What do I need for indoor gardening?

Indoor gardening is a rewarding hobby that allows you to grow fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowers right in your own home. With the right supplies, even those without a green thumb can enjoy cultivating plants indoors. So what do you need to get started with indoor gardening? Here is an overview of the basic supplies and tools you’ll need.

Choosing a Location

When selecting a spot for your indoor garden, you’ll want to consider several factors:

• Light – Most plants will need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, so choose a sunny spot near a window. South or west facing windows are ideal.
• Space – Make sure you have enough room for the plants you want to grow. Consider the mature size of each plant.
• Access – Pick a spot that is easy for you to access so tending to your plants is simple.
• Surface – You’ll need a sturdy, waterproof surface for your containers like a table or shelf.
• Outlets – Being near an electrical outlet can be helpful for lighting or other accessories.

Some great options for indoor gardens include kitchen windowsills, plant stands near windows, sunny bedrooms, and enclosed porches or sunrooms.

Containers

You’ll need containers to house your plants and soil. Here are some ideal options:

• Standard plastic or ceramic pots – Choose pots with drainage holes and saucers to catch excess water.
• Hanging baskets – Great for cascading plants or maximizing vertical space.
• Window boxes – Allow you to grow horizontally in a sunny window.
• Upcycled containers – Old buckets, crates, and bins can be repurposed as planters.
• Self-watering pots – Have built-in reservoirs to help maintain moisture.
• Vertical gardening systems – Allow you to grow up walls and utilize vertical space.

Make sure any container you choose has drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. Scale your containers to the mature size of the plants you want to grow.

Soil

Good quality potting soil is essential for healthy indoor plants. Here’s what to look for:

• Potting mix – Use a general purpose potting soil or one formulated for containers.
• Drainage – Seek a mix with perlite, vermiculite, sand or peat moss to improve drainage.
• Organic matter – Soil with compost or peat creates nutrients plants need.
• pH level – Most plants prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0.

You may want to buy soil marketed for specific types of plants like cacti mix or seed starting mix. Avoid garden soil which can compact and retain too much moisture.

Fertilizer

While potting mix contains some essential nutrients, you’ll need to supplement with fertilizer for vigorous growth:

• All-purpose liquid fertilizer – Feed plants according to package directions every 2-4 weeks.
• Slow release granules – Mix into the soil for longer lasting effects.
• Compost or worm castings – Excellent organic fertilizer options.
• Specialized blends – There are also fertilizers tailored for blooming, fruiting, or certain plant types.

When applying fertilizer, always follow label instructions carefully. Fertilize at half strength more frequently rather than full strength.

Seeds or Seedlings

The starting point for your indoor garden can either be seeds or small starter plants:

• Seeds – Less expensive but require more patience and care. Best for quick growing annuals.
• Seed starting kits – Contain seeds, trays, soil and a protective dome cover.
• Seedlings – More instant gratification and better success for beginners. Look for healthy plants without yellowing.
• Herb starters – Many supermarkets sell small basil, cilantro and parsley plants ready to transplant.

Consider how much time and experience you have for care when choosing seeds versus established seedlings.

Grow Lights

Supplementing sunlight from a window with artificial grow lights will allow your plants to thrive:

• Fluorescent bulb systems – Affordable LED or fluorescent grow light panels.
• Full spectrum bulbs – Mimic the sun’s light spectrum for plant growth.
• Adjustable systems – Allow you to set lights at the optimal distance from plants.
• Timer – A timer allows controlling the light schedule automatically.

Place grow lights 6-12 inches above plants. Provide 14-16 hours of light per day. Grow lights are especially vital for seedlings or low light plants.

Watering Cans & Spray Bottles

A watering can with a long spout makes it easy to deliver water directly to the soil without splashing leaves. A spray bottle is useful for providing extra humidity by misting plant leaves.

Look for watering cans and spray bottles designed for indoor plant care. Make sure they are made from non-toxic materials, especially if you’ll use them on edible plants.

Humidity Trays

Some plants thrive in high humidity environments. You can boost moisture around plants by using humidity trays:

• Pebble tray – Place pebbles in a tray, water pebbles, and set plant pots on top pebbles.
• Group plants together – Grouping creates a more humid microclimate.
• Misting – Frequently misting plant leaves increases humidity temporarily.
• Humidifier – An electric humidifier can maintain ideal humidity in a room or small greenhouse.

Good humidity loving plants include ferns, prayer plants, tropical plants, and bromeliads. Monitor plants and adjust humidity based on needs.

Stakes, Trellises & Cages

Supports like stakes, trellises and cages prevent tall, viney or gangly plants from toppling over indoors:

• Bamboo stakes – Support individual stems of lanky or leggy plants.
• Metal or nylon trellises – Let vining plants like tomatoes or cucumbers climb vertically.
• Cages – Ideal for containing and supporting tomatoes and other bushy vegetables.
• Ties or velcro – Use soft ties to gently secure plants to supports without damage.

Add supports early as plants are growing to prevent damage. Position stakes and trellises around the outside of containers rather than piercing the soil.

Pruning Tools

Pruning encourages bushier, more compact growth that is better suited to indoor conditions:

• Bypass pruners – Make clean cuts on stems and thick growth.
• Garden scissors – Good for cutting back foliage and deadheading flowers.
• Snips – Mini snippers are great for precise trimming.

Always sterilize tools with rubbing alcohol before making cuts to avoid transmitting disease between plants. Make cuts just above leaf nodes at a 45 degree angle.

Harvesting Supplies

When your indoor garden bears fruit or flowers, you’ll need supplies for harvesting:

• Basket or bowl – Collect picked produce in something sturdy but gentle.
• Scissors/snips – Cut stems rather than pulling off produce.
• Gardening gloves – Protect hands from thorns on some crops like raspberries.

Rinse produce gently after harvesting. Store edible plants like tomatoes, peppers and herbs promptly in the refrigerator.

Cleaning Supplies

To keep your indoor garden looking its best, invest in some cleaning tools:

• Soft cloth – Gently wipe leaves to remove dust and dirt.
• Warm water & mild soap – Use a diluted soap solution to clean very dirty leaves.
• Feeder bottles – Used hydrogen peroxide or vinegar solution to rinse mineral deposits.
• Distilled water – Always use distilled, filtered or rain water rather than tap.

Take care not to damage delicate foliage when cleaning. Check for pests like insects while cleaning plants.

Conclusion

Caring for an indoor garden has so many benefits like harvesting fresh herbs and vegetables, enjoying beautiful flowers, and improving your mood. By investing in some basic supplies for planting, growing and maintaining your indoor plants, even beginners can master this rewarding hobby. The essentials include containers, soil, fertilizer, seeds/plants, grow lights and humidity management tools. With the right setup and some practice, you’ll be nurturing a thriving indoor garden in no time!