6 Indoor Garden Ideas That Are Easy to Grow

1. Mix and Match Planters

So, you want to start an indoor garden? You’ll need planters – and a few of them! We suggest mixing and matching sizes to accommodate for a variety of indoor plant types (some indoor plants need more room for soil/roots, while others can thrive in a small pot). If you’re starting with a new plant (read: baby plant), it’s also a good idea to invest in larger planters for later on when the plant gets bigger, especially if it’s going to get really big (like, say, tree-sized). (On that note, some baby plants for sale at nurseries are deceptively small for the size they will become – always do your research to make sure you know exactly the kind of “adult” plant you’re getting!) Standard indoor pot sizes usually range anywhere from four liters (with a height of about four inches) to ten liters (with a height of about nine inches). (Really big planters, like the 40-liter variety, are available, but those are rarely used indoors.) Of course, mixing and matching planters isn’t just about efficiency: in the grand scheme of things, an indoor garden of mix-and-match planters is simply stylish!

2. Bedroom Garden

Starting a garden in your bedroom might sound intimidating (and a little weird), but it’s not. All you’ll need are a few leak-proof planters, a few fresh plants to go in them, and a loving, caring attitude! Specifically for leak-proof planters, you’ll want to make sure your plant comes with a drainage tray. A drainage tray is a plastic tray with holes designed to act as a buffer between the interior bottom of the planter and the actual plant itself; the idea behind a drainage tray is that any excess water the soil doesn’t absorb will be able to drain, allowing the plant to breathe and live longer. In a bedroom garden, drainage trays are particularly a must, since they also make for easier caring and maintenance and leave less of a mess. (As long as you have those three things – planters, trays, and love – starting an indoor garden in a bedroom is a great, affordable way to breathe new life into the room while adding a hint of botanical fragrance.)

3. Kitchen Garden

Of all the varieties on this list, consider this our favorite! Kitchen gardens are perhaps the easiest of all to maintain – the counterspace in a kitchen makes it easier to gather plants, as well as wipe up spills or dirt. Kitchens are also where food is prepared, and, with the right kind of plants, an indoor garden can produce food! To get started on an edible garden for a kitchen window sill, determine what kind of “edibles” you want to grow (and no, we’re not making a pun or referencing something else here). Herbs are recommended for the beginner: parsley, chives and thyme require only small pots, smell so good and grow fast. For an herb garden, just make sure to choose a planter material based on your air moisture levels: if you live in a dry climate, choose ceramic (which holds water longer), and if you live in a humid climate, choose clay (which dries out faster). (Another tip for the herb-growers: keep each herb in a separate pot. Since herb plants are small, it can be tempting to want to combine multiple different ones in the same container – but doing this will interfere with each herb’s distinct water requirements.)

4. Coffee Table Garden

Remember, an indoor garden doesn’t have to be a dozen planters; even just one or two small pots can be enough to create a “garden” feel! In a large room like a living room, a couple of planters with plants on a coffee table makes an effortless centerpiece. For a splash of bright color, we recommend an indoor plant that blooms, such as Christmas cactus (the name sounds seasonal – but trust us, it’s beautiful year-round!) Other blooming varieties include cyclamen (any one of white, red, pink or purple flowers), amaryllis (red flowers), African violet (purple flowers), begonia (pink flowers) and chenille plant (red flower). (On average, indoor flowers, when cared for routinely and given the proper sunlight and temperature conditions, will last two to five years. For fleshier plants without blooms like the ZZ plant, spider plant, monstera or any species of succulent, the lifespan can span several decades. Perhaps the easiest plant of all to take care of is the succulent – some varieties can live for months without water or sun!)

5. Pail Garden

If you’re going to grow an indoor garden, why not make it part of your decorative style? Choose a planter or container as an “it” piece. Shown below, a galvanized metal planter is “disguised” as a chic farmhouse pail. Farmhouse, of course, isn’t the only option. With the rise of work-from-home jobs and time spent indoors, more people than ever are paying closer attention to their indoor gardens; thanks to the demand, creative indoor garden decor designs are abundant. One of the biggest trends for the indoor-garden-home-decor hybrid? Color! A bright red or blue planter makes a chic splash and fits right into any aesthetic. Plant in your favorite greens, and incorporate into a coffee table aesthetic, bedroom side table, hallway console table or kitchen windowsill. (For extra effect, mix and match a few different colors, styles and designs; eclecticism will never feel so fresh – or smell so good!)

6. Indoor Tree Garden

There’s something about an indoor tree that’s just peaceful. (Perhaps it’s the sheer height alone, which can make a living room corner feel almost like a slice of forest.) Why not incorporate one into your home? Small indoor gardens of a few small potted succulents may be popular (and regarded as “easier” to take care of), but a tree is less common, makes a more impactful statement and delivers all the more air-cleaning power! Plus, with the species, it’s a cinch to maintain. To start, try a fiddle leaf fig; this one’s stylishly tall, has large, bright-green leaves that will hold their own in a large living room – and needs just a bit of water based on the feel of the soil. (Still unconvinced that a tree is right for you? You may prefer the tiny fiddle leaf fig, which is just a scaled-down, mini version of the tree!)