Indoor gardening allows avid gardeners to enjoy their hobby all year long, by bringing plants indoors when the weather gets to cold and harsh to leave them outside. There are many different types of plants that can be grown successfully inside the home, from herbs to flowers and even vegetables. Although indoor gardening can present its own unique needs, it can also be a rewarding experience for many gardeners. If you have ever considered indoor gardening as a means of expanding your green thumb, read on for reasons why this activity is a good idea.

Year-Round Opportunities

Many gardeners are a bit disappointed to see the gardening season come to an end, especially if they have been enjoying the fruits of their labor on the dinner table every evening. The good news is that fresh produce can still be available to your family even when the snow is piling up outside. With a bit of gardening savvy and the right location, you can grow tomatoes, peppers, radishes and lettuce inside. It is important to learn the specific need of each plant in terms of light and temperature to ensure your plants thrive. Pollination can also be an issue with indoor gardening, but you can handle this process quite easily with a small paint brush to transfer pollen.

Indoor gardening also allows you to enjoy a miniature flower garden in the dead of winter. You can enjoy fresh blooms by forcing bulbs or purchasing a flowering house plant. The best bulbs for forcing are amaryllis and paperwhites. You can also get daffodils, tulips and hyacinth to bloom, but the bulbs need a lengthy time of chilling. Instead, you can also purchase pre-chilled bulbs for planting. Flowering houseplants like African violets, begonias and Kalanchoe can add some spring-like color to your home all year.

Environmental Benefits

One advantage to indoor gardening that is often overlooked is the environmental benefits that indoor plants can provide. Plants have the ability to absorb toxins from the air quickly and effectively, leaving nothing but healthy oxygen in its wake. Plants inside the home have also been thought to raise blood pressure and reduce stress and depression. They can add beauty to any indoor space and the increased oxygen can also increase productivity levels. It appears that indoor gardening is as good for your health as it is for your environment.

There are many opportunities for indoor gardening that include vegetables, herbs and flowers. Why not brighten the dreary winter months and exercise your green thumb at the same time? Grow a garden indoors and enjoy the fruits of your labor all year long.