Mini Indoor Garden Ideas

LaurieLovesLearning

I like to play with indoor garden ideas. I'd certainly do more if my space was larger.

Recently, I bought some lanterns that were on clearance. My sole purpose was not to put candles in them, but instead, plants!

I keep wanting to set up an aquarium/animal terrarium with plants. I'd like to create a welcoming little forest-like scene if I could. The only thing holding me back is the (perfect) space to put it.

Here are some additional ideas from Mother Earth News. I really like the mini greenhouse at the start.

https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/7-delightful-mini-indoor-garden-ideas-zbcz1501/?r=5789F2247156C8Y&utm_source=email&utm_medium=omail&utm_campaign=MEN+GDN+eNews+11-07-23_01&utm_type=Editorial&oly_enc_id=5789F2247156C8Y

Aside from the various commercial garden towers, what types of ideas have you tried? I'd like to know!

kbmbillups1

Cute ideas. I have a plant table set up in 2 spots. I wish I had more room for plants too!

Michelle D

I love all of these ideas. I always struggle to keep plants alive inside. I really have no idea what I need to do differently. I'm not going to stop trying though.

LaurieLovesLearning

@Michelle D Of course being a gardener, you know that there are many factors... various lighting needs, watering schedules & amounts, soil types, size of plant & pot (and type of pot), fertilizers (or not). And then there are pests (grr).

I'll post a new thread where people can give advice on houseplants.

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/849615/lets-talk-about-houseplants

kbmbillups1

@Michelle D Me too!!! I have given up on Peace Lily's. I always kill them even though I try not to water them too much. I think you have to find plants you're good with or at least ones that aren't hard to kill. For me that's Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus' and African violets.

Not all of my plants are house plants. I have greens and basil growing next to my hydroponics unit so they get that light and I have a couple tomatoes over wintering on another table with some lettuce in a homemade hydroponics unit. So lots of grow lights.

Last year I realized I was watering everything too much so now ever 3 days I check on them and water if needed. So far that's working a lot better.

LaurieLovesLearning

@kbmbillups1 Peace lilies are very sensitive to salt. It can build up in the potted soil. Could that have been a factor for you? I think that's why mine failed in the past.

I now only water my plants with somewhat local natural spring water. My current peace lily seems to be doing okay on that. It is now on its 2nd bloom cycle. That's the best I've ever done with one.

VermontCathy

I had such good success growing microgreens on two bookshelves with grow lights that I bought a third grow light and a heat mat for this winter.

I tested the mat and it works, which means I can now provide plants with heat and light at the same time. Before, when I need heat for sprouting purposes, I had to put the germinating seeds in the dark furnace room on the oil furnace.

I have perennial onions and buckwheat, black oil sunflower, scallion, and pea shoots growing now that we are entering winter.

These same shelves and lights were extremely useful for starting tomato seeds in quantity last year. If you are saving seeds that have to be started inside and transplanted, you really need a way to start them inside in early spring.

kbmbillups1

@LaurieLovesLearning I don't think salt is an issue. I usually water them with filtered water. Every once in a while with a little fertilizer - maybe that's it. I have a half of one left. 😀

vickeym

@VermontCathy Another way we warmed ours before we had plant heat mats, was heating pads. We found several on sale very cheap (crazy cheap). So we bought a bunch of them and set them under our seed flats and were amazed how well everything did and how fast everything got started and grew.

VermontCathy

@vickeym Yes, heating mats should work for seed starting.

I've also put seed pots on the brick mantle of the chimney, above the woodstove, to germinate.

water2world

@LaurieLovesLearning Thanks for posting this. There are some great ideas!!

I have been looking at a simple macrame pattern for an airplant. If I can do the hanger, I can surely purchase a plant! If I kill an air plant...my oh my! lol

LaurieLovesLearning

I have my first air plant ever. I've had it for about a month. So far, so good.

I wanted to start with one. If it continues to do well, I'll be ordering a bundle of them. 😀

water2world

@LaurieLovesLearning What type of air plant did you get? I bought my macrame cords and will start my holder tomorrow--Hubby has surgery Monday, so that I can take it and work there. Next comes the purchase of an air plant to go in it!

LaurieLovesLearning

@water2world I don't know. It wasn't specified, but it looks like this. It is about 4-5" across.

I know there are many varieties, and I'd buy a mix.

water2world

@LaurieLovesLearning Thanks for the picture! I will look it up (I also bought a book) lol

Hope mine does as well as yours is!