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Indoor Garden Options

The simplest form of indoor gardening is to place plants in windows that receive a decent amount of light. Windows that face south and west are best and they usually receive enough light to grow leaf and root vegetables (beets, carrots, lettuce, onions and radishes) and herbs. East and north facing windows receive less light and are ideal for many houseplants. You will need to spend a few days monitoring your window space to determine how much light is naturally available for an indoor garden.

Grow lights (fixtures with fluorescent lamps designed to hang low over growing areas) are a more effective way to produce indoor crops. With grow lights, you can control the amount of light your plants receive and can expand your crop options to fruit crops like tomatoes and strawberries. For a selection of prefabricated GrowLabs designed specifically for youth garden projects, visit NGA’s Gardening with Kids store – there are a number of models to choose from. Or you can make your own using the designs recommended in the Resources section.

Preparing Indoor Growing Spaces
To prep a windowsill garden area, your main goal is to protect the windowsill or table from water damage. You can place your pots in individual saucers or in a large plastic tray to catch drainage. Have students figure out how many plants you can keep healthy in the space you have available.

To install grow lights, follow the directions included, following all safety precautions. If you plan to build your own light stand, look for an approved design on the Internet or in books. Finally, have your school district’s electrician (if you have one) review your construction.

Indoor Gardening Supplies

Plants -You can start plants from seeds or cuttings, or you can purchase plants. Most classrooms begin their gardens with seeds because they are relatively inexpensive and students get to see first hand the life cycle of plants. Local garden centers and seed companies are often willing to donate seeds to schools – by the end of the summer many companies want to get rid of excess stock. (Seed is dated when packaged, and most businesses will not sell seed with expired dates. But as long as they have stored seed properly, seeds will germinate well even if they are several years old.)

Growing Medium - The growing medium in which you raise your plants is important. It anchors the roots so the plants don’t fall over and serves as a reservoir for water, air, and nutrients taken up by the roots. The best medium to use in pots is soilless potting mix, made from peat moss (or coco peat), vermiculite, and/or perlite. Some also contain added nutrients in the form of slow-release fertilizer or mineral amendments. Soilless potting mix is light enough to allow for good water drainage, root aeration, and root movement, yet heavy and spongy enough to provide anchorage and to hold adequate water and nutrients. It’s easy to transport and readily available in most garden stores. Most are sterilized so that they do not contain weed seeds, insects, or diseases that could flourish in the favorable conditions of an indoor garden. A final benefit is that it doesn’t produce mud, so if it gets on clothing, it brushes off easily.

Containers - You can use just about anything for a plant container as long as it has drainage holes so water doesn’t pool around roots. Plastic pots are the most common containers because they are generally inexpensive, can be reused, and are lightweight. Clay and peat pots are also common. You can also make use of school milk cartons, plastic yogurt cups, shallow rectangular growers’ flats, egg cartons, and plastic soda bottle bottoms – just be sure to punch drainage holes in the bottoms!

Additional supplies you may need are plant labels (popsicle sticks and plastic silverware work great), watering cans (try plastic water bottles or milk jugs) and fertilizer (liquid or slow-release).

Tips for Indoor Gardeners

Some things to keep in mind:

Curriculum Connections

Lesson: Journey to the Center of a Seed

Activity: Building a Terrarium

Resources and Guidance for Gardening Indoors

Classroom Stories and Advice

Reading Your Plants: Tips for Nurturing an Indoor Garden

Growing Classroom Herbs

Grow Your Own: Seedling Success

Exploring Hydroponics

Clean Air Houseplants

Winter Activities with Plants

General Houseplant Care

House Plant Care from Cornell University – Features care instructions for dozens of common houseplants.

Interiorscape Plant Pictures – A similar site that features images.

Insiders’ Plant Information – Guidance from a veteran interior plantscaper in New York City: advice on choosing indoor plants, houseplant myths debunked, and more.

Grow Lights

Prefabricated GrowLabs

Build Your Own:

Lighting Indoor Houseplants

Growing Under Lights

Low-Cost Grow-Light Frame Plans

 

 

 

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