8 Indoor Garden Ideas To Elevate Your Home

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An indoor garden might sound like a strange idea — but it’s a great option for those who don’t have an outdoor space (like apartment dwellers) or for those who live in cold climates where their outdoor gardening months are limited. To make an indoor garden, all you need is the right space, plenty of light (access to sunlight through a window or artificial light), and of course, the right care.

We spoke to gardening and agriculture expert Russell Taylor and indoor gardening expert Chantell Eichhorn for guidance on what makes a successful indoor garden, even if you have a black thumb!

Different Types of Indoor Gardens

You’ll be surprised by the number of plantlife varieties that can thrive indoors. Your indoor garden can be made of flowers, vegetables, herbs, succulents or a simple collection of indoor plants. “With proper care, an indoor garden can yield a diverse range of plants, transforming any indoor space into a lush, productive oasis,” says Taylor.

What’s the Best Indoor Garden for Beginners?

There are a number of different things you can successfully grow indoors, even for beginners. “Given enough light and space, some ideal indoor gardening options include herbs such as parsley, basil, parsley, rosemary, chives and oregano; as well as a wide array of plants, flowers and vegetables,” says Taylor.

According to Taylor, what you decide to grow isn’t nearly as important as the health of your soil. “To ensure that your garden receives the nutrients it needs to grow and thrive, I suggest enriching your soil or potting mix with humates,” says Taylor. “Humates [found in soil conditioner] help soil produce better yields, retain essential nutrients, and improve water conservation.”

What Vegetables Can Grow Indoors?

The best vegetables to grow indoors are varieties that “typically demand less space and accommodate the limited square footage inside homes,” says Taylor. “For instance, lettuce, a versatile and resilient leafy green, can flourish even in confined spaces with moderate light.”

Taylor also recommends radishes, beets, carrots, cilantro, green onions, and hot peppers as these plants “can adapt to indoor conditions, provided they are given sufficiently deep containers to accommodate their growth.”

Easiest Plants to Grow Indoors

“For those new to indoor gardening, I suggest exploring a variety of easy-to-maintain options,” says Taylor. His favorites include:

  • Snake Plant
  • Pothos
  • Spider Plan
  • Peace Lily
  • ZZ Plant
  • Aloe Vera
  • Chinese Money Plant
  • Cast Iron Plant
  • African Violet
  • Bamboo Palm