Step-by-Step Guide: Planting an Indoor Garden with Specific Plants and Quantities

byFlora Greenfield Sep by step guide for planting

Plants for Your Indoor Garden:

  1. Herbs (for culinary use):
    • Basil: 2 plants.
    • Mint: 2 plants.
    • Parsley: 1 plant.
    • Thyme: 2 plants.
    These herbs do well indoors and will grow in small spaces. They require 6-8 hours of indirect sunlight and regular watering.
  2. Air-Purifying Plants (for cleaner air):
    • Snake Plant (Sansevieria): 1 plant.
    • Spider Plant: 1 plant.
    • Peace Lily: 1 plant.
    These low-maintenance plants can help purify the air in your home. They tolerate low light and don’t need much water.
  3. Low-Light Indoor Plants (for aesthetic appeal in dark spaces):
    • ZZ Plant: 1 plant.
    • Pothos: 2 plants.
    • Philodendron: 1 plant.
    These plants can survive in low-light areas, making them perfect for rooms with limited sunlight.
Total Plants:
  • Herbs: 7 plants (for both beauty and functionality).
  • Air-Purifying: 3 plants (for health benefits).
  • Low-Light: 4 plants (for decoration in dimmer spaces).

Pro Tip: Start small with 10-15 plants for a beginner indoor garden. You can always add more as you grow confident in plant care.

Step 2: Select the Right Size Pots and Containers

Choosing the correct pot size is essential to plant health. Here’s a breakdown of pot sizes for each type of plant:
For Herbs:
  • Pot Size: 6-8 inches in diameter and 6 inches deep.
  • Reason: Herbs need room for their roots to grow but don’t require extremely deep pots. A shallow pot works well as long as there’s good drainage.
For Air-Purifying Plants:
  • Snake Plant: 8-10 inch pot—these plants grow tall but their root systems are compact.
  • Spider Plant: 8-inch hanging pot—spider plants can be hung for space-saving and aesthetic purposes.
  • Peace Lily: 10-inch pot—these plants need slightly more room to allow their broad leaves to expand.
For Low-Light Plants:
  • ZZ Plant: 6-8 inch pot—the ZZ plant is slow-growing and thrives in compact pots.
  • Pothos: 6-inch pot—Pothos do well in both pots and hanging baskets and can trail beautifully.
  • Philodendron: 8-inch pot—this plant likes to sprawl, so a slightly larger pot encourages growth.
Potting Tips:
  • Ensure all pots have drainage holes to prevent root rot.
  • Use terra cotta pots for plants that prefer drier soil, and plastic or ceramic pots for plants needing more moisture retention.

Step 3: Use the Right Soil Mix

Indoor plants need the right soil to grow well. Regular garden soil is too dense for indoor use, so you’ll need a mix that allows for proper aeration and drainage.
Soil Mix by Plant Type:
  1. Herbs: Use a light, well-draining potting mix with some added perlite for aeration. You can buy a premade herb potting mix or create your own by mixing:
    • 1 part potting soil.
    • 1 part perlite.
  2. Air-Purifying Plants: These plants generally prefer a general-purpose potting mix with slightly more moisture retention:
    • 1 part potting soil.
    • 1 part peat moss.
  3. Low-Light Plants: For plants like the ZZ plant and Pothos, use a succulent mix or any fast-draining mix:
    • 2 parts potting soil.
    • 1 part perlite for extra drainage.

Pro Tip: Consider mixing organic compost into your potting soil (about 10%) to give your plants a nutrient boost from the start.

Step 4: Planting Your Indoor Garden

Now that you have your plants, pots, and soil, it’s time to get planting! Steps for Planting:
  1. Prepare the Pot: Place a layer of gravel or small stones at the bottom of each pot to improve drainage (1 inch thick).
  2. Fill the Pot: Add your potting mix to the pot, filling it about halfway. Create a small hole in the center for the plant’s root ball.
  3. Plant Placement:
    • For Herbs: Place 1-2 plants in a 6-8 inch pot. Ensure each plant has enough space around it (about 1-2 inches between each herb).
    • For Snake Plant: The root ball should be placed so that it’s about 1 inch below the pot’s rim.
    • For Pothos: Make sure the roots are well-covered, but don’t bury the stems too deep.
  4. Fill the Rest: After placing the plant, fill the pot with the rest of the soil, leaving about 1-2 inches at the top to prevent overflow when watering.
  5. Water: Gently water each plant after potting until water begins to drain from the bottom of the pot. This helps settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.

Step 5: Caring for your plants

Your new indoor garden will need regular care, but each plant type has slightly different needs.
Watering Guide:
  • Herbs: Water 1-2 times per week, making sure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged.
  • Snake Plant: Water once every 2-3 weeks. It’s drought-tolerant, so it’s better to underwater than overwater.
  • Spider Plant: Water weekly, keeping the soil evenly moist.
  • ZZ Plant: Water once every 2-3 weeks. The ZZ plant stores water in its rhizomes, so it’s very low maintenance.
  • Pothos and Philodendron: Water once a week. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Feeding:
  • Fertilize your indoor plants once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
  • Herbs will benefit from more frequent feeding, but dilute the fertilizer to half strength to avoid burning the plants.
Light:
  • Herbs: Need 6-8 hours of indirect sunlight. Place them near a south-facing window for the best results.
  • Low-Light Plants: These plants can tolerate low light but will thrive near a north-facing window with diffused sunlight.
  • Grow Lights: If you don’t have enough natural light, use LED grow lights. Set them on a timer for 10-12 hours per day.

By following these specific planting steps and choosing the correct sizes and quantities, your indoor garden will grow strong and healthy. Now, it’s time to gather your materials, start planting.