10 Reasons Why You Should Garden Indoors

As the chill of winter gives way to the warmth of spring, our thoughts turn to gardening. But for those of us born without a green thumb, the hardships of outdoor gardening often put an end to our effort before the first ripe tomato.

Indoor gardening is an easy alternative that lets even the worst gardener experience the thrill of a bountiful harvest. This trending activity is popular amongst millennials, urban dwellers, and busy career folks. It’s also gaining traction with parents, classroom teachers, and senior citizens.

Why? Indoor gardening isn’t all about the end product. There are many benefits to growing plants indoors that you may not have heard about.

We’ve jotted down ten of our favorite reasons to move your garden indoors. Check them out and take part in one of the hottest trends of 2021!

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1. You control the environment.

In the winter when the ground is frozen and covered by snow, I start fantasizing about gardening. I envision myself wandering through perfect little rows of healthy plants, searching for ripe tomatoes and plump peppers. But once spring comes, reality hits when the weeds pop up and every rabbit in the neighborhood comes to feast on my seedlings.

And let’s not get started on our crazy Chicago weather. Some summers are scorching hot and dry, others are humid and rainy. Some years we have dismal cold until early June. Sometimes it’s hot in May.

Maybe it’s because of all these environmental factors, or maybe it’s just a major lack of green in my thumb, but my outdoor gardening experiences have all been abysmal. So when I started indoor gardening, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that eliminating environmental issues was more than half the battle of gardening.

No bugs. No weeds. No adorably cute but always hungry bunnies. No rain, no drought, no aggressive sun. It’s pretty nice!

And guess what? My thumb is turning green!

2. Plants freshen and purify the air.

Way back when we were all in science class, we learned that plants were responsible for releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. But did you realize that they also clear toxins in the air?

In the 1970s, NASA conducted a study analyzing the effects of plants on air quality. They discovered that plants naturally improve indoor air quality by emitting water vapor that pulls contaminated air down to the root system. There, the air is converted into nutrients. By this process, your little indoor garden can help you breathe a little easier.

3. Indoor gardens help you relax.

If there’s one thing that pretty much everyone agrees upon, it’s that life is stressful. While yoga, meditation, and exercise are excellent ways to reduce stress, another way to combat stress is to engage in growing houseplants.

According to the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, tending to plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress. The acts of caring for and nurturing them suppresses the sympathetic nervous system. This reduces blood pressure and brings about positive psychological benefits.

Think about how you feel when you take a walk through a forest or camp in the woods. That same peaceful feeling is brought about when you interact with plants in your home. Whether you’re transplanting, watering, or just giving them a casual check, the indoor garden that you see every day will help you calm down.

4. Indoor gardens don’t take up much space.

If your family is like mine, you’ve got way too much stuff.

Exciting new gizmos and gadgets come out all the time. So many of them claim that they’ll make our lives easier or more fulfilling. And while that may be true, at least for some of them, our gizmos have a habit of piling up.

Unfortunately, plants do need a little place to live when you bring them indoors. But on the good side, they don’t need all that much space. If your home has a lot of light, your plants will thrive pretty much anywhere you put them– bookshelves, windowsills, side tables…you’ll find they’re not too fussy.

If you live in a small space or a home with limited light, don’t worry! There are wonderful indoor gardening systems that provide the perfect type of light that plants need to grow. It won’t matter where you put your plant, as the grow light is part of the garden structure.

I personally love Click and Grow’s Smart Garden systems. They’re hydroponic gardens in a compact design, so you can put them anywhere. And since they come in a variety of sizes, there’s something for everyone, no matter how little space you have.

5. Plants increase your productivity and ability to focus.

While I’d heard of the soothing effects that plants can have on people, I never thought that they also had the ability to help us focus and get our work done, too.

I was wrong.

A 2019 Korean study measured the effects of plants on students’ ability to focus on schoolwork. They compared the presence of real, live plants, artificial plants, photos of plants, and no plant presence. The results were surprising.

When brain waves were measured, researchers determined that students were able to focus better when a live plant was within sight. They also discovered that the plants themselves did nothing to change the students’ brain wave patterns. Instead, the increased focus was due to the student seeing the plant.

Guess who’s going to go shopping for a pretty basil plant to place on her desk?

6. Indoor gardening can supply you with fresh produce year-round.

This was the biggest reason that I decided to begin an indoor garden.

I love using fresh herbs in my cooking. My record with growing herbs in my garden outside is just so-so, but I absolutely love trying to grow basil each year since I use it so much.

