6 Useful Tips for Year Round Indoor Gardening

Imagine if you could have access to fresh vegetables every day of the year without going to the grocery store. Forget about saving some cash, having an indoor garden saves you time you would need to go to the grocery store. How convenient is that? The truth is that all year round indoor gardening is the answer to save you time and money.

However, there are some plant care routines you need to follow to ensure that maintain the best yield all year round. So how do you care for your indoor garden? This article shares everything you need to know about year round indoor gardening.

1. Choose the Right Plants for Your Space

You need to choose the right plants to succeed in all year round indoor gardening. Some key factors you need to consider include the presence of natural light, space, humidity levels in your apartment, and the aesthetic appeal you want it to give.

Although adding plants will transform your space and add green scenery, different plants give a different appeal. Furthermore, not all plants will thrive indoors; others can help to purify the air while others will max out oxygen in your bedroom.

Plants such as snake plants purify the air and filter toxins from the air. Therefore, you need to select carefully the right plant for your garden.  When choosing plants all year round indoor gardening, consider where you will place it. Some plants need a lot of sun exposure such as while others like microgreens prefer indirect low light. On the other hand, some need a large space and a vertical garden will do.

You can also choose low maintenance plants such as succulents if you have limited time and want a plant that will thrive all year long.

2. Consider Container Gardening

If your apartment has limited space, then container gardening is the best option for you. You can buy containers from Amazon or repurpose takeaway tins, mason jars, or flower vases. Ensure that the container you choose has a good drainage system.

Drill some holes in your repurposed containers or buy pots and containers with drainage holes to prevent overwatering which can cause root rot. Another thing to consider is to choose lightweight containers that are portable since you may have to move the plants near the window to get sunlight exposure.

3. Invest in Grow Lights

One of the challenges of indoor gardening is getting the right sun exposure for your plants particularly if your apartment is blocked from natural light.

The good news is that grow lights solve that problem and once you invest in them you will enjoy all year round indoor gardening despite the weather changes.

Grow lights give the same to plants just like natural sun rays even if you place them in the darkest spot of your apartment.

Furthermore, some plants like microgreens thrive in bright indirect light and the sun can be a bit harsh on them, but grow lights are perfect because they give even exposure and you can control the balance.

4. Have a Regular Watering Schedule

Most plants require regular watering otherwise they will wilt away. With the busy schedule for New Yorkers, it is easy to forget to water your plants. You can choose to plant those that need less watering if your schedule won’t allow.

But if you can get 10 or 20 minutes every day for your plant care regime, then by all means plant all the other plants that need regular watering. A tip to consider is to invest in a spray bottle to water plants that are sensitive to overwatering such as microgreens.

Alternatively, place a larger container or tray under the pots so that the roots can draw water from beneath. This will also prevent root rot due to overwatering.

5. Prune Regularly

Pruning is a key plant care tip that most gardeners forget. We don’t blame them, because it’s easy to forget to take care of your plants if you have to keep up with the demands of traffic and work pressure in New York.

However, you don’t need to check on your plant every day. Set a reminder to do weekly checks and remove leaves that have started yellowing. Pruning removes dead plants or parts of plants that would otherwise rot and hinder the growth of the plant.

6. Check on Indoor Garden Pests

For an outdoor garden, you may have to deal with unwanted animals from messing up your garden. But it’s the same for an indoor garden. You should not let your guard down.

You still face the risk of pests such as spiders, bugs, and aphids that can harm the precious plants that you’ve labored for. Use natural pesticides such as neem oil to keep off pests and insects.

Also, watch out for any discoloration or changes in the leaves that may indicate diseases such as powdery mildew.

FAQs

• Can you grow indoor plants all year-round?

Yes, you can have an all year round indoor garden with the right tools and plant care. Choose plants for your indoor garden depending on the sun exposure, humidity levels, and what you want to achieve in your space.

• What is the best indoor garden for beginners?

The best indoor garden for beginners depends on several factors such as your preference and space. You can choose to grow fresh herbs and vegetables or aesthetic plants like succulents to add beauty to your space.

• Which herbs grow well indoors?

Herbs such as mint, chives, rosemary, cilantro, thyme, and basil grow well indoors.  

• What is the easiest food to grow indoors?

The easiest food to grow indoors include greens such as spinach, kale, arugula, and lettuce or microgreens such as radish, leeks, or cilantro microgreens because they require less space and grow quickly. You can harvest and replant all year long.

Final Thoughts

Before you give up on having a year round indoor gardening experience, you need to exercise some patience. As the cliche goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Right? Don’t approach gardening as a matter of urgency, but like fine wine, which gets better with age. Don’t be discouraged if you experience setbacks such as pests or withering plants. Try the above tips and watch your indoor garden flourish all year long.

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