• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Lifestyle Blog

  • About
    • Work With Me
      • Delightful Life Media
    • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • Taste
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches
    • Dinner
      • Grilled
      • Sides
      • Pasta
      • Rice
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
      • Cocktails
      • Non-Alcoholic
    • Snacks
  • Travel
    • United States
      • Kansas
      • Missouri
      • Nevada
      • Nebraska
      • New York
      • Oklahoma
      • Texas
      • Wisconsin
    • Mexico
  • DIY
    • Projects
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

potted plants

How to Grow an Indoor Garden

January 11, 2021 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. 

Last year, I killed most of my plants. This year, I’ve graduated to Plant Lady. If I can learn how to keep plants alive (and grow them!), you can as well!

I was curious about how to grow vegetables and herbs indoors, I had no idea how to get started. I watched a ton of YouTube videos and I asked employees at a nearby garden center questions. I purchased the supplies. Then, I got my hands dirty.

lettuce

It turns out that it is actually quite easy to garden indoors once you do your homework and follow the instructions. The process of gardening teaches you patience, a trait that carries over into other areas of your daily life. Gardening takes time, especially when you start vegetables from seed, but the results are truly incredible. The magic formula is good soil + light + water + patience = leafy greens!

I was so impressed with the results from growing tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in my first outdoor raised garden bed, that I decided to try my hand at indoor gardening. If you would have asked me five years ago if I had a “green thumb,” I would have laughed and told you to look at my indoor plants. But something changed when I took the time to research soil composition and each plant’s growth behavior. For my indoor garden, I decided to grow lettuce, kale, and herbs.

I want you to experience the joy of indoor gardening, too! Use the supplies list to shop for the items you need for your indoor setup. (I simplified the equipment as much as possible since I didn’t want to overly invest in expensive supplies.) Each item listed below is linked making shopping easy.

SUPPLIES

Sylvania Gro-Lux Bulb Housing Unit (here is a similar one)

Sylvania Gro-Lux 40watt LED bulbs x2

Steel Double Loop Chain

S Hooks

Small Fan

Indoor Plug-In Mechanical Timer

Spray Water Bottle

Seed Starting Tray

Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix

Burpee Organic Leafy Greens and Herb Plant Food 5-5-3

Botanical Interests Starter Seeds

Seed Tray Warmer (optional)

Plastic Container Pots with Drainage Holes (I also used plastic salad containers.)

HOW TO GROW LETTUCE & HERBS INDOORS

The key to giving seeds a good head start is to germinate them in water for 24 hours and then plant each individual seed in a small well of slightly moist soil (cake-like consistency). Of course, you should also read the sowing directions on the back of each seed packet to optimize results.

I placed the grow lights 4″-6″ above the soil’s surface. As the plants grew, I adjusted the lights to keep them the same distance from the tallest leaf. Setting a timer to control the on/off lighting schedule is important. I had success running the grow lights and rotating fan for 12 hours and then off for 12 hours. Why use a fan? Just as outdoor plants are exposed to circulating air, indoors plants need the exposure as well.

seed starting trays

Indoor grow rooms need to be at a comfortable temperature to give plants the best chance for success. I didn’t have to use a seed tray warmer since the basement room stays at approximately 65 degrees at all times. If you check your room’s temperature and it ranges between 65 degrees and 80 degrees when the grow lights are off, the seed trays should be okay without a warming mat underneath them.

After filling the seed trays with a seed starting soil and a bit of Burpee plant food, I used a pencil to create a well for each seed. Then, I carefully dropped one seed into each well and covered it with more soil. To keep them hydrated, I watered the seed trays from the bottom for the first couple of weeks. Later, I switched to top-down watering alternating between using a spray bottle and a watering can. I kept the soil moist but not saturated.

Soon, the seeds grew into fragile seedlings. A few weeks later, they were ready to be transplanted into larger pots until they were harvest two months later. During every stage of growth, I watched the leaves change in color and size as they grew taller all the while reaching for the light. I had the best luck growing heirloom kale, dill, romaine lettuce, and arugula. But I have to be honest, growing vegetables and herbs indoors wasn’t without challenges.

lettuce seedlings

One day, I was tending to my plantings and noticed small, black gnats flying around some of the pots. Fungus gnats! My research proved correct. The gnats came from the store-bought potting soil. Ironically, I spent a pretty penny on the best potting soil in town. But, such is the gardener’s life! To get rid of the pesky gnats, I filled shallow bowls with apple cider vinegar, a few drops of Dawn dish soap, and a bit of water and placed them around the pots. Voila! The gnats flew into the bowls and died. Mission accomplished. (After I harvested the lettuce from those pots, I tossed the soil in the trash.)

lettuce indoor garden

The learning never stops when you’re growing food from seed. Each time I was perplexed by something, I read about it or watched my favorite YouTube channel “Growing a Greener World” or searched Google. In the end, it was all worth it. The feeling you get when you harvest food from your indoor garden is beyond words.

“I’m going downstairs to get some lettuce for our salad,” was never a sentence I thought I’d say out loud. I still consider myself a beginner gardener.

I suspect you’re one of those people who appreciate where your food comes from and want to know its path to your plate. I encourage you to try gardening. You will have successes. You will experience small fails. It will all be worth it the moment you taste the vegetables you’ve grown.

Please comment below if you have questions about my indoor growing setup. If you have indoor gardening stories to share, I’d love to hear from you!

Bonus! Click Properly Fill a Raised Garden Bed to learn how to grow massive garden plants outdoors. If you dream of having your own garden house, be sure to check out Garden House Showcase to see how my mom took the idea of a potting shed to a new level.

