Gardening is a pastime and hobby enjoyed by millions of people. It can be a great way to get cheap herbs and veggies, while also allowing you to have the feeling of satisfaction after growing and caring for something. But for those without a backyard, which probably describes most people who live in New York City, they might feel as if their garden experience is limited to Farmville. However, that doesn’t need to be the case. Indoor gardening is getting more popular and here are some tips to get your indoor garden off the ground.
1. Purchase a grow light and use It
Before you can even get your indoor garden off the ground, you must buy a grow light. While plants love and need light to survive, it is actually a bad idea to put them in direct sunlight on the windowsill. That can often be too hot and it may also require moving the plant a lot to keep it in the sun, which can become annoying. Instead, purchase a grow light. The light should closely mimic the sunlight (a variety of HID and fluorescent lights can work) and can be very efficient to use as you can set a timer for how long they will shine on your plant for (as different plants need different amounts of lights). While outfitting your indoor garden with grow lights used to be expensive, this is not the case and they can be affordably found from many different sources.
2. Make sure to position plants correctly
Where you put your indoor garden make or break its success. First and foremost, you should make sure you have enough clear space for the garden to grow. If something impedes the growth, your garden will suffer. Also, you should be in an environment that is suited for growing your plants. For example, good luck growing cacti in the Arctic. Plants also don’t love to be in extreme heat or cold, so you should do your best to keep the temperature moderate when growing indoor plants. If you have an A/C unit and heaters in your home, steer the plants away from these areas. In addition to not liking extreme hot or cold, these plants aren’t a big fan of drafts or blowing air. Anywhere between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit is suitable for most plants, so try and hit that sweet spot if possible.
3. Be careful when it comes to harvesting
The best part about planting herbs and other plants in an indoor garden is finally being able to eat/enjoy them once they are fully grown. In order to do that, you have to harvest your plants. However, a lot more thought goes into the harvesting than you might think. While the larger leaves might look the tastiest and seem like the obvious choice to remove, this isn’t always true. The big leaves on the plant act like a solar panel and help the rest of the plant grow. If you are constantly taking the biggest and best leaves away, the plant\herb will have trouble growing. Always mix it up in terms of the leaves you take off, and never ever remove them all at once. Also, don’t take too much of the plant off during harvest, as that could hinder the future growth.
4. The soil may differ from plant to plant
While many novice growers may think that soil is soil, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are different types of soil and the type of soil you choose for your various different plants/herbs can determine whether your garden is a successful or falls flat.  Some plants like a coarse soil, some like soil that retains moisture and many others like a wide variety of other kinds of soil. Some soils have fertilizers and others do not, as well and some are just cheaper and a lower quality. Plants are picky, but if you want to reap their rewards, you better keep them happy! Figure out what others have used successfully with your plant of choice, and copy them for similar results.
5. Be vigilant of your plants and watch for possible problems
While growing indoor plants can be a very rewarding and fruitful experience, there are also many different things that can go wrong. These plants are not something you can just water here and there and leave them alone. If you don’t keep watch of your plants each and every day, many problems can arise that could jeopardize their health. Pests, diseases and abiotic problems can all throw a wrench in your plans to have a healthy indoor garden. If you encounter these problems even a little bit, take care of it right then and there to prevent it from spreading or getting worse.
6. Keep them watered (but not overwatered)
If you are interested in having your own indoor garden, we are going to hazard a guess that you know plants need to be watered to grow and survive. However, what you might not have known is that it is possible to overwater your plants. If your plants look like they are residing in the Atlantic Ocean every time you water them, you have been watering them too much. If the soil is wet but the leaves are wilting, you have likely been watering them too much. Each plant needs different amounts of water at different times, so research the right amount of water for the plants and herbs you are growing. Also, plants love and need humidity. If you are growing plants in the winter or your home/apartment is dry, misting the plants daily or using a humidifier can mimic the natural humidity that they need.
7. Educate yourself
While you don’t have to get a degree in Biology to become an indoor gardener, it is a good idea to get a little educated. If you know about specific plants, herbs, and veggies (and what they require to grow successfully), there is a good chance you will be able to operate a successful indoor garden. This information is readily available through numerous different sources, guides, and books. If you go in completely blind, you run the risk of forgetting something or simply not doing something that is required. This could result in a big waste of time, and many plants losing their lives because of you not educating yourself!
