Indoor Gardens for Small Spaces

Here are some ideas for very small space container gardens to get you started:

Windowsill herb garden
There are lots of herbs that will thrive in small containers if placed in a sunny window (5 hours or more sun each day) or under fluorescent lights. Some of the most common are: Chives, Oregano, Mint, Thyme, Sage, Basil, and Rosemary.

Its easiest to buy plants at the nursery and grow them, rather than starting from seed if you dont have a lot of space or equipment to work with. Or you can take a cutting from a friend or family members plant.

You can plant herbs in anything that will hold potting soil that you can put holes in the bottom of for drainage. Fertilize sparingly every few weeks, and let the soil dry out between waterings. The plants require little maintenance, and can bring a lovely scent to any room.

Sprouts
Sprouting has long been a fun way to grow your own veggies, that takes hardly any time or space. Just soak seeds in a jar of water overnight, then drain the water and rinse the seeds a couple times of day. Voila! Youve got a nutrition-packed snack.

Terrarium
Seems everyone has a great aunt or grandmother who has an old terrarium full of plants that appear to be able to live forever without any effort. So, why not plant your own? You can use any glass container seal it with plastic wrap if you dont have a lid to fit it. Cover the bottom with an inch of sand or gravel, then add three inches of potting soil. Water until the soil is moist but not soggy, then add plants that like moisture, such as ferns, African violets, begonias.

Youll find a great list of plants and more information than you knew existed about terrariums from the Department of Horticulture of the University of Missouri

Aquarium gardens
If youve got a 10 gallon tank sitting around, but don't want to bother with fish, try planting an underwater garden instead. Most garden shops and pet stores these days sell aquarium plants, and theres a wide variety of colors and textures to choose from.

Houseplants
If all else fails, and you have hardly any light or time to care for plants there are always a few houseplants that can survive through almost anything.

Also, most shade tolerant plants will live happily on the amount of light available in a bright windowsill or with fluorescent lights. So dont be afraid to experiment with plants that are usually considered outdoor plants. A few good choices are: impatiens, begonias, chrysanthemums, and geraniums.