Indoor gardens let you grow a selection of plants inside your home that people usually grow outside. Once you have decided which plants to grow and assessed your budget and available space, you can choose from the following list of gardening systems.
1. Soil-Based Gardening Systems
With this gardening system, you can grow your preferred plants in containers with potting mixes. Among all the indoor gardening systems, this is the closest to traditional outdoor gardening practices. This is one of the most economical options available in this list and is generally used for cultivating an herb garden. Some people also use it to display a selection of tropical plants.
2. Hydroponic Systems
This type of indoor gardening system allows plants to grow in water instead of soil. The water used in such gardening systems contains essential nutrients. Some include substrates like coconut coir, perlite, or vermiculite. It is slightly more expensive than the regular soil-based setups. However, it helps you make the most of available space, conserve water, and produce fast-growing plants that are healthy and edible.
3. Aquaponic Systems
You may find several similarities between hydroponic and aquaponic gardening systems. However, aquaponics is a less popular indoor gardening system. You need to keep live fish in the water to set up this system. Since the waste from the fish is packed with nutrients, they have the potential to help the plants flourish. While that seems like a hectic process, there is a high initial setup cost that often discourages gardeners from using this method. If you are planning to grow plants that flourish in wet environments, you can consider this gardening system.
4. Aeroponic Systems
This gardening system is an advanced form of hydroponic-style system. In this gardening method, you need to spray nutrient-infused water on the suspended plant roots instead of submerging them completely in the water. This method promotes fast growth and large yield as the plants get to absorb the most amount of nutrients. Due to its complex set-up, it can be challenging for casual gardeners and significantly costlier.
5. Terrariums
If you are interested in growing a selection of plants that love humidity and do not take up much space, this gardening system is the right choice for you. Glass terrariums are quite popular among indoor gardening enthusiasts. You need to choose plants that are visually appealing yet low-maintenance. Based on your requirements, you can choose the right size of terrarium for your indoor garden. The price of the terrarium will vary depending on the size and other requirements.
6. Living Walls
This gardening system is ideal for those who have limited floor or shelf space or want to invigorate a bare wall at home to create a vertical living plant wall. If you are one of those people, you can start by choosing plants that have similar care requirements. Then, turn the bare wall into a vertical garden by watering it regularly.
How to Take Care of Indoor Garden Plants?
Depending on the type of indoor garden you want and the individual species you select, the required conditions of the plants will vary significantly. You can use the following tips to take overall care of the plants.
- Light
If you have plants that require a massive amount of sunlight to grow, you need to position the indoor garden in a way that it receives a significant amount of sunlight. On the other hand, if you have chosen plants that love shades, you need to keep the garden away from the windows. - Soil
Unless you have chosen a hydroponic setup or are using air plants, your garden will benefit from a loose, well-drained potting mix. You can customize the mix based on what plants you want to grow in it. The composition of vermiculite, peat moss, and perlite absorbs moisture quickly and does not get easily compacted. However, the mix isn’t great for plants that love moisture as it dries out quickly. - Water
Every plant in your indoor garden will have different watering requirements. It is important to understand that overwatering can be bad for many plants. Always research what plant species you are growing. Always use water at room temperature. - Additional Factors
Apart from light, soil, and water, your garden plants need additional nutrients. Use fertilizers according to the requirements of the selected plants. You also need to control the temperature and humidity based on what plants you have chosen for your indoor garden.
Gardyn’s Hydroponic Home Kit
If you are new to indoor gardening, you can check out Gardyn‘s hydroponic home kit. This is perfect for a small space. The upright grow system from Gardyn can house up to 30 plants while taking up only 2 square feet. Every shoot is watered via the tank and pump, which circulates water on time. Also, the built-in LED light helps with photosynthesis. The system also comes with a self-monitoring feature that uses sensors and actual cameras.
Happy Gardening!
Indoor gardening can help you boost your mood and release stress after a hectic day. However, gardening requires a significant amount of hard work and care. So, before you choose a gardening system, check your schedule and the available space at home that can accommodate an indoor garden.
