Cultivating an Indoor Garden for Small Spaces

chareneehamilton
Mar 15
4 min read

Creating space inside your home that plants can thrive in can be tough, especially if you are an apartment dweller. The good news is that life survives anywhere, and your place is no exception! So here's how to grow an indoor garden and the best tips.

Rows of green seedlings in small containers on top of a white table. The best way to begin indoor gardening is with these small containers for sprouts.

Indoor gardening has taken off this past year, with many of us becoming new plant parents. And the best parents know that equipping the proper gear, soil, and arrangement for light will help your plants outlast the next World War.

Plants love good soil.

A child holds dirt and a green seedling in their hand, a parent holds the small pair of hands underneath.

Establishing a Foundation

Fertile, soft, mixed soil provides the following: good aeration, water retention, and nutrients that the plants can feed on while they establish their roots.

This soil will serve as the foundation for your house plants, and the fruit they will bear. Before you purchase any type of soil bag from the nearest grocery store, first research your seeds (Heirloom, preferably) and figure out which soil type is best for your seeds.

NOTE: Most herbs and vegetables like a good mix of soil, sand, and moss - so starting there is your best bet.

You will want your soil to be CLEAN and BUG-FREE. Kind reminder, just because you have purchased your soil in a bag, does not mean the soil is free and clear of any bugs that can damage your plant's growth & overall vitality.

Buying from reputable nurseries is always preferred, however, you can always put a pan of the soil into the oven, set at 160 degrees to kill off any bugs or parasites that could be growing in your dirt - no more than 30 minutes.

The above suggestion is a more tedious route, so if you do not want to heat your soil in an oven, come equipped with natural pest-killers (just put in a spray bottle):

Neem Oil
Water + Cayenne Pepper + Garlic
Diatomaceous Earth
Castille Soap

A bed of soil with 3 teracotta planters and small plants, a pink and white flower.

Lights On!

Once your soil is prepared for your seeds, look around your living room or wherever your small garden will be. Where do your windows face when receiving light?

North, South, West, or East?

Knowing the direction of where the light comes in is essential when establishing where you will put your small garden plot. South-side light is the sunniest and hottest spot, so be mindful of where you place those delicate plants!

Your plants should be getting 8-12 hours of sunlight (depending your hardiness zone, for more info on that, check out The Old Farmer's Almanac).

A close up picture of small cardboard planters hold soil and seedlings.

Uncovering the Truth of Gardening

During this time, you can connect with Mother Earth from the comfort of your own home.

Research seed depth & spacing information before sowing.

Soil, light, and water are the key ingredients to a healthy, happy plant that produces the sweetest fruit so remember to water those seeds! Add an adequate amount of water to avoid powdery mildew developing on the soil.

Curating the perfect garden space at home takes time, patience, and of course - failure. I've lost quite a few plants since I began my gardening journey (RIP baby sprouts) so get ready to try and try again!

The fun in gardening lies in connecting back with the Earth that we have lost attachment to.

Two people, one woman, and one man take a large plant out of the pot and attempt to move it to another planter. A common issue with plants with a lot of roots.

Once the seeds turn into sprouts, watering and sufficient light will be required so the plants can establish a vast underground network via their roots, which in turn, tell the leaves, flowers, etc. to focus on growing to be their best self.

A gloved hand holds a crystal, see through ball with a forest in the background. The crystal ball casts a reflection.

Get Creative With it!

The art of gardening changes from gardener to gardener, and making it look the way you want it to helps you stay aligned with how your garden pans out. Crystals and pebbles added to your garden space can change the overall look and feel of your plants—and possibly how they grow.

A book, moss, and two deep blue and green crystals rest on top of a hardwood floor.

Moss Agate & Jasper, both deeply grounding crystals, can be added around your plants (once already established and growing) to help with root growth.

Red Jasper stone is noted for its abilities as the 'Supreme Nurturer' and works perfectly in line with gardening.

Jasper is all around the world and is always found in the deep folds in the Earth.

Jasper can come in handy when working with more difficult plants (E.g Orchids, Lavender)

Moss Agate, also known as Tree Agate, brings you back in touch with nature with its green, earthy hues. This stone is labeled as 'the Gardeners Stone', Moss Agate helps the gardener with its natural ability to bring abundance to all things in bloom.

Quartz crystal family can also lend a vibrational pull when it comes to keeping the soil moist and aligning the plant's wavelength to match its own. Quartz has a soft, gentle vibration that brings what's around to match its vibration pattern, removing any negativity or 'stuck' feelings. These crystals add a much-needed boost to the plant life in your home.

With these small tips added to your garden toolbag, you will be well on your way to Green Thumb status! Take time to plan out what you will plant, the soil you need for your seeds, get on a watering schedule for the plants, and keep light coming into - you'll do fine!