Planning To Start Planting Indoors? Here’s What You Need To Know

Introduction

If you’re planning on starting an indoor garden, it’s important to do as much research as possible. That way, you’ll know what you need to get started and have a plan of action for creating the best environment for your plants. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the things you should think about before taking the plunge into indoor gardening—and a checklist that will help make sure those plans are successful!

Ask yourself the questions in this checklist to be sure you’re ready for indoor gardening.

We’ve got a checklist of questions to ask yourself before you start planting indoors. Be sure to answer these questions for yourself and share them with others who will be helping with the process so everyone involved is on the same page.

What do I want to grow?
How much space do I have, and how much will plants need?
How much light do I have, and how much does it change throughout the day?
How much money do I have for supplies like seeds and soil amendments?
What are my time constraints (for example, maybe this is all happening during winter break when your kids are out of school)?

What types of plants are you planning to grow?

If you’re planning on growing tomatoes, for example, you’ll need to make sure your space has enough room for the plants to grow tall. If any of your plants are going to reach heights of six feet or taller (even dwarf varieties), they might need some special accommodations. This is especially true if you’re growing in a basement or other dark area with low ceilings—you may even want to consider growing something that doesn’t grow as tall as tomatoes (like lettuce) in order to avoid potential problems down the road.

You’ll also want to consider how much light each type of plant needs and whether or not it will thrive under artificial sources such as grow lights or windowsills.

How many plants do you plan on growing?

How many plants do you plan on growing?

If your goal is to grow herbs and spices, you may want to keep the number of plants low. Herbs can be grown in containers that range from 4-7 inches in diameter, depending on how large you want them to get. If you are trying to grow vegetables like tomatoes or peppers, it’s best to choose containers that hold 12 inches or more of soil. Some examples include plastic pots with holes in the bottom or other kinds of containers with drainage holes drilled into their bottoms – whatever works best for your situation.

Lastly, if flowers are what interests you most about planting indoors then look for containers that allow plenty of room between each plant so they have space to grow without getting crowded out by neighboring flowers. For example: small buckets work great for this type of planting because they have plenty of room around each plant but still allow enough depth for soil at the bottom where roots can thrive!

Do you have an adequate amount of space available?

Before you start planning your indoor garden, it’s important to first figure out how much space is available in the area where you want to grow your plants. You may be surprised by how much space is actually needed when you consider all the elements that go into growing your own food or herbs—space for containers and tools, natural light and ventilation, as well as storage for seeds or growing materials.

What kind of plants do I want to grow?

Once you’ve figured out how much space there is (or isn’t) in your home or apartment, it’s time to consider what kinds of plants would work best with this setup. Consider the size requirements of each plant before deciding which ones will work best in what spaces. For instance, some vegetables require very little space while others may take up quite a bit more room depending on their size when fully grown.

Are there any safety or security issues with your home that you need to consider?

If you have pets, children or a busy household, it’s important to make sure your indoor gardening area is safe. Do you have enough space that your plants can grow in? If not, consider building something like a greenhouse or purchasing an indoor garden kit. Will pets or young children be around the plants? If so, consider keeping them away from certain areas of the house with fencing and gates. And finally, are there any security issues that need to be addressed? For example: if someone breaks into your home while you’re gone for work during the day (or worse yet at night), will those intruders know to avoid your indoor plantings because they’ll see them as valuable targets?

What kind of light will your plants require?

You’ll also want to consider the intensity of the light. There are three main types of artificial lights: fluorescent, incandescent and LED. Fluorescent bulbs produce more heat than they do light and so they are not recommended for houseplants—especially those that like a cool environment such as cacti or succulents. Incandescent bulbs work well for most indoor plants but can be very hot, especially when placed too close to foliage or container walls that don’t provide adequate ventilation.

LEDs are considered a newer technology but have become popular due to their low energy consumption (they use less than 20% of the power required by incandescent bulbs) and their longevity (50 times longer than standard incandescent lights). When shopping for grow lights take these factors into consideration along with how much light your plants will require on an average day and then determine whether you need one bulb per plant or if it would be better suited for multiple plants under one lamp instead (the latter being more cost effective).

How much do you know about the specific requirements for the types of plants you want to grow?

You may have a general idea of what you want to plant, but do you know the specific requirements for the type of plants that interest you? There are many resources available to help. You can ask gardeners, read books and online articles, or join gardening forums. For example:

If you’re interested in growing tomatoes or peppers, research their preferred temperature range and light requirements.
If you want to grow herbs indoors, find out how much water they need in order to thrive.

Knowing this information will make it easier for your plants to get everything they need from their environment so that they can grow strong and healthy!

Where will your plants get their nutrients from?

You’re not going to be able to grow plants indoors without some sort of source for nutrients. Plants need nutrients to grow, and depending on the type of plant you are growing, different things will provide those nutrients.

Plants can get their nutrients from soil, water or fertilizer. Each source has its own pros and cons, but the best option is always soil! Soil is free and doesn’t require any additional purchases (although if you want a high-quality soil mix, it will cost money). It also allows your plants feel like they have their roots in nature rather than in an artificial environment. The downside? You have to go out and buy it!

Have you made a budget for materials and supplies?

Once you’ve got a good handle on the size and shape of your garden, it’s time to think about what you need to buy. This is where having a budget comes in handy. Have a look at the supplies list from our previous blog post on “How Much Will It Cost?” and make sure you have an accurate estimate of how much each item will cost. If your budget is tight or nonexistent, that doesn’t mean there’s no way forward—but it does mean you’ll have to be more creative with how you bring everything together.

Here are some ideas for saving money:

See if anyone else wants in on this project! You’ll need fewer materials if more people are sharing costs and labor with one another.
Find out if any local businesses would be willing to donate any materials they’re getting rid of at no charge (talk about lucky).
Ask friends and family members if they might be able to spare anything useful from around their home (and maybe even pay them back later when things get better).

Careful planning is key to making indoor gardening work.

Careful planning is key to making indoor gardening work. The first step is to think about the plants you want to grow and how much space you have available. You should also think about how much light is necessary for each type of plant, as well as how much money you’re willing or able to spend on growing gear and supplies. Finally, consider how much time you can dedicate to your garden during daylight hours; if your plantings aren’t going to get enough light during their growing season, they’ll probably fail no matter how hardy they are said to be!

Conclusion

If you’ve decided to start growing plants indoors, then congratulations! You are on your way to having a beautiful indoor garden. Before you begin, it is important that you take some time to plan for the project. By doing so, you can ensure that your plants will be cared for properly and grow successfully.