The colder and icier the winter months are, the more we crave warmer weather and sunny days. Did you know you can start growing a garden even when it’s cold outside? The quick answer is to get your garden growing inside! The detailed ideas below will help you get started!

Kits Will Get You Going

Indoor herb gardens are an easy option if you’re a new gardener and want to try your hand with beginner-friendly kitchen plants. There are many herbs to choose from, but starting with a kit may be the best option for beginners. When these plants begin to flourish, you’ll have tasty additions to your recipes right at your fingertips. With a kit, you’ll receive directions to make your first indoor gardening experience a success! Check out some starter kits here to help you choose!

Getting Started 

With experience comes knowledge, so if you’ve been here and done this before you know what you will need. If you’re a rookie, there are a few things to learn right off the bat. First, you’ll need space and sunlight. A humidifier is a helpful addition as well. The temperature should range between 65-75°F. Too hot of rooms will produce small, frail plants. Rooms that are too cold will cause yellowing and leaves to die. When you’ve established where your garden will grow, select your choice of plants. Every type of plant has its own needs so finding which plant works best with the needs you can provide will be a huge factor for your success!

Expectations 

Wrong locations, over watering, inadequate soil, moving plants from one location to the other, extreme temperatures, neglecting, and outgrowing containers will all shorten the life of your plants and hard work. Obviously, plants need water, but not too much. They need natural light as well. Extreme temperatures will do harm to any living thing. Your plant may appear to be thriving which means the roots are expanding. Being root bound can be harmful so be sure to transplant to a larger container with more soil as your garden grows.

What Your Indoor Plants Could Spring Into

Your plants are most likely looking forward to the warm, outdoor weather, too! Plan ahead for the transition of leaving their indoor nest and moving outdoors into the wide-open spaces. To avoid shock to your plant, start early with giving it a little time outdoors every day. Start in shade only, away from windy areas. Keep an eye on weather conditions and be sure you don’t move them outdoors too soon. A sudden unexpected frost would be devastating. Prepare the new home closely to what the plant is used to, then remove the plant very gently from the container, being extremely cautious not to disturb the root ball. Once settled, check leaves frequently for pests. Check consistently and again, each plant is different so be sure to learn about your specific plant through Google, or your local nursery.

Best Plants for Indoor Beginnings

Winter keeps your doors and windows closed and plants can help clean the air, provide oxygen, as well as bring green life back a bit early. Some of the best edible options to grow indoors are carrots, green onions, herbs, potatoes, radishes, tomatoes, and leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and arugula. Microgreens are also a great option due to being loaded with 40 times the vitamins and nutrients of fully grown plants! Many outdoor plants thrive indoors in cold months, then are ready to return outdoors when it warms up. Check out some of those options here.

Getting a head start on growing indoors during the winter will give you strong seedlings that are steps ahead when spring arrives. Plus, planting and seeing the fruits of your labor will help you focus on future sunshine during the cloudy winter days.

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