Indoor gardening is a great option for many individuals, allowing them to enjoy gardening in the safety of their own homes. There are numerous benefits to gardening indoors aside from the aesthetic value, which is why a lot of beginner gardeners tend to go for it.
All gardeners start somewhere, and this is where you'll be able to learn the basics, allowing you to solidify a good foundation for your gardening projects.
Visit our knowledge base if you want to learn the basics down to the most unconventional questions.
It depends on the sunflower varieties you choose. When you’re growing sunflowers from seed, most sunflower plants take 70–100 days from the time you sow the seed until sunflower heads bloom. Smaller varieties are usually fast growing and bloom earlier, while a giant sunflower takes longer.
There are many types of sunflowers. The traditional giant sunflower can reach 12–15 feet tall, producing large seed heads packed with edible seeds. Small sunflower varieties are ideal for pots or borders. For continuous color, try succession planting with branching varieties. When deciding on sunflowers to grow, consider if you want cut flowers, acres of sunflowers, or seeds for roasting.
To plant sunflower seeds, choose a sunny spot or use seeds in pots. Outdoors, sow sunflower seeds 6 inches apart for smaller plants or several inches apart for giants. Indoors, you can plant seeds indoors in pots and later transplant them along a fence or in beds. The best planting time is after the frost has passed.
A: If your peace lily plant isn’t producing flowers, it may not be getting enough light. Peace lilies prefer bright, indirect light rather than low light if you want blooms. Try moving the plant closer to a bright window but avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves. Feeding during the growing season with a balanced houseplant fertilizer can also help keep your peace lily blooming.
A: To water your peace lily correctly, wait until the top inch of soil feels dry before watering. In warmer months, your watering schedule may be once a week, while in cooler months it’s less frequent. Always use a pot with drainage holes and empty the saucer after watering to prevent the plant from sitting in water, which can cause root rot.
A: Yes, peace lilies thrive indoors and are considered an easy plant to grow, even in low light. However, blooms may be fewer. For a beautiful peace lily with more flowers, place it where it gets bright light but avoid direct sunlight to keep the large leaves healthy.
A: Start small by choosing easy-to-grow potted plants or herbs that thrive indoors. Use vertical space with shelves or hanging plants to maximize floor space. For limited areas like apartments or home offices, compact container gardening works best.
A: Low-maintenance plants like peace lilies, rubber plants, trailing plants like pothos, and indoor trees such as the fiddle leaf fig are among the best indoor options. They adapt well to indirect light and are easy to care for.
A: Herbs like basil, mint, parsley, and thyme are some of the best herbs to grow indoors. They grow well on sunny windowsills or under LED grow lights, especially during the winter months when natural light is limited.
A: Yes, indoor vegetable gardening is possible with the right setup. Leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, and radishes are great vegetables to grow indoors. Use containers with drainage holes, provide enough light (natural or LED grow lights), and water when the soil feels dry to avoid root rot.
A: Plants that are easy to grow still need adequate lighting. If your space lacks natural light, using grow lights (especially LED grow lights) can mimic sunlight, ensuring gardening success even during darker seasons.
A: Absolutely, mixing annual flowers with purple perennials adds variety and color through different seasons. Include petunias, morning glories (with trumpet-shaped flowers), or ageratum as bedding plants for summer color, while perennial favorites like garden phlox and purple coneflower return each year for flowers to grow over time.
A: Some of the flowers from spring such as purple bulbs or tubers—think Iris (violet and blue-purple blooms) or early-blooming lavender-blue flowers—offer an early purple color kick. These types of purple flowers are one of the first flowers to appear and help set the tone for your spring garden.
A: If you’re looking for excellent cut flowers, consider purple coneflower, garden phlox, lavender with purple flower spikes, or deep purple flowers like Allium. These varieties have sturdy stems, vibrant flower clusters, and lasting flower heads that hold up well in bouquets.
A: Pair purple foliage plants such as Heuchera with green foliage for dramatic effect. Use them alongside plants with purple flowers or violet flowers so that the foliage complements the bloom colors. This contrast brings out richer tones in the flowers and helps the purple garden feel lush and cohesive.
A: For flowers from late summer to fall, Liatris, purple coneflower, and Verbena bonariensis offer long-lasting blooms and violet-blue flowers. These perennial flowers keep your garden vibrant well after the early bloomers fade, extending the season of interest.
