The popularity of growing your own Garden has literally, well, grown over the past few years from homegrown herbs to houseplant huddles. But embarking on the journey of nurturing an indoor garden is an exciting yet daunting endeavor, especially for those taking their first steps into the world of plants.
Gardening indoors is a great way to connect with nature while developing personal responsibility. Plants also offer therapeutic and health benefits, making growing greenery multi-beneficial. We've gathered our ultimate indoor garden ideas tailored to first-time plant owners, providing inspiration and insights to help you curate your own green garden.
Benefits of growing plants
Developing your green thumb has multiple benefits that make nurturing plants not only a fulfilling hobby but also a rewarding lifestyle.
Stress reduction
Studies show that people who spend time cultivating plants have less stress in their lives. Plants soothe human beings and provide a positive way for people to channel their stress into nurturing. Indoor plants also help improve attention span and memory due to the daily tending to the plants.
Hobby/ learning opportunity
Growing your own indoor garden is a great way to spend time while learning about something new. Depending on the plant you growing, you have to research the specific needs and tend to them as needed, making it a great pastime within the comfort of your own home.
Aesthetic appeal
Plants add a touch of nature, color and vibrancy to the room they're placed in. This easily increases the appeal of a room and serves as a great conversation starter as well.
Cons of indoor gardening
Of course, with all the benefits, comedy has a few downsides when it comes to green thumb life.
Limited space
When living in smaller quarters, plants can require more space to grow. This limits your selection of the type of plants you can grow. In smaller quarters like an apartment, you also run into the trouble of finding ample natural lighting which certain plant types require.
Maintenance and care commitment
Embracing your green thumb requires a lot of commitment when it comes to tending to the plant and keeping up with the maintenance surrounding your greenery. Depending on your plants, this can include watering, fertilizing, pruning, repotting and cleaning loose soil or fallen leaves.
Harmful for furry friends
Plants are not exactly pet friendly. Many common indoor plants are toxic to pets if ingested. Pets, especially cats and dogs, might be curious and nibble on leaves or dig in the soil, leading to potential poisoning. This requires research into non-toxic plants or just choosing plants that are out of pet's reach.
Indoor garden ideas to get you started
By following these steps and tips, you will create an appealing arrangement for your indoor garden that will enhance the overall aesthetic of your space.
Assess your space and lighting, especially in small spaces
When embarking on your plant-growing journey, the first step is to find the best spot in your apartment based on space and lighting. You may have a lot of ample floor square footage for a cluster of plants, a top of a bookshelf to fill with greenery or space in the kitchen for a small herb garden. It all depends on the natural lighting in the space and the open room for plants to grow.
Select your plants and gather the necessary supplies
Now that you're aware of the space you need to fill and the access to lighting, it's time for the fun part, selecting your new plant or plants. When looking around, it's important to also research the specific care requirements for each plant you choose so you're aware of the commitment that comes with each one. This involves pots, containers, soil/fertilizer, watering supplies, gardening gloves and other additional tools depending on what the greenery requires. With your tools and plants in mind, check out these arrangement ideas and their suggested plants.
Placement ideas for your indoor garden
Location, location, location applies to not only your home but to your garden as well. Here's how to make the most of the space you have and watch your new garden thrive.
Vertical garden
A vertical garden is a popular choice for those who lack usable floor space for their gardens. Use hanging planters, wall-mounted shelves or trellises to grow your trailing plants in a controlled way.
Recommended plants: pothos, philodendron, string of pearls, spider plant and English ivy.
Herb garden on a window ledge
Most apartments have window sill space which can make for the perfect spot to start an herb garden. Herbs require light so placing them here ensures better success for growing your herbage.
Recommended plants: basil, chives, mint, parsley and thyme.
Terrarium
If you're looking for an arrangement that's a little less time-consuming and more contained than free-standing plants, look no further. These mini-ecosystems, contained in a glass container, are filled with smaller plants and decorative items.
Recommended plants: succulents, tillandsia (air plants), mosses, ferns and fittonias.
Floating shelf garden
Another easily manageable garden idea is a floating shelf garden. Floating shelves are great for arrangements of compact plants and succulents. Because floating shelves are higher on walls, this is a great option for pet owners.
Recommended plants: string of pearls, golden pothos, succulents, lipstick plant and burro's tail.
Corner cluster
For apartments with more floor space, consider a corner cluster. This is a more traditional garden and is ideal for those wanting to grow exotic plants that require vertical and horizontal space to grow. Typically, pre-potted larger plants thrive here, creating visual interest while serving as an outlet of creativity when designing the cluster.
Recommended plants: fiddle leaf fig, snake plant, monstera deliciosa, bird of paradise and ZZ plant.
Centerpiece
If you're intimidated by taking on a larger garden, opt for a centerpiece garden to start off. Centerpieces are great decor while allowing gardeners to learn and practice their skills before taking on larger green projects.
Recommended plants: bonsai trees, succulents, miniature orchids, tillandsia (air plants) and peace lilies.
Nurturing nature's beauty with indoor garden design
Gardening has the power to not only make indoor spaces look better but also provide us with fresh goodies and a unique hobby. No matter your level of plant knowledge, indoor gardening is a superb way to connect with nature, learn new things about yourself and enjoy the simple happiness of watching your plants thrive right alongside you. Breathe new life into your apartment today!
The post Indoor Garden Ideas for First-Time Plant Owners appeared first on Apartment Living Tips - Apartment Tips from ApartmentGuide.com.
