While many people naturally think of “gardening” as something that’s exclusively done outdoors, this actually isn’t the case at all. There are a few forms of indoor gardening that are robust pursuits for many people, and one of the most popular and well-known here is the realm of what’s known as windowsill gardening.
At Millcreek Gardens, we’re here to support clients around Salt Lake City with through our plant nursery and many other items they might need for any sort of garden setup, including those both outdoors and indoors. What exactly is indoor windowsill gardening, and how can those interested in it get started? This two-part blog series will go over several important facts and approaches to keep in mind.
Defining Windowsill Gardening
As its name implies, windowsill gardening is the act of growing plants and flowers from within the confines of window frames. This can include both windows that open up to a balcony or patio as well as ones that face a street or alley.
Typically this type of gardening does require a certain amount of natural light to be available for it to work well – but this isn’t necessarily the case at all times. One can also utilize artificial light sources as well, and in some cases focus on plants that don’t necessarily require too much natural sunlight to thrive.
Our next several sections, and on into part two of our series, will go over some general setup and other tips for indoor windowsill gardening.
Choosing the Ideal Windowsill(s)
Firstly, let’s talk about the windowsill(s) you’re looking to use for your project. People with multiple windowsills may want to consider having different setups for each one, and in some cases this can mean utilizing a different type of plants or flowers depending on the size, shape and total amount of light that particular sill gets from the sun.
As a general rule of thumb, windowsills facing east and west tend to get the most natural sunlight – with south-facing sills usually being the second-best choice for optimal light exposure; north-facing windows are usually the poorest in terms of incoming natural light.
Choosing Plants That Thrive Inside
Another vital part of windowsill gardening is picking plants that are well-suited to the indoor environment. You’ll need to look for plants that not only tolerate low light and moisture levels, but also ones that don’t require too much maintenance or extra pruning and trimming.
Some popular options here include succulents and cacti, as well as foliage plants such as ferns and snake plants. If you’re looking for flowering varieties, look into African violets or cyclamen – both of which add a bit more color and vibrancy to your windowsill garden.
Stay tuned for part two of our series that goes over other setup tips and tricks for windowsill gardening. At Millcreek Gardens, we’re here to help with your new indoor or outdoor garden setup. Stop by our Salt Lake City nursery today and see what’s in store – we look forward to helping you get started on your next project!