be. Another method for increasing the humidity is placing a tray of water and then heating it up, causing it to evaporate. Acquiring a humidifier is also a solution, which works great for your indoor gardening attempts. Additionally you can group your plants together as this creates a micro-environment for higher humidity.
- Pick a good soil for your indoor plants - choosing the right growing media is of extreme importance. Buy a mix that is loose enough to drain well and at the same time contains enough organic matter to retain nutrients and moisture. You can either ask around your gardening centre, or you can look up tips and create your own mix.
- Select your plants - there are almost no limitations to what you can grow, as long as you consider that some plants get too big. Expert Gardeners advice you to consider growing plants that have similar requirements in terms of light and humidity. You can grow plants from seed or you can transplant them from your outdoor garden.

Growing a garden inside your home takes some effort, but sometimes that is your best option. Ensure that you have taken all factors into consideration and go for it. Soon enough you will notice good results.