Container gardens are a good option for someone who may want to rearrange their plants or eventually move them outdoors. Container gardens can grow any type of plant, in any size. Hydroponic gardens are a good option for someone who is looking to produce a lot of plants in a small amount of space. Typically, hydroponic gardens are used for growing vegetables.
Avoid rooms that have cold temperatures (such as an attic or garage); cold can kill or slow the growth of your plants while heat is typically more universally welcomed by your plants. Avoid choosing an area near an air vent or fan, as these can dry out your plants and cause damage to them.
Try soil heat mats. In general, most plants thrive in soil temperatures between 75–85 °F (24–29 °C). You probably don’t want to have your house heat on that high, especially in the winter. To remedy this, you can purchase electric mats made for heating pots from the bottom, regulating the temperature of the soil. Get a drip system. Watering regularly can be a difficult habit to master; rather than setting reminders for yourself daily, try getting a drip system. This works with a series of small tubes supplied to each plant, and a timer that turns the water on/off for a certain period each day. Choose a lighting system. Although windows let in a little sunlight, you’ll primarily be in charge of giving your plants light through artificial means. Fluorescent light tubes are typically considered the best choice because they are cost effective and give good results. Otherwise, you can buy a specialty heat-lamp for growing indoor plants. [1] X Research source
Vegetables such as lettuce, beans, peas, and mushrooms, and fruits like strawberries. Herbs: basil, bay, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme. Flowers: peace lily, African violet, marigold, begonia, cactus, and succulents. [2] X Research source
Plastic containers retain moisture the best, but terra cotta pots are typically seen as the most attractive option. Try recycling old coffee cans or 1-liter plastic bottles to use. This way you’ll be green while gardening - a double bonus! You can line the bottom of your container with rocks for added drainage. If you use a wooden container, try to find one made of redwood or cedar, which are particularly rot resistant. Don’t use any container that has been treated with chemicals, as this could kill your plant.
Soak the coir peat brick to rehydrate it; typically these come with directions, so follow the attached instructions on soaking. Mix your coir peat and vermiculite together until well mixed, and then add in the compost. If you’re able, worm castings are an excellent addition to your soil mix; add ½-1 cup of worm castings to your mix prior to planting your containers.
You can purchase timers for your lights, heat mats, and drip systems so that they are only on during certain times of the day. Keep in mind that certain plants require different amounts of light, and group them appropriately. For example, put all the light-loving plants near each other and the shade-loving plants near each other, and adjust the light output accordingly.
If you notice any plants with brown spots, that are wilting, or are clearly dying, remove them from the rest in case they carry a disease or pest that might spread. You can incorporate compost or fertilizer into the containers every few months to help supply the plants with nutrients. If you have a drip irrigation system, you can dose a liquid fertilizer in the system every few weeks to keep plants going strong. You can set your pots in trays of rocks so that the water that drains out will provide humidity for them as they grow.
Creating a small-scale hydroponics system. You don’t need a massive shelving unit and lots of supplies to create a basic system. Instead, you can use cut-off plastic bottles and a sunlit window. Consider making a window system for a tight space. Using one large container instead of many small ones. There are so many variations of hydroponic systems, and one of them includes using a large tub to produce a lot of the same crop, instead of using multiple small containers.
Don’t place the shelves directly over or under an air vent/duct. When possible, put your hydroponics system on hard floors rather than carpet to avoid mold and mildew growing.
Proper substrates for hydroponics include expanded clay, lava rocks, coco coir, and peat moss. Consider the speed of your pump when deciding how many holes to drill. You will need to allow the container to fill with water while the pump is running, and drain in between pump cycles. Install an overflow drain toward the top of your container to avoid flooding.
Your fluorescent lights should be hung directly above the plants. You can purchase a special timer to control the water pump so that it runs at specific times. Set your pump on a timer that runs 15 minutes for every hour. This allows the plants to drain so they can get oxygen. Talk to a local hydroponics expert at a nursery for specific advice to your system.
Occasionally, you will need to drain all of the water in your hydroponic system and replace it.
