Indoor/container gardening tips?

You can purchase a variety of indoor plant lights. They are to be turned on for a certain amount of hours to see that your plants receive the recomended amount of light. We have recessed lighting in our house and we purchased a plant spot light for our existing lights but this did not work too well. It was not close enough to the plant so we purchased a flouresent lighting system. It can be purchased at walmart with the light bulbs. It is not very expensive but does help. In winter, we have to use this lighting system. In summer we just put them in the window and they receive enough lights. I have found that there is no set way to water indoor pots as the weather has alot to do with the need for water. So you may find it helpful to just look at the plants from time to time. Some times they only need watering every couple weeks and other times they require water every couple days. If the plant is wilting, it is time to water it. Do not use the finger in the soil method. Just looking at the plant is the usually the best test. Trial and error is the best way to learn how to use containeer gardens. In summer, it is best to set them outside if this is possible. The fresh air does wonders for the plants. Good luck

I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I have a talent for killing every green thing that I touch. It's a curse. Anyway, my mother has a wonderful green thumb. I remember her starting seedlings in our basement many times. I think the key thing that you may be missing is a growing light--left on 12-16 hrs day. I hope this helps a bit. Good luck with your gardening.

i too have had nothing but trouble with herbs when i try to grow them from seed. I don't know why, I can grow just about everything else, I think they are a little pickier about the amount of light, water, etc. I've done my own experimenting and nothing really seems to work. Sorry I couldn't be of help, but if you find a good way, please let me know..by the way, have you tried using like a greenhouse over the plants until they have matured a little? I've tried that before, too, and it seemed to make it better at first...

My idea too was a grow light, the purple fluorescent kind, and after you move to a place, you can still use this to start your seedlings in your basement or wherever....especially if you grow herbs inside. I belong to a container gardening group through Yahoo, and they give a lot of tips and secrets that have been useful. Another group I seen was indoor planting (not sure of the actual name), but I remember reading they were just for people who only try to grown things inside....it can be done....you just need the proper balance of light....and maybe an indoor green house would be helpful....I had one that sat in my window sill, and grew wonderful herbs, we then transplanted into larger pots, I still have my mint one!!

Hi Sara - I've had good luck with basil and mint. They both are pretty fullproof and grow like weeds indoors and out. I grow them from seeds on a window sill and about all they need is to be thinned and given average plant care. I think I'm going to give chives a try since I've heard that is also easy to grow. I didn't have much luck with oregano for some reason. Don't know why. Also, there are some herbs that are just too difficult to grow from seed anywhere. I would never attempt rosemary from seed....Anyway, I'd recommend starting with basil and mint.

Hi SaraCate :) I've looked around lately for recommendations on low-light plants because I worry that I don't have enough light in the basement of my home. One that is consistently on the lists is called Cast Iron Plant. One site I read said it will nearly grow in the dark LOL It's not a tiny plant though. I think it will grow up to 2 feet tall. Another called Pothos (golden, marble green) was recommended and I think you can do that one in regular or a hanging container -- not sure if you would be interested in a hanging plant but thought I'd mention it anyway. Maybe if you see some pictures, you might recognize something that someone you know is already growing and you could get some clippings to root. I bet you'd find that much less frustrating than starting from seed. :)

i do have some plants in my room where no sunlight reaches and they are growing untill you change their water regularly, i think if the plant will live or survive will depend on the kind of plant you are trying to grow. consult any gardening guy if needed, there are many varieties of plants which can grow well indoor as well.

I have the same problem, no matter what I try they donot work. I gave up on this approach and just by the plants.

Sara I guess I have been in same situation as you for years I could not grow anything because of low or wrong direction lighting They would start then get spindly I just must say since we recently moved into a home withmulti direction lighting, my plants never looked better Good luck with your gardening It looks like others have some good tips for you

Hi SaraCate, juust be patient and try again in your new house. Because there's no way you could grow plants before and cannot do it now. Your problem seems to be simple, there isn't enough light. Good luck!

Hello, When germinating your seeds make sure they are large enough before putting them in soil also keep them under a plant light to encourage them out of the ground and use a soft soil to make it easier for them.When germinating I find using a wet paper towel in a dark place works best just make sure you keep it wet!

A trick I learned when I was living in England and trying to start off tomato seedlings indoors on a windowsill in the often bad light duing the short winter days. I got some cheap A4 size clipboards, covered one side with aluminium foil and propped one board up behind each seed tray (shiny side toward the window, of course!). That not only increased the amount of light the seedlings got, but also balanced the direction of the light source, so the seedlings didn't all lean over in one direction!