Have you been thinking about starting an indoor garden? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, you may be surprised at the number of plants you can grow indoors!
From decorative plants to tasty vegetables, there are plenty of plants suited to indoor growing. I’ll show you some of the best indoor gardening plants to grow, plus give you some tips and tricks for growing indoors.
Why Grow Plants Indoors
Gardening doesn’t just have to be an outdoor activity. Indoor gardening is beneficial in many ways. Here are just a few reasons why you should give it a try.
Purify the Air
Plants help purify the air by absorbing gas through their leaves. According to a NASA study, plants remove toxins from the air.
Indoor gardening plants remove carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air giving us fresher, cleaner air to breathe.
Reduce Stress
Gardening indoors reduces stress and improves your sense of well-being.
In today’s day and age, a practical way to relieve stress is something we could all use a little bit more of!
You Can Do It Any Time
Unlike gardening outside, indoor gardening isn’t impacted by the weather. You never have to worry about your plants dying because of a late frost or unexpected heat wave.
Your plants stay happy and protected inside with you.
The Best Plants for Indoor Gardening
Are you convinced you should give indoor gardening a try? Here are some ideas for indoor gardening plants divided into three main categories.
Indoor Plants That Purify the Air
If purifying the air is a benefit you want in an indoor gardening plant, try one of these varieties. All of these plants are particularly good at cleaning the air.
As a bonus, many of these plants are also easy to care for and don’t require much attention to thrive.
Spider Plant
Spider plants have long, skinny leaves that stick out in all directions. They work well in containers or as hanging plants that cascade over the sides of their pot.
Spider plants like a lot of humidity. If your house is dry, mist it a few times a week with a spray bottle filled with room-temperature water.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreens are stunning plants with beautiful patterns on their leaves. They come in both green and red varieties, some with variegated leaves.
These make great indoor gardening plants for beginners because they’re incredibly easy to grow. Chinese evergreens tolerate a wide range of conditions and can handle more than their fair share of neglect.
English Ivy
Though it’s often used outdoors as a ground cover, English Ivy does very well as a potted plant indoors. They need well-draining soil so make sure your container has plenty of good-sized drainage holes to let the excess water drain out.
English Ivy is particularly effective at removing benzene from the air.
Indoor Gardening Plants That Don’t Need a Lot of Light
Light can be one of the biggest challenges for indoor gardeners. If providing adequate light is a concern for you, check out some of these plants that don’t require a lot of light to thrive.
Snake Plant
Snake plants are attractive plants with long, thin leaves. They tolerate bright to low light, so you can put them pretty much anywhere.
Snake plants are easy to care for but prone to root rot, so make sure you use a container that drains well. Also, take care not to overwater!
Philodendron
If you like plants with a lot of flair, try philodendrons. These showy plants have large, tropical leaves that fringe out in all directions. If they have the space, philodendrons can get quite large.
Philodendrons do very well with indirect light. For the best growth, use an indoor plant food like Miracle-Gro to fertilize your plants about once a month.
Devil’s Ivy
The proper name for devil’s ivy is pothos. These vining plants are ideal for hanging baskets. The stems grow up and over to cascade down the sides of their planting container.
Pothos only needs water about once every 7-14 days. They thrive in bright, indirect light, but they also tolerate moderate to low light conditions.
Edible Plants to Grow Indoors
You don’t have to grow outdoors to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce! Create your own personal garden indoors with some of these edible indoor gardening plants.
Herbs
Fresh herbs are delicious. The flavor of homegrown herbs is so much better than the packaged ones you buy from the store. Plus, herbs are easy to grow and don’t require much attention to thrive.
You can often find potted herbs at grocery stores year-round. Pick up one of these to take home and it will grow well indoors for months. Herbs are also easy to start from seed, you just need some basic equipment.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus trees are a fantastic way to bring a bit of the outdoors in. Not only are the trees beautiful, but they also provide you with healthy fruit to eat and enjoy.
Small citrus trees can be grown in pots year-round. When the weather is right, you can take the trees outside, or keep them indoors.
These trees from Stark Bro’s Nurseries are a great way to add brightness indoors during a dreary winter. Try valencia oranges or meyer lemon.
Beautiful Plants to Grow Indoors
Having some beautiful indoor gardening plants around is a great way to reduce stress and feel connected to nature. There are so many beautiful plants to grow, the options are endless. These are just a few ideas!
Ficus
The heart-shaped leaves on this variegated ficus are both lovely and whimsical.
This variety is low-maintenance and compact, making it easy to grow even for beginners.
Areca Palm
The areca palm stands out in any room with its thick green foliage. The leaves are long and thin but plentiful, giving the plant a full and lush appearance.
This palm thrives in low light, so you can put it pretty much anywhere.
Croton Petra
With its multi-colored leaves, croton petra makes a beautiful addition to any room. The leaves are large, oval, and glossy, with shades of green, red, yellow, and purple.
It’s rare to see so many colors on one plant, which makes the croton petra so special! For the best color, make sure your plant gets plenty of direct light each day.
Indoor Gardening Tips
No matter what you decide to plant in your indoor garden, every gardener wants to grow happy and healthy plants. Here are some tips for keeping your indoor gardening plants healthy and thriving.
Choose the Right Plants
Some plants are easy to grow, while others are more finicky. The good news is, you can start an indoor garden even if you don’t have a green thumb.
Choose indoor gardening plants that fit your skill level but don’t be afraid to try something new or challenging. The worst thing that could happen is the plant will die, and you can always start again! When you’re growing indoors, you don’t even have to wait until spring to try again.
Invest in Some Tools
High-quality tools make indoor gardening easier and more fun. If you plan to keep gardening indoors, getting good equipment is well worth the investment.
If you’re unsure what you need, we have a whole article on Indoor Gardening Tools to get you started.
Use the Right Size Container
Indoor gardening plants can quickly become root-bound as they grow. To ensure your plant roots have plenty of space to stretch and grow, make sure to use a large enough container.
Provide the Right Amount of Light
Make sure your plants receive the right kind of light. Some plants like indirect light, while others do best with lots of direct sunlight daily.
Grow lights help ensure your light-loving indoor plants get plenty of direct light.
Use High-Quality Potting Mix
The growing medium can make or break the health of your plants. A high-quality potting mix holds moisture without getting too soggy and provides vital nutrients to help plants grow and thrive.
I recommend Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix as a suitable, all-purpose indoor growing medium.
Get Started With Some Indoor Gardening Plants Today
Are you excited to pick out some indoor gardening plants and get started? Whatever you decide to grow, you will enjoy the benefits of an indoor garden.
To learn more about gardening indoors, check out the Seed Starting page on our website. You’ll find information on everything from how to grow different plants to what kind of light is best for seedlings. It’s an excellent resource for anyone starting a garden, indoors or outdoors!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Sadie Teh has experience writing on a wide range of topics including gardening, outdoor life, crafts, travel, and more. She currently lives on 5 acres near Nashville, Tennessee, where she enjoys growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers (there’s always room for one more plant!)
Sadie’s writing is driven by a genuine desire to help people grow beautiful, thriving gardens while sharing the joy and satisfaction that gardening brings. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in education, Sadie’s background not only adds depth to her writing but also allows her to effectively communicate with a wide range of readers.
Sadie’s favorite things to grow are flowers (especially sunflowers) and tomatoes. When she’s not writing or working in the garden, you can find Sadie substitute teaching at her kids’ school, curled up with a good book, or poring over seed catalogs.
Sadie can be reached at stehwriting@gmail.com