Simple Pleasures: Grow a Cheery Indoor Garden
Let houseplants work their magic on your rooms and you. These ideas will get you growing
Laura Gaskill
February 27, 2022
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Living, breathing, healthy plants boost the spirit like nothing else. Whether you consider yourself to have a green thumb or are just inching your way into the world of gardening, consider this inspiration and motivation to get your indoor garden growing.
Plants Have a Place in Any Room
Healthy green plants help clean your air, lift your spirit and fill empty corners like nobody’s business. I don’t think any room feels really complete without at least one green plant or pot of cheerful bulbs.
Shop for indoor pots and planters on Houzz
Healthy green plants help clean your air, lift your spirit and fill empty corners like nobody’s business. I don’t think any room feels really complete without at least one green plant or pot of cheerful bulbs.
Shop for indoor pots and planters on Houzz
Take Advantage of Sunny Windows
Have an open spot in front of a nice, sunny window? Don’t let it go to waste — put a big plant in front of it. Stands can help smaller plants get the maximum amount of light.
Have an open spot in front of a nice, sunny window? Don’t let it go to waste — put a big plant in front of it. Stands can help smaller plants get the maximum amount of light.
Low-Light Rooms Can Handle Plants Too
If your space does not get as much sun as you would like, don’t give up completely on houseplants. Visit a local nursery and ask what’s recommended for a low-light room. It’s true that if your room really gets zero natural light, a plant will not survive there, but if there is any sort of light, you may be able to get something to grow … and it’s well worth the effort to try.
If your space does not get as much sun as you would like, don’t give up completely on houseplants. Visit a local nursery and ask what’s recommended for a low-light room. It’s true that if your room really gets zero natural light, a plant will not survive there, but if there is any sort of light, you may be able to get something to grow … and it’s well worth the effort to try.
Set Up an Indoor Potting Station
To make things easier for watering, repotting and generally caring for your houseplants, a little indoor potting station within reach can be a lifesaver. A sink in the mudroom or laundry room would be ideal, but the kitchen can work as well if you don’t have another option.
To set up your potting area, at minimum you will want some closed storage for bags of potting soil and tools, a shelf for extra pots and saucers, a work surface that you don’t mind getting dirty and access to a sink for water.
To make things easier for watering, repotting and generally caring for your houseplants, a little indoor potting station within reach can be a lifesaver. A sink in the mudroom or laundry room would be ideal, but the kitchen can work as well if you don’t have another option.
To set up your potting area, at minimum you will want some closed storage for bags of potting soil and tools, a shelf for extra pots and saucers, a work surface that you don’t mind getting dirty and access to a sink for water.
Get Creative With Containers
You don’t always need to use traditional indoor pots for your houseplants — why not try a rectangular planter, an urn or an outdoor container? Just be sure to use a tray beneath the pot or planter to protect your surfaces from water damage.
You don’t always need to use traditional indoor pots for your houseplants — why not try a rectangular planter, an urn or an outdoor container? Just be sure to use a tray beneath the pot or planter to protect your surfaces from water damage.
Always Keep an Aloe on Hand
Wondering what one plant to buy first? Make it an aloe — they are easy to care for, and they are a godsend when you have a burn. Simply cut off a piece, slice it open lengthwise, and place the gel-covered interior directly on your burn.
Wondering what one plant to buy first? Make it an aloe — they are easy to care for, and they are a godsend when you have a burn. Simply cut off a piece, slice it open lengthwise, and place the gel-covered interior directly on your burn.
Cluster Potted Plants and Blooming Bulbs Together
Grouping potted plants doesn’t just look charming, it is beneficial to the plants too. Keeping plants in close proximity to one another boosts humidity, helping the plants stay healthier and go a bit longer between watering.
Grouping potted plants doesn’t just look charming, it is beneficial to the plants too. Keeping plants in close proximity to one another boosts humidity, helping the plants stay healthier and go a bit longer between watering.
Tables Make Great Plant Stands
Looking for more room to house your plants? Put a vintage side table or dining table to work. Even thrift store finds are charming when filled with potted greens.
Looking for more room to house your plants? Put a vintage side table or dining table to work. Even thrift store finds are charming when filled with potted greens.
Plant a Piece of Furniture
Ready to get really creative? Pull out drawers from an old cabinet or dresser, line the interiors with waterproof plastic, fill them with soil and pop in a few plants. This can be a wonderful way to give new life to an old piece that is too rundown to use for its intended purpose.
Ready to get really creative? Pull out drawers from an old cabinet or dresser, line the interiors with waterproof plastic, fill them with soil and pop in a few plants. This can be a wonderful way to give new life to an old piece that is too rundown to use for its intended purpose.
Tell us: Do you have any tips or creative potting ideas for houseplants? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read about easy-care houseplants
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Shop for gardening and outdoor products
More on Houzz
Read about easy-care houseplants
Find home and garden pros
Shop for gardening and outdoor products
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You can also buy large houseplants on Amazon, Target or White Flower Farm. I ordered a couple very large plants during the beginning of COVID lockdown & they have done great!
"It's true that if your room gets zero natural light a plant will not survive there." No, I don't think that's true at all. That's what electric lights are for. With enough electric light, you can grow any plant with no natural light whatsoever. But using just ordinary electric lamps, there are many low light and low-medium light plants that will survive there for many years.
While walking over the Howe Street Bridge into Yaletown, Vancouver recently, I noticed new open-office space, heavily shaded by the raised bridge, and a brilliant design: all the big plants had pots with matching red grow lights as the top rim of the pots! Houzz doesn't offer anything like this, but neither does anywhere else I've looked. Amazon offers interesting-looking grow lights, but the customer comments indicate the lights aren't bright enough to do plants much good. We have cloudy, dull natural light in winter and good roof overhangs to shade the interior from hot, summer sunlight, so we really need effective led grow lights that fit in design-wise as well. Please, could you show us and supply us with the lighting we need?