It’s no surprise that gardening is becoming increasingly popular, with some even considering it a kind of therapy. It relieves stress better than other leisure activities and allows us to grow nutritious food, connect with nature, and build our own relaxing and enjoyable spaces.
A garden filled with life and abundance may seem like a distant dream if you live in an apartment with no outdoor space. But that is not the case! With these simple indoor garden ideas and tips, you can turn even the tiniest rooms into a slice of paradise.
It’s incredibly satisfying to nurture seeds into plants, whether from a packet or fresh vegetables. Try to germinate produce seeds or make an herb garden on your kitchen counter.
When it comes to germinating seeds, the paper towel approach works well. First, wrap a few seeds in a damp paper towel and store them in a sealed plastic baggie. Then, place the bag somewhere dark and warm, and check on it every few days, soaking the paper towel as needed.
You can also use eggshells as seed starters. Eggshells are mostly made of calcium carbonate, one of the essential minerals for healthy plants. The eggshells nourish the soil with calcium and nitrogen as they decompose, which the plant’s roots will absorb and utilize as it grows.
You can grow fresh vegetables, herbs, and many other plants even if you don’t have an outdoor space to cultivate a garden. Container gardening is a great way to grow various plants indoors, and all you need are a few pots, soil, and fertilizer. To get a head start, replant some seedlings from your local nursery, or you can use seeds if you’re not in a rush.
A Japanese moss garden makes a lovely dinner table centerpiece. These gorgeous arrangements, known as kokedama, consist of a bulb wrapped with sheet moss and tied with twine. Use a spring bulb, such as a daffodil or tulip, or get creative and use the ball to accommodate an orchid, fern, or other exciting succulent types.
Microgreens grow easily and quickly and require little maintenance. They are soft, sweet, and fresh, and the roots are edible! These miniature greens are great in sandwiches, salads, and other dishes.
Grab an old casserole dish, some soil, and some vegetable seeds. Any seed will do, although beets, kale, peas, sunflowers, broccoli, and radishes are popular choices due to their high nutrient content. Next, plant the seeds in a thin layer of dirt and keep the dish in a warm, humid environment until they germinate. Finally, simply water, harvest and repeat once the seeds have sprouted.
They can also be grown outdoors in the shade during the summer, though they should be misted three times daily if you live in an arid region.
While some plants appear to be set on dying, others will go to any length to keep growing. If given a chance, some items in your fridge (such as onions) will continue to grow!
When planted, most vegetable scraps sprout roots and continue to thrive, allowing you to get more bang for your buck. Romaine lettuce is a popular item for this project—give it a couple of inches of water, and it will grow new leaves in days! This way, you can also regrow scallions, celery, bok choy, and coriander. Other produce that grows back quickly include ginger, onions, garlic, potatoes, and even pineapples.
You can squeeze a few more plants onto your bookshelf or windowsill, but eventually, you will run out of surfaces to put new plants. In this case, you can create a vertical garden. Items like ladders, pallets, a wire rack, a trellis, reclaimed wood, or pipes can be used to create vertical plant displays, helping you pack even more greenery into your home.
Since herbs don’t need as much soil as other plants, they are ideal candidates for a vertical garden. Pot your herbs in mason jars or aluminum cans and attach them to your vertical plant display.
Décor tip: Paint your vertical plant display and pots to bring a pop of color into any room.
Fairy gardens are enchanting! These lovely little gardens are made up of natural, living plants, take up very little room, and are claimed to bring good luck to your home. They’re the ideal small-scale gardening project for inspiring children, though adults will enjoy growing a garden and choosing which miniature feature to add next!
With a fairy garden, you can quickly start small and use any materials you have on hand. Even a cracked ceramic pot might serve as the ideal home for your new garden. You can get intricate when it comes to decorating your garden. For example, some people add a mini hobbit home, bridges, rabbits, mushrooms, and even tiny fairy lights!
Growing a harvest of veggies on a tiny balcony or patio is surprisingly easy! Lettuce, tomatoes, spinach — a new gardener’s best friend – and several other healthful delicacies like cucumbers, carrots, and squash grow well in pots and thrive on your balcony. Microgreens are also a great addition to your balcony garden.
Terrariums, like fairy gardens, are miniature worlds in which you can quickly become lost. Succulents are fantastic terrarium residents since they require a lot of light; thus, enclosed under glass is ideal. Terrarium plants flourish in bright rooms but away from direct sunlight since the glass case acts as a mini greenhouse. Terrariums can also be suspended from the ceiling to conserve space!
Use upcycled glassware to make your terrarium distinctive. Emma Hardy’s “Teeny Tiny Gardening” book recommends using light bulbs, glass tumblers, jars, and even books can be used as unique homes for small plants.
To learn how to build a terrarium from scratch, watch the tutorial below.
Grow succulents in a piece of driftwood or hollowed-out log for a unique, cheap, and natural container. A nearby park or beach and a garden center are good places to look for suitable wood. A drill will also be required to hollow out a home for your plants.
Natural wood planters are suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces. They can be set on a balcony or porch, suspended from the ceiling in your kitchen or bathroom, or used to create a forest-inspired nook in your home.
Décor tip: When making your succulent garden, combine it with mini cacti and herbs.