Creating an indoor botanical garden is the perfect DIY weekend project! As long as you have ample space and an area that receives lots of sunlight, your plants can thrive all year. Here’s a list of tips for starting an indoor botanical garden to help prepare you for your new weekend project.
Choose the Appropriately Sized Pot
The containers or pots you use should be large enough to grow the plant’s roots. When buying a pot for your plant, you want one that’s one inch wider than your plant’s root mass. Although buying pots and containers is based mainly on aesthetics, plastic pots and hanging baskets are the best for indoor gardens.
Maintain a Stable Temperature
Living in Miami, we have the perfect temperatures for maintaining a stable environment for plants to thrive. The room temperature for your indoor garden should be around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it’s tempting to have your air conditioning on with temperatures rising. If your home is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, add a small space heater to your indoor garden to stabilize the room’s temperature.
Also, consider opening your windows to provide fresh air to stimulate your plants.
Pick a Room With Lots of Light
Different houseplants have various sunlight requirements. Some plants require six hours of sunlight, while others need two hours. Before starting your botanical garden, it’s best to choose a room that will provide enough light for every plant to strive.
- If your plant requires a lot of sunlight (6 hours or more), place it right in the window
- If your plant requires moderate sunlight (4 hours), put it a few feet away from the window
- If your plant requires low sunlight, place it far enough away to receive indirect sunlight
Choose Plants That Thrive Indoors
Since you’re starting an indoor garden, it’s essential to purchase plants that can survive indoors. When finding an excellent indoor plant, you want to look for:
- Healthy roots that are thick and light in color
- Dense foliage—if you can’t see through the leaves, you’re good to go
- Disease-free leaves—check for odor, white dots, or sticky residue on leaves
Here are some suggestions for your indoor botanical garden:
- Pothos
- Jade plants
- Peace lily
- ZZ plant
- Succulents
- Aloe vera
- Avocados
- Lemons
- Mandarin oranges
- Basil
- Ginger
Water Your Plants Properly
Plants thrive in various moisture conditions. To understand how much water your plant needs, you’ll need to know each of your plant’s unique needs and preferences. Rather than having a watering schedule, pay attention to when the soil feels dry.
Overwatering your plants can cause root rot, and cold water can shock your plants. Be sure to use room temperature water when watering your plants. While watering your plants, you should occasionally put a small amount of indoor plant food on each side of your plant to promote growth and vibrancy.
Pro-Tip
When watering your plants, play your favorite songs! Your plants will enjoy and sway to the music with you. Playing music for plants promotes growth.
Creating your indoor garden should be a therapeutic experience. Plants provide a sense of peace and boost your mood when you’re in the same room as them. Nothing feels better than accomplishing your garden. Use these tips for starting an indoor botanical garden to create your new haven.
