5 Easy Indoor Gardening Tips

Indoor gardening allows you to grow plants that you can use for cooking and eating, saving you money! Here are 5 of my top, simple tips to get your garden started. 

Tip #1: Grow Herbs

Basil, thyme, and parsley are some of my favorite herbs to grow indoors. I keep mine in the kitchen for cooking. 

— Grow them on a windowsill in or near your kitchen.
— Use a grow light for daylight sun replacement..
— Transition your plants to the outside after 2 months. 

Tip #2: Rooting Plants

I recommend you try spearmint and thyme for this project. You’ll need a fresh sprig from a gardening friend to get started. 

— Place fresh plant clippings in a jar.
— Add water and change daily.
— If they don’t root in 1 week, discard and start over.
— Transition to dirt in one month.

Once your plant is growing well on it’s own, you can take more clippings to root and trade with friends. 

Tip #3: Root Your Own Basil With Hydroponics

Fresh basil that you find at your grocery store is often rooted in hydroponics.  Here’s how to do this at home:

— Don’t use all of your basil plant.
— Put a root clump in a glass of water.
— Change the water daily.
— When the roots fill the entire glass, transition to potted dirt. (Each sprig needs its own pot.)
— Transition outside. (See Tip #5 below.)

Tip #4: Root A Pineapple

Here’s how to root a pineapple:

— Cut off the pineapple top.
— Remove all of the fruit part (prevents rot).
— Wet the bottom.
— Sprinkle rooting hormone on top and shake off any excess.
— Set the top in a fresh cup of water.
— Change water daily.
— Roots should begin to grow in 1 week. 

When the roots fill the entire pineapple, which may take a while, transition your plant to dirt. First, place it in a small temporary pot. Then you’ll transition to a nice outdoor container pot. 

Tip #5: Transition Plants Outside

There are 4 phases to successfully transitioning your plants outside when you’ve started them inside.

Phase 1: Shade

Put your plants in a fully shaded area when you first put them outside (under a deck or table, or on the shadier side of your house).

Phase 2: Partial Shade

Next, place your plants right at the edge of where the sun is coming in or under a different part of your table or deck. The shade of a tree might be perfect depending on your yard.

Avoid full sun or your plant will get too hot. Keep it in partial shade for 3-5 days.

Phase 3: Partial Sun

Next, you’ll move the plant to a sunnier area. Aim to expose it to morning or afternoon sunshine but not both. Keep it in partial sun for 3-5 days.

Phase 4: Full Sun

Lastly, transition your plant to full sun. At this point it is ready for you to plant it directly in the ground. 

With these simple ideas, you can get started with an indoor garden and transition plants outside as desired. Interested in more gardening tips? Watch a sneak-peek of my brand new Organic Gardening class. All you need to do is visit http://OrganicGardenClass.com/ for free, instant access. We’ll see you there!