How to Design a Successful Indoor Garden: 13 Steps

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Copying nature's creations in the home in the context of plants is actually more complicated than most people think. If you are interested in creating a successful indoor garden, whether for reasons of beauty in flowers or growing kitchen materials, try one of the following methods for creating a container garden or hydroponic garden. Read on in Step One for the best advice on making your indoor garden as successful as possible.

Step

Part 1 of 3: Preparation

Step 1. Decide on the style of the garden

When gardening indoors, there are two common styles: container and hydroponic (also called aquaponics). A container garden is what it sounds like – a garden based on a series of plant or container plots, using soil and gardening methods to grow plants. A hydroponic garden is a special indoor garden that uses fertilized water (sometimes containing live fish) and non-fertilized starting soil for plants, which are laid out vertically. Each style has its own benefits and reasons:

• Container gardens are great for people who may want to be able to rearrange the layout of the plants and eventually move them outdoors. This type of garden is able to grow any plant, in any size.

  

• Hydroponic gardens are a great option for people who want to produce lots of plants in a tight space. Usually this type of garden is used to grow vegetables.

  

Step 2. Choose the right room

Creating a successful indoor garden largely depends on choosing a space that helps plants to grow. Choose an area with lots of windows and sunlight; the best are usually the side with the windows facing east or west. If you can, place a garden (container or hydroponic) near a window to get more heat and sunlight.

• Avoid cold rooms (such as the attic or garage); cold can kill or slow down plant growth, while heat is generally accepted by plants.

  

• Avoid choosing areas near air vents or fans, as they can dry out and damage plants.

  

Step 3. Control the garden space environment properly

The main reason for growing a garden indoors is the ability to completely control the environment. Although it demands extra work, it also greatly increases the success of plant growth if done correctly. In general, there are three things you should control: air temperature, frequency of watering, and soil conditions. All three will vary slightly, depending on the garden system you use and the plants you want to grow, but there are a few tools that can make your job easier.

• Try using a ground heating mat. In general, most plants will thrive in soil temperatures between 23.8 and 29.4 degrees Celsius. You probably don't want the air inside your house to get that hot, especially in the rainy season. The solution, you can buy a special electric mat for heating the pot from below, regulating the temperature of the soil.

  

• Apply an infusion system for watering. The habit and ability to water plants regularly can be difficult to master; Instead of setting a reminder for you every day, try getting and implementing an IV system. This can be implemented by planting a series of small pipes that run through each plant, plus a timer that turns the water on and off automatically at certain times each day.

  

• Choose a lighting system. Although windows allow a little sunlight to enter, you can still provide light to plants through artificial pathways. Fluorescent fluorescent lamps are usually considered the best choice because they are inexpensive and produce good results. In addition, you can purchase special heat lamps for growing plants indoors.

  

Step 4. Select your plants

Just like taking care of an outdoor garden, there are a variety of plants that you can grow indoors, such as vegetables, berries, herbs, flowers, and ornamental greens. Don't be picky. You have to decide for yourself which ones will grow well in your garden. Some are good growing indoors, but some are difficult. Popular types of plants for indoor gardens include:

• Vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, carrots, radishes, chickpeas, peas, and mushrooms.

  

• Fruits: strawberries, figs, and grapes.

  

• Ingredients: basil, bay leaf, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme.

  

• Flowers: lilies, African red, marigolds, begonias, cacti and succulents.

  

Part 2 of 3: Container Garden

Step 1. Select your container

Since you will be growing plants indoors, you have many options when it comes to containers for storing plants. You can choose traditional pots or containers from a gardening store, or go a little quirky using an old vase or plastic bottle. You don't need a large container to start seeding, and if you're planning on transplanting, you'll need a container that's twice the size of the roots. Otherwise, look for containers with holes in the bottom for drainage, or just drill holes in any container yourself.

• Plastic containers are the best at retaining moisture, but clay pots are widely seen as the most attractive option.

  

• Try recycling used coffee cans or 1 liter bottles. This way you'll be doing the greening while you're gardening at the same time - what an interesting bonus!

  

• You can line the bottom of the container with stones in addition to the drainage system.

  

• If you are using a wooden container, look for one made of redwood or cedar, as they are weather-resistant.

  

• Do not use containers that contain chemicals, as they can kill plants.

Step 2. Make your own soil mix

Too bad you can't just pick soil from the garden to put in containers. Soil from the outside often contains diseases and insects that can kill plants slowly. Moreover, this kind of soil rarely contains a good balance of sand and clay to give the ideal pore effect. Although you can buy ready-made soil mix, if you prefer, it's a good idea to save money and guarantee the quality of the mix by making your own. For this, you will need 1 part peat coir, 1 part vermiculite and 2 parts compost. All of these are available at your local gardening store.

• Moisten the peat coir chunks to rehydrate; there are usually instructions on the wrapping paper, so just follow it.

  

• Mix the peat coir with vermiculite until evenly distributed, then add compost.

  

• If possible, worm castings are best mixed into the soil; add -1 cup of worm castings to the soil mixture before planting into containers.

  

Step 3. Set up your garden system

If you are planning to create a large indoor garden, you will need to create a shelving system for your plants. Otherwise, use the tips mentioned earlier in terms of choosing the right space for a container type garden. You should also prepare the following control factors: lighting, irrigation system and temperature. If you are using a shelving system, it should be fairly easy to incorporate fluorescent lighting and drip irrigation into the rack. Otherwise, work on your garden space until all the components fit together. A heating mat should be placed under the container.

