Starting a Window Garden
A window garden is a collection of plants that use a window as a miniature greenhouse. It is both an easy and space-saving way to grow plants, regardless of the season. Whether you want to plant herbs to use in the kitchen or add a pop of color to your home with flowers, a windowsill garden is practical for homes and apartments of any size.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a few tips for creating a successful window garden in your home.
Which Plants Work Best For a Window Garden?
There is a vast array of plants that work well in an indoor window garden environment, including herbs, alliums, succulents, and flowers.
Herbs
Herbs are the most common plant grown in a window sill garden since they thrive in small spaces. You can group several herbs in the same container based on their water needs. Herbs like basil, cilantro, and parsley need consistently moist soil, while chives, thyme, sage, rosemary, and oregano can handle dry conditions.
Alliums
Common alliums, such as green onions and garlic, are also a perfect candidate for a window garden. Much like herbs, they do not need a lot of space or soil to grow. In fact, green onions can be grown in just a mason jar filled with water.
Succulents
Succulents are another great option due to how little maintenance they require. Keep them consistently warm and you are good to go.
Flowers
If you are going for aroma and aesthetic rather than nourishment, there is a wide variety of flowers that will thrive in a window garden. Some common choices include hyacinths, daffodils, and geraniums.
How To Start a Window Garden
To get your window garden started, follow these five steps:
1. Plan Out Your Garden
First, select a window in your home that receives ample sunlight. A large, south-facing window is ideal since most plants thrive off at least four to six hours of sunlight each day. You will also need to decide what type of plants you wish to grow in your garden and do a little research on them. Determine which plants can go together in containers, as well as soil and water preferences.
2. Choose Your Containers
Based on your research, choose containers for your plants that allow for good drainage. This can be anything from traditional flowerpots and upcycled mugs to plastic bottles. You can also use a long window box.
3. Select Your Soil
Soil is one of the most important elements of gardening, so be sure to choose the option that is right for your plants. Most window gardens work best with potting soil because it is lighter and drains easier than standard garden soil.
4. Plant Your Seeds/Seedlings
It is up to you whether you want to start your garden from seeds or seedlings (young plants). Certain plants like herbs do best when started from seeds, while alliums, succulents, and flowers are best started from seedlings.
5. Water
After you finish planting your garden, make sure to water it evenly to help the soil settle in. Continue to water your crops on a consistent schedule, according to their individual needs.
Start Your Window Garden With The Window Depot
As the name suggests, you can’t grow an indoor window garden without a window. At The Window Depot, we can help you choose and install windows that will let in plenty of sunlight to help you grow healthy plants in your garden.