I have been toying with the idea of indoor container gardening, which is a simple way to grow flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs year-round. Although some plants are too large to grow inside a house, most including many vegetables flourish in interior container gardens. I would love to have fresh herbs at my fingertips year-round. Having some fresh fruits and veggies on hand at all times would also be great not only for my husband and me but also for Poppy once she begins to eat solid foods.
Container Ideas
Choosing a container for indoor gardening is fairly simple because most plants will grow in almost any container that is filled with dirt, exposed to sunlight, and watered regularly. Ideas for creating indoor gardening containers include:
- Clay or terracotta pots
- Ceramic pots
- Reused plastic gardening pots
- Old glassware
- Recycled milk jugs or soda bottles
- Baskets
- Wooden boxes
- Styrofoam coolers
- Metal containers
Almost any container will work for indoor container gardening. However, you must keep a few points in mind when choosing a container. First, the container must be an appropriate size for the plant that you plan to grow. A coffee mug is too small for a tomato plant but would work for a small cactus or some herbs. Second, the container must have adequate drainage to allow the dirt to remain moist but not soaked. Improving drainage is as simple as poking or drilling some holes in the bottom and lower sides of the container. This also means that you might have to deal with dirty floors every so often.
Decorating Ideas
When thinking about how to make indoor gardening containers, many gardeners picture plain pots of plants lined up on a window sill. However, indoor container gardening does not necessarily need to be plain or boring or even lined up next to a sunny window. Some ideas for decorating your containers include:
- Painting clay or terracotta pots
- Tying bows and ribbons around plastic containers
- Using containers that match your décor
- Painting or staining wood boxes and baskets
- Gluing decorations to containers
- Placing plain containers inside decorative containers
- Lining clear glass or plastic with colored plastic wrap
- Placing containers on a funky tray
- Using a plant light with a decorative lamp
Be creative! Design your plant containers to fit your décor or to stand out as a focal point of any room. Decorating indoor gardening containers is especially fun when you are repurposing used stuff you already have lying around the house. I can see myself using some of my wider flower vases as containers in an indoor garden.
So, what it comes down to is – Will I start a container garden in my home? Maybe. Maybe not. Although I still really like the idea of at least growing a few of my favorite herbs in my kitchen. Either way, at least I have a better idea of what goes into container gardening. And, really, growing a few small plants inside my home in containers is quite easy.
Image Credits
How to Make an Indoor Garden Using Containers: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dish_Gardens.jpg
Indoor Plants: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galer%C3%ADa_20110501_1.jpg