Anyone that loves to garden can get bummed out in the cold winter months. The greenery outside is dead, and our hands are too clean. We outdoor lovers just want to get dirty in the soil. The good news is, we can! We just have to learn to do it inside your log cabin (check there log cabins).
A Home Garden in the Winter
Recently, the amount of people gardening indoors during the colder months of the year has grown. There has been an increase in demand for seeds and seedlings that can be grown indoors. The best part of gardening inside is how versatile it can be. You can grow herbs, flowers, vegetables, and fruits.
You Don’t Need the Outdoor Sunlight
This is one of the most exciting parts of having a home garden this time of year. During the summer, we gardeners are at the mercy of the natural weather patterns. We can’t increase or decrease the amount of light to match our crops. Indoors, you get to control how much “sun” your plants receive. How? A grow light!
There are a wide variety of growing lights you can choose from these days. In the past, you were stuck with expensive or awkward systems. Today, there are cheap and specialized lights for those on a budget. Here are your basic options:
- Metal Halide Bulbs – MHB’s are best to use at the beginning with seeds and seedlings. Once your plant starts to flower, you will have to switch to one of the other lighting systems on our list.
- High Intensity Discharge Bulbs – HID’s are the most expensive on the list. However, they are also the most energy efficient. Finally, High Intensity Discharge Bulbs are also the brightest of all of the choices.
- Incandescent Lamps – Incandescent’s are the original grow lights. They are what you imagine when you think of a garden lamp. Incandescent lamps are the least expensive, and are readily available at home improvement stores. While these are great for houseplants, we don’t recommend incandescent lamps for an indoor vegetable garden.
- Fluorescent Lights – Fluorescent lights are the easiest to find, and are perfect for herbs. Other lower-light plants can also benefit from this type of bulb, but vegetables and fruits will not.
- Compact Fluorescent Light Systems – CFLS’s are downright amazing. They can be placed very close to the plant, which is a great space saver. There is less heat output than other lights. However, there is enough light for any and all of the vegetables and fruits you wish to grow!
You Control the Water
When you garden outdoors, you are at the mercy of Mother Nature. If it’s an extremely dry summer your plants may suffer from the drought. If it’s an extremely wet summer, your plants might drown or rot. It’s extremely difficult if not impossible to get your crop through the latter.
An indoor garden allows you to control exactly how much liquid you are feeding your plants. There is nothing else in the equation besides you. That means you have a great opportunity to grow some hearty fruits, herbs, or vegetables!
The key is to plant items in containers with other plants that have similar watering schedules. This is extremely important!
You Control the Temperature
Imagine being able to set the perfect conditions for your plants. This is what happens when you take up gardening in your home! Whatever temperature is best for your plants can be created. For most vegetables and herbs, the temperature can stay between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Fruits and flowers vary more. Always check the directions first to be sure!
Make sure to keep your plants away from drafts and direct heat sources. This means a drafty windowsill might not be the best place for your herbs. If you decide to use a personal heater, keep it pointed away from the fruits, herbs, flowers, or vegetables. This goes for baseboard heating and registers as well.
You Control the Humidity
Along with temperature, humidity is extremely important when growing greenery. During the colder months, there is less humidity in the air. Therefore, you will want to add this essential ingredient to the area you grow your plants. You don’t want dried out plants!
One way to increase the humidity is buying a humidifier. We recommend one that blows a cool mist. However, you can always use a misting fan a few times during the day. Or, come in and manually mist your edibles once a day.
To make your own humidifier, take a shallow tray and cover the bottom with fine rock. Then, cover that rock with water. You don’t need too much liquid, just enough to cover the rock. Finally, set it by the plants. Do not sit the plants inside of the tray!
You Control the Circulation
In an outdoor garden, you have no say over the winds. With indoor gardening, that all changes. If you don’t think circulation is important, you are wrong. A lack of proper airflow can cause rot, fungus, and mold to develop. You definitely don’t want your home crop to turn out badly!
The answer is to install a good source of circulation in the room where you keep your garden. This is something as simple as a revolving fan. Humidity and circulation is a winning combination for an indoor house garden.
You Control the Location
When gardening inside, you control the light, water, temperature, humidity, and circulation. This means you control the location of your winter garden! That can’t always be said for outdoor spring, summer, and fall gardens.
When picking an area, try to choose a location where you can install the humidity source, fan, and control the temperature. Ideally, this would be a spare room. However, others love to keep their gardens in the kitchen. If there is another area in a large room, or a space that needs decorating, don’t hesitate to install your garden!