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: container pots, dill, garden, gardening, green thumb, grow lights, harvest, herbs, homegrown, indoor, indoor garden, kale, lettuce, light bulbs, plants, potted plants, seedlings, seeds, soil, sowing, vegetables

10 Hard to Kill Houseplants You Can Leave While On Vacation

July 10, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

It’s a fact that we hate to admit. Some of us just don’t have a green thumb.

How can keeping a plant alive can’t be that hard? How is that other people have lush indoor houseplants while yours are barely hanging on? I know your pain. I’ve killed many houseplants and garden botanicals since my college days. I almost feel guilty about it.

I’m turning over a new leaf. I’ve stop beating myself up about my inability to keep houseplants alive and so should you. I’ve gone straight to the most knowledgeable person I know about plants. My mom. Ask anyone who knows her; she is a walking, talking plant guru with two green thumbs.

Today, she gave advice to help you discover 10 Hard to Kill Houseplants You Can Leave While On Vacation. 

These plant types don’t need to be cared for up to seven days so book your vacation without hiring someone to come over and water them. Caring for these plants is easy and simple!

  1. Dumb Canes (Dieffenbachia) – a plant that doesn’t take a lot of watering. This botanical is no dummy and can take care of itself for week without worry. It doesn’t like direct sun near a window but medium light instead.

    dumb-canes
    Dumb Canes
  2. Mother-in-Laws Tongue  (Sansevieri; also knows as a Snake Skin Plant) – this plant likes to be crowded and grows upright in a container where it is most happy. It can grow as large as 4 feet high in some varieties. It doesn’t require a lot sun so you can place it in the corner of your room. Water the soil not the leaves.

    Mother-in-Laws Tongue
    Mother-in-Laws Tongue
  3. Rubber Plant (Hevea brasiliensis) – requiring minimal water, this plant comes in a variety of colors but it has a consistent oval leaf shape. Rubber Tree plants used to only come in a dark color, but not anymore. Match it to your room colors! Newer varieties have pinkish hues with some cream color on them.
  4. Jade (Crassula ovata) – a low maintenance South African plant that requires little watering. They don’t like their feet wet. Don’t overwater otherwise the roots will rot. Sold nearly at every plant store, but not most grocery stores. You can grow them in a covered, shaded portion of your deck during the summertime.
  5. Philodendron (Pothos) – this ornamental plant is happy in any room as long as it gets a little light. Many owners put them on top of their kitchen cabinets and let them grow long. If you position it near a window, the sun’s rays should not directly hit it. Its soil likes to dry out between waterings. It is easy to start a duplicate philodendron by making a cutting and planting it in a new pot. Another option is to root it in a vase of water to transplant later to a dirt pot.

    Philodendron
    Philodendron
  6. Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) – this plant can get a little lanky and its stalk looks woody or trunk-like. Plant it in a large, heavy pot. My corn plant tends to grow at an angle because it’s seeking nearby window light. Want to keep it short? You can cut it low as long as there is a new leaf growing near its base.
  7. Calathea (aka Peacock Plant) – considered a “pretty” plant that came be left alone while on vacation. Water from the dirt level because watering top-down will rot the plant. They like humid conditions so a partially lit bathroom would be a smart spot for this beauty.

    Calathea
    Calathea
  8. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum) – an inexpensive plant that loves to be left alone away from a front window. It flourishes in medium light conditions and likes to dry out between waterings so it’s the perfect candidate for a low maintenance houseplant.

    Arrowhead Plant
    Arrowhead Plant
  9. Spider Plant  (aka Airplane Plant) – a plant that can grow inside or outside, it gives off “babies” when it is in healthy condition. They do best in a hanging pot or stand. Trim off one of the newer “babies” you can regenerate it in a large glass of water. The lighter the stripe on the leaf, the more light it requires. Keep the soil slightly moist. Bonus: This plant detoxes your home.

    spider-plant
    Spider Plant
  10. Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis hyrids) – We saved you the best plant for last! This colorful plant is long-lasting and easy to care for if you follow a few tips. Despite what some say, you should not put ice on their bark to water them. This is a mistake because orchids are tropical plants. They will rot if over water them. Just give them a drink every 10 days. The easiest one to grow is called the Moth Orchid. Place them in medium light. Its pot requires drainage holes.

What is your favorite houseplant? Leave a comment below and share your tip.

Signature ODL 170x70px

Filed Under: DIY, Lifestyle Tagged With: airplane plant, arrowhead plant, botanicals, calathea, container plants, cuttings, dieffenbachia, dumb cane, green thumb, hanging plants, hard to kill houseplants, hard to kill plants, houseplant light, houseplants, indoor plants, jade plant, low light plants, mother-in-laws tongue, nature, orchids, philodendron, plants, potted plants, rubber plant, sanseveria, shade loving, spider plant, worry free plants

Primary Sidebar

SEARCH

Ammar
Hello! I'm Vanessa. Welcome to One Delightful Life, a blog created to add more delight to your life with delicious recipes, travel destinations, and lifestyle improvement ideas. Thanks for exploring my blog!

Archives

Contact Us

  • Email
    info@onedelightfullife.com

Popular Posts

Back to School Brain Breaks12K Total Shares
Going Underground in Historic Ellinwood, KansasGoing Underground in Historic Ellinwood, Kansas7K Total Shares
Weston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend VisitWeston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend Visit2K Total Shares
Cucumber Lime Vodka SplashCucumber Lime Vodka Splash1K Total Shares
How to Make the Most of a Weekend in Omaha, NebraskaHow to Make the Most of a Weekend in Omaha, Nebraska484 Total Shares
  • About
  • Taste
  • Travel
  • DIY
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

© 2023 · onedelightfullife ·