But it’s so depressing when that first frost hits and my basil plant shrivels. I hate spending money on fresh herbs, only to have them go bad before I have a chance to use them.

And I hate when I need a teaspoon or two of an herb, but have to buy a whole bouquet. I still haven’t mastered the art of drying herbs, so most of the time they stay in the fridge until they liquify. Yuck.

When I learned about indoor gardening, I realized I could grow my beloved basil inside ALL YEAR LONG! I can’t tell you how happy this made me! I snip off leaves as I need them, in the amounts I need, so there’s no waste. And I’ve found that I use fresh herbs more since they’re growing right there in my kitchen.

And it’s not just basil. I’m growing mini tomatoes right now, alongside green leaf lettuce. I’ve got my eye on some peppers to try growing indoors, too. And I seriously can’t wait to start growing my own tea blends!

The best part is that every plant I have tried growing inside ACTUALLY GROWS! And if it doesn’t, Click and Grow, the manufacturer of my garden system, will replace any plant that doesn’t sprout for free. For a gal who stinks at gardening, this is a dream come true!

7. Caring for your indoor garden helps you establish a routine.

There are numerous health benefits associated with having daily routines. These include having improved sleep habits, lower levels of stress, and better nutrition. But sometimes we’re reluctant to develop routines because it’s “one more thing” to worry about.

Having an indoor garden can change that. Your plants rely upon you for water, light, and pruning. All of these things must be provided regularly, otherwise you won’t be a plant parent for very long.

Developing a garden care routine often inspires people to creating new health routines for themselves. Many people are reminded of the importance of drinking enough water each day when they water their plants. Seeing your green baby wilted and sad is a pretty big reminder of how important water is to all living things. It could be what you need to remember to hydrate yourself, too!

8. Plants boost your immune system.

Plants can help you fight off illnesses in two different ways. Some potted plants, such as spider plants, snake plants, and chrysanthemums work extra hard at clearing the air of toxins. Snake plants, sometimes called mother-in-law tongues, are wonderful for beginners because they are so forgiving. They can go for a couple of weeks without water or light–not that you should deliberately put them in that situation.

Other plants can boost immunity when ingested. Try growing your own garlic, oregano, or thyme in your indoor garden. Not only are these herbs easy to grow, but they also give your immune system a little boost!

9. Plants provide aesthetic benefits to your living space.

It’s amazing how the ambience of a place can change with the addition of an indoor garden. A cold room suddenly seems warmer when living plants are present. Perhaps it’s the inner knowledge that plants need nurturing to grow, so by association the person owning the space must be a caring, nurturing individual. Or perhaps it has to do with the relaxing effect that plants have on us.

But whatever it is, it has been scientifically proven that areas with living plants are more aesthetically pleasing than those without. A 2017 study conducted in England found that urban areas containing greenery provoked quiet, reflective, and restorative feelings in people occupying the space. Areas of brightly colored flowering plants were found to be extremely attractive and stimulating.

Adding plants to your living space adds to its attractiveness. Whether you’re trying to sell your home, or you just want to make a room more welcoming, plants can bring a splash of color and a bit of peace to any abode.

10. Indoor gardens are a source of pride.

Taking care of plant babies gives us a sense of purpose in our lives. Without our care, they’ll wither and die. But with our help, they grow into something big and beautiful. And when you grow tasty fruits or vegetables, cooking with what you grew yourself is definitely something to be proud of!

The growing trend of showing off gorgeous indoor gardens on social media allows plant parents certain bragging rights, to be sure. But it also allows them to support each other in their endeavors. Tips and tricks fill the pages of plant growing communities as much as snapshots of cherished plants and systems, revealing the satisfaction felt by many who have nursed a seed into a green giant.

If you’re ready to enjoy the benefits of indoor gardening, but don’t have a green thumb, I can totally relate. I sadly managed to off every plant I brought into my house until I actually bought an indoor gardening system.

My Click and Grow indoor garden amazes me. In the first week I had little sprouts erupting through the soil, and my plants have been busily growing ever since…and I’ve even managed to keep them healthy! I’m so pleased with my Smart Garden 9 that I am considering purchasing another.

The Click and Grow systems are really easy to set up so you can start gardening. Click here to read about my experience in getting my Smart Garden assembled and going. (Spoiler Alert – It took less than 15 minutes!)

Do you have an indoor garden? What benefits do you get from your plants? Comment below to let us know!