• You can purchase timers for lighting, heating mats, and infusion systems to turn on only at certain times of the day.

  

• Always keep in mind that certain plants need their own lighting, so group them properly. For example, group all the light-loving plants to separate them from the shade-loving plants, and then adjust the lighting output according to their individual needs.

  

Step 4. Take care of your plants

After planting, you must nurture, if you want to be successful. Make sure your plants get a regular supply of sunlight and water, and that the soil temperature doesn't fall below 21.1 degrees Celsius. When the plant becomes too large, you will need to transplant it into a larger pot or split it, so that it can stay alive or be discarded altogether.

• If you notice any plants that are brown, wilted, or appear to be dying, immediately move them elsewhere, just in case they may carry disease or pests that could spread.

  

• You can incorporate compost or fertilizer into the container every few months to help nourish the plants.

  

• You can place the pots on stone shelves so that the water that comes out can provide moisture as the plants grow.

  

Part 3 of 3: Hydroponic Garden

Step 1. Choose the preferred hydroponic system

There are many ways to implement a hydroponic garden, but they all have the same theme: a water tank is placed at the bottom, while plant shelves are at the top. Fertilized water from the tank is channeled to the plants by a pump system, filtered down through the plants and the excess is drained back into the water tank. Some variations of this system include:

• Put fish in your tank. Freshwater fish will naturally fertilize the water through their droppings, creating the ideal mix for plants.

  

• Create a small-scale hydroponic system. You don't have to have bulky shelving units and lots of spares to build a basic system. Just use used plastic bottles that are cut and windows that provide sunlight. Consider creating a window system if the room is narrow.

  

• Use one large container instead of many small containers. There are many variations of hydroponic systems, and one of them involves using one large tub to produce many similar plants, instead of using many small containers.

  

Step 2. Choose your location

Like a container garden, a hydroponic garden will thrive in the sun. Therefore, choose a room near the window. In fact, if your garden is small, windows will be the only source of light you need. Otherwise, you'll need to find a location with plenty of vertical space to support the shelving system. Try using a dedicated shelving unit or a neatly arranged bookcase for your hydroponic system.

• Do not place shelves directly above or below vents or air ducts.
• If possible, place your hydroponic system on a hard floor rather than carpet, to prevent mold and mildew from growing.

Step 3. Prepare your container

As with a container garden, almost any container can be used for a hydroponic system, as long as it is not chemically coated and allows drainage through the bottom. You'll need to make holes in the non-perforated container to allow water to escape through the bottom. Instead of simply using potting soil to fill containers, fill the pot with perlite. Perlite is a type of porous replacement soil that is excellent for small, compact gardens. Then, plant your seeds as usual, and then water them to help reduce transplant shock.

Step 4. Set up your system

If you purchased a commercial hydroponic system, you will need to follow the setup instructions on the package. If you're building the system yourself, you can follow these flexible instructions to set it up: Place the water tank on the bottom shelf, but make it float at least a few inches off the floor. Then, place the plant containers on the rack above the tank; the container closest to the tank should be nearly completely covered-the distance between the top end of the tank and the bottom of the container should not be too far. Set up a water pump system to provide water to the plants on the top shelf.

• The fluorescent lamp should be hung directly above the plant.

  

• You can purchase a special timer to control the water pump to run for only a few hours each day instead of 24/7.

  

• Talk to the local hydroponics expert at the nursery for specific advice on your system.

Step 5. Maintain your system

Over time, you must ensure that your hydroponic system is in good condition to keep it running smoothly. Change the water in the tank if necessary, also adjust the position of the lamp as the plant grows. If you use fish in a tank, you need to make sure they stay healthy and don't run out of food or the tank is too cramped.

Tips

• Because most indoor gardens are small, of course limiting the number of plants. It can be quite tempting-especially if you're growing plants from seed and they're very good quality-to overcrowd the garden. Make sure you reserve enough space with adequate lighting for each plant. Get rid of the weakest ones, or give them to others with similar hobbies, and trim excess growth if necessary.
• Choose plants from types that are tough and anti-disease. This will help manage the health of your garden.
• with some plants you will have to pollinate the flowers by hand, using a small brush as there are usually no natural pollinators in the room.
• You can limit diseases and pests indoors by using neem oil. Neem oil is a plant-based oil derived from the juice of the neem tree-you can also grow it organically if you want-which contains natural chemicals like estrogen that kill viruses, bacteria, fungi, and make plants less pleasing to pests.
• If you notice any signs of disease or fungus, it's best to just throw it away or at least cut off any infected leaves immediately. Consider this; It may be sad to have to remove a plant or two, but if the disease spreads, your entire garden will be ruined!
• If you use fish in a hydroponic system, you won't be able to put them in the tank until at least a week after the system is established, so the water has readjusted to the environment.

Warning

• If you see any signs of pests, disease, mold or other abnormalities, act immediately! Do not delay removing contaminated plants or watering them with insecticides. Waiting will only make things worse.
• Whether you use hydroponics or soil-based, make sure that your garden is safe. Water and electricity cannot be combined, but you must use both for lighting and irrigating plants. It's best to let an electrician arrange the wiring. Don't let your indoor garden catch fire because of a short circuit!