Tips to Get You Started on Indoor Gardening

If you're new to indoor gardening and you want to grow a few varieties of indoor plants, both edible and ornamental, keep reading for some useful tips. Here is some simple, practical and home-style advice for growing an indoor garden that's easy to maintain and provides food for both body and soul.

Some people are fortunate enough to have lots of room outdoors to plant a vegetable garden. Others, such as those living in apartments, a small lot or where their garage takes up the whole backyard, can still indulge in gardening as a hobby. All they have to do is grow their vegetables, herbs, and flowers inside, in pots.

When it comes to flowers, a good choice of flowering plants that do well even in limited areas of growth, like planter boxes and pots that have been prepped with potting soil, are compact nasturtiums varieties such as Whirlybird and Copper Sunset. Marigolds, Iceland poppies and smaller varieties of sunflowers are other options that are sure to liven up your indoor garden. These are short, easy to care for and not likely to take over your home like trailing plants are prone to doing.

If you decide on herbs for your indoor garden, small tin-pot containers work well as long as you ensure they get at least four hours of sunlight each day. They also need regular watering and the right nutrients in their soil. Ask at your local nursery for potting soil that is pre-mixed for indoor plants, as these contain the right balance of nutrients for a successful indoor garden.

Be sure to check the bottom of your plant containers for proper drainage. If they don't have holes, punch some in. It's important that the excess moisture escapes and your plants get the required warmth as well.

If planting herb seeds, try this old home gardener's trick of pre-soaking them for a couple hours before planting them in pots filled with potting soil. Cover them with a quarter inch more of soil after randomly scattering the seeds over the base soil. Before you know it, rosemary and thyme will be adding their fragrant scent to your kitchen, and your food!