Indoor Gardening

In just six linear feet of space, you can set up an indoor garden on a sun porch by measuring the area, planning the layout on graph paper, and placing shelves and planters accordingly. Start by clearing the space and setting up your gardening area using existing furniture like tables and shelves, that can be restored and utilized for support and organization.

The basic setup for an indoor garden can cost around $169 for six linear feet, which includes shelves for $30, lights for $16, fluorescent tubes for $40, and other miscellaneous expenses. This is less than half of what an all-in-one indoor garden kit might cost.

To start seedlings indoors in winter, use an organic potting mix amended with rabbit pellets. Install fluorescent tubes balanced for plants (around 5000 degrees Kelvin) to mimic natural daylight, and use a timer to control the lights. If you want to create a mini greenhouse environment, use plastic bins. Additionally, heating mats can help maintain the soil at a consistent temperature of 76 to 80 degrees, which is essential for certain seeds.

You can look for household items that you might usually discard and reuse them as seed starters. Containers like old cookie containers, deli containers, soda bottles, plastic cups, and coffee cans can be repurposed as planters. Fill them with a mixture of organic potting soil, peat moss, seed starter soil, and rabbit pellets.

Set up a watering station with a supply of dechlorinated, room-temperature water. Fill buckets with municipal tap water and let them sit to allow the chlorine to evaporate and the water to reach room temperature. This process helps protect beneficial bacteria in the soil and avoids shocking the plant's roots with cold water. Use a watering can to gently water the plants as needed.