How to Start a Small Indoor Garden: What You Need

Creating a small indoor garden is one of those simple joys that makes winter feel lighter. Even if you only have a corner, a porch, or a sunny window, you can still grow herbs, houseplants, and seedlings that brighten your home. I’ve gardened in every kind of space, and I promise you don’t need much to get started.

🌞 Choose the Right Location

When you’re working with a small home or apartment, the “right spot” is usually the one that gets the most light and stays comfortable. Don’t overthink it. If you have a south‑facing window, a warm porch, or even a bright hallway, you already have a perfect starting point. My enclosed front porch became a winter garden simply because it had sunshine and a grow light already installed.

Helpful things to look for:
• Bright natural light, especially from a south‑facing window
• Temperatures that stay around 65–75°F
• A space protected from drafts
• Enough room for a small shelving unit or mini greenhouse

🌱 A Portable Indoor Greenhouse

A small portable greenhouse is a game‑changer for indoor gardeners. It keeps your plants organized, holds warmth, and lets you grow vertically perfect when space is tight. I bought a 5‑shelf freestanding greenhouse from Walmart.com and set it up on my porch. It instantly created a cozy micro‑climate without needing to heat an outdoor structure.

What to look for when buying one:
• Four to five shelves for vertical growing
• A clear zippered cover to hold humidity
• A sturdy metal frame
• A compact footprint that fits in corners or near windows

💡 Supplemental Grow Lights

Even the sunniest windows have gloomy days, especially in Missouri winters. A grow light fills in the gaps and keeps your plants growing steadily. Think of it as a little insurance policy for your indoor garden. I turn mine on during cloudy stretches or when the sun dips early, and my herbs respond beautifully.

Grow light features that make life easier:
• Full‑spectrum LED light
• Adjustable height or clamp
• Built‑in timer settings
• Low heat output for safety

🪴 Containers for Small Spaces

Containers are where your personality shines. You can mix thrifted pots, lightweight plastic containers, and pretty ceramics to create a garden that feels collected and personal. I use everything from yard‑sale finds to Gardeners.com pots, and they all work together. Containers also make it easy to move plants around to chase the sun.

Container options that work well indoors:
• Lightweight plastic pots for shelves
• Decorative ceramic pots for display plants
• Yard‑sale or thrifted finds
• Home Depot or Gardeners.com containers
• Small trays to catch water and protect surfaces

🌿 Plants That Thrive Indoors

Start with plants that enjoy indoor conditions and don’t mind cooler rooms. You don’t need a huge collection  just a few favorites that make you smile. Right now, I’m growing chocolate mint, spearmint, rosemary, a palm, and my Christmas cactus. All of them are perfectly happy in the greenhouse with sunlight and a grow light.

Easy indoor plants for beginners:
• Mints (chocolate, spearmint, peppermint)
• Rosemary
• Christmas cactus
• Small palms
• Aloe or jade plants
• Parsley, thyme, or oregano

❄️ Why Indoor Gardening Works

Indoor gardening gives you a little green oasis during the coldest months. It keeps herbs fresh, protects tender plants, and brings life into your home when everything outside is sleeping. And the best part? You don’t need to heat an outdoor greenhouse  your home already provides the warmth your plants need.

Benefits you’ll notice right away:
• Extends your growing season
• Saves energy compared to outdoor heating
• Keeps herbs and houseplants thriving
• Adds greenery and calm to winter days
• Creates a dedicated gardening space in any size home

Perennial Grasses add Interest to Winter Garden

Today my neighbor came to see me, he had his lawn trimmer in his hand, and he asked me how far back he should cut his perennial grass garden. I replied that spring is the best time to cut the grass back and that I recommend that the grasses be left alone in the fall and winter because the dry grass will add interest to his yard and garden.

Here are photos of my grass garden in the spring, summer, and winter.

  

Spring when grasses are starting to grow

My grass garden early summer

Grass garden in winter

The winters are long and cold and I think the dried grasses look nice. The grass plumes are eye-appealing plus they add movement and provide wildlife with shelter, and windbreak for birds, rabbits, and cats. 

In the autumn season after I remove the leaves I trim the grasses so they are more manicured and off the garden path.  Then I will mulch around the garden fountain and perennial grasses. This mulch will add a more manicured look to the garden.

You can also highlight the grass garden with solar lights then when you look out at your yard at night during the winter months, you will view a grass garden that is eye appealing.  This is why I recommend leaving your ornamental grasses alone throughout the autumn and winter months.  

Here is a photograph of my grass garden next to my garden path.  The November photo was taken after I trimmed the grass as it had grown over the stepping stones.

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Grass garden in autumn, dried plumes look lovely

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Getting Gardens Ready for First Snow

I learned today that the weather forecast for the end of October is snow followed by bitter cold weather.  Know that this cold weather is coming very early in season and at a time that we usually enjoy our yard and garden.

Autumn season cut short due to snow forecast

Today and probably all of next week I will have to work harder on the gardens to get them ready for the frigid cold weather and snow.  Normally I do not cut back my lilies until after a hard frost, but plan on cutting them back so I can cover the flower bed with mulch.  I will also have to plant 120 daffodils next week, because this must be done before the ground freezes.

My yard and gardens with snow

I started working in the side yard, clearing  the brush that was growing next to the dog kennel.  I got 8 feet cut back and have another 9 feet to finish.  While working I noticed that my irises rhizomes are above the soil line and suspect that removing the leaves last week from the garden caused erosion.  I will probably add a layer of compost next week and maybe a light layer of natural mulch.  I am thinking that ice will not be good for them since their roots are just bellow the soil.

Then when all the manicuring and caring for flower gardens is completed I have to stake the gardens with poles with flags because if I do not my hubby will plow the snow through the gardens.  Yes it safe to say that I am going to be busy next week because I must get the yard and gardens ready for first snow of the season.

Is the weather changing where you live?  Will you have snow in October?

Plants That add Interest to Winter Gardens

Normally after a hard frost I will go out and cut back my plants in my garden however some plants I leave because they will provide interest through out the winter months.

Fountain grass in winter

The dried ornamental grass plumes as they add not only interest but also movement in the garden. I also find that the seed heads from the autumn joy sedum. Black-eyed Susan’s and the dried hydrangea flowers look eye appealing during the winter season.

Dried Hydrangea Flowers in in late fall

What I usually do is leave these garden plants alone throughout the winter months and then cut them back in early spring.

After a hard frost after I clean up the garden (cut back all other plants)  I will apply a layer of cypress mulch around the stems of the plants that I am leaving for winter interest.  This year I am using  Scotts nature scapes mulch in the color of red for winter because it is a nice contrast.

Here is a YouTube video that will show you how beautiful grasses look in winter.

Safe-T-Pet Ice Melt Keeps your Yard and Garden Healthy

Protect your lawn and gardens in winter with environment friendly ice melt.  This toxic free ice melt is the only product that you can use especially if you have gardens close to your hard surfaces.

Non-toxic ice melt keep your garden healthy

The other products may be cheaper but before you buy read the ingredients.  If you value your soil, and your flower beds, then think twice about using toxic chemicals to melt ice.  Those chemicals will penetrate through the soil and kill your plants at the roots.

Saving a few bucks at the hardware store for a harsh and harmful to environment ice melt sure won’t feel worth it when your wife is making you remove all of the chemical damaged garden soil in the spring to replace with new soil for planting.

Instead pay the few extra bucks and rest easy because Morton Safe-T-Pet Ice melt is salt and chlorine free which means it is safe for your yard, gardens, pets and kids.