Indoor gardening supplies are essential whether you are new to indoor gardening or are an expert in the trade. Indoor plants are very adaptable to the life inside our homes but gardening indoors becomes much easier with the addition of a few tools.
We have developed this special 101 guide for all the basic indoor gardening supplies you will ever need to start a garden or for tending to one.
Without further ado, let’s get to it.
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What do you need to start a garden?
Some of the items listed here are certainly ones that you may already be familiar with. However, we’ve also added some useful additions for those looking to take their indoor gardening to the next level. Ultimately, you will know the indoor gardening supplies that every indoor gardener should have.
1. Plant Tray
A plant tray is an essential gardening supply, as it is specially designed to hold a variety of seeds from the germination phase until the plants are ready for transplanting. Using a plant tray ensures that each seed receives enough nutrients and gets a good start to life.
Plant trays are usually plastic. Some models come with a dome to help maximize humidity levels and some help speed up germination rates as they come with heating pads. You can also get biodegradable starter seedlings that go straight into the soil for transplanting without disturbing the roots.
A DIY alternative is using cardboard egg cartons as planters at no cost.
2. Grow Light
Plants need photosynthesis to survive which in turn requires light. Without adequate light, a plant will grow tall and thin. Even if there is enough energy to grow the leaves, they may not yet fully develop. And without enough light, don’t plan on seeing any flowers or fruit too.
Even plants that grow near a window will likely not have enough light during the winter months to thrive so you should consider supplementing them with indoor grow lights. There are a few things to consider when purchasing a grow light.
- Plants have photoreceptors that absorb specific wavelengths of light. Your light must have the same wavelengths as the sun, so a normal bulb will not work.
- The light should be as close to the plant as possible without burning the leaves.
- Most vegetables and other plants do best with 14-16 hours of sunlight or simulated light. There are several ways to tell if your plant is getting enough light or not. If it doesn’t get enough light, it will usually have small leaves, thin stems, and the plant color will be lighter than usual.
- A hormone called “florigen” controls budding and flowering. Long-day plants need 14-18 hours of light to produce just the right amount of florigen to flower and reproduce. Short-day plants require 10 to 13 hours of light. If short-day plants are exposed to too much light, the florigen can be destroyed, preventing flowering.
3. Fertilizers / Nutrients
Plants that are grown indoors will need additional nutrients or fertilizers, as most nutrients from the soil or growing medium are quickly absorbed by the plants or are filtered out during irrigation. You’d have to add some from time to time and for this you have to buy some. There are so many kinds of them, each with their own specifications. It largely depends on your plant that which type of fertilizer it needs. Now a day, liquid fertilizers are very in and we would also recommend them. Slow releasing fertilizers are also good.
Follow the package directions for how much to use and how often to fertilize.
If you are composting at home, you can make compost tea to water your indoor plants. Here’s how:
- Fill a bucket about 1/3 full with finished compost.
- Add water until the bucket is full.
- Let the bucket sit for a few hours, even three or four days (don’t let it freeze!).
- Using cheesecloth or a fine strainer, strain the mixture into another container. (Anything that remains can be thrown into the garden or into the compost bin.)
- Add water to the liquid until it is the color of weak tea.
- Apply compost tea to the soil around your plants.
4. Hydroponics
Instead of growing indoor plants in a soil mix, you may want to give hydroponics a try. It basically means gardening without soil. The soil contains nutrients and anchors the roots of the plants. By growing hydroponically, you supply nutrients directly. Rather than being tied to the soil, the nutrients are readily available to plants.
Some of the benefits of hydroponics include:
- Faster plant growth (up to 50% faster) because plants can easily access food and water.
- Roots grow throughout the medium without sticking to the root, so containers can be smaller.
- Plants start out in a disease-free environment and are less likely to become infected.
- If plants get sick, the disease usually affects one plant, not all.
- Plants fall before they wilt, so you’ll know how to water them before they go bad.
5. Containers
Many plants available today are sold in standard plastic pots. There are some plant owners who prefer to replace these pots before adding them to their indoor garden.
You can choose from different pots, ranging from different materials, sizes, types and colors. The purpose of these containers is to hold the correct amount of growing medium for a plant and to give the roots room to develop. The container should match the size of the plant: small plants should be in smaller containers, while large plants should be in larger ones.
The best containers for plants should have holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain. If water collects at the bottom of the pot, it can rot the root and will eventually kill the plant. But, with the holes, the pot should have a plastic or clay saucer underneath to prevent the water from spilling onto the furniture, floor, or rugs.
6. Watering Can
This article cannot be called the “indoor gardening supplies” without this necessary tool. Everyone will surely benefit from a watering can, preferably one that is easy to handle and not too heavy when filled with water.
You should also find a watering can that isn’t uncomfortable to hold or spills water all over the place. Of course, metal cans are heavier than plastic cans, but there are some nice watering cans made from both materials.
Tip: Buy a cute spray bottle to mist your plants from time to time, too.
7. Plant Stands
You should definitely get plant stands display and brag about your precious plants. Once they’ve grown up, they end up taking space in your home. Tiered racks can maximize your space as well as viewing while taking up as little space as possible.
They come in different designs and will add a more natural feel and aesthetics to your houseplants, rather than just having them sitting on tables.
8. Indoor Plant Trellis
If you want the interior of your home to look a little fancy, you can grow vines that spread out as much as you want. But where to trail these beautiful-beautiful vines that keep getting long? For this, you will need trellises to help the plant climb.
Be sure to check out the options online to find a selection of pot-sized trellises for your plants. And while there are many pretty models available, it’s important to take into account the level of support it can offer and whether it sits firmly on the ground. Bamboo styled trellises are the best.
9. Pruning Shears
It’s always a good idea to work with a pair of sharp pruners or invest in a pair of quality clippers. Whether you use scissors or pruners, make sure you only use them for gardening, that way they will always give you the cleanest, cleanest cut.
10. Plant Labels and tags
If you are growing different types of houseplants, it is a must to use plant tags. Why? Because if you are growing ornamental, food or herb plant and are struggling or learning to identify plants or save seeds, they will definitely help.
Plant labels can be plastic, sealed or painted surfaces, clay, tile, concrete, stainless glass, painted rocks, ice cream sticks, or laminated labels. There are also chalkboard ones available that are cheaper, durable, and can be easily reused, especially if you plant different types of herbs and vegetables each season.
You can easily make DIY ones.
A Final note on Indoor Gardening Supplies
When one is passionate about gardening, it doesn’t matter if we have supplies or not. We can always compensate or make DIY ones. The basic idea is to get into gardening no matter whatever happens or if you have supplies or not.
Still these supplies that we mentioned here were the necessary ones. Buy them or create your own. Most of them are cheap. We hope that you create greatness with these tools. Happy gardening!
