Home Inspiration

8 indoor gardening ideas to try this winter

Bring the outdoors in this winter with these easy indoor gardening ideas.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you would know that indoor plants are one of the hottest trends in lifestyle and gardening right now. But how do you look after them when the weather turns cold?

Self-confessed indoor plant lover, Narelle Van Reyk from Scotts Osmocote, advises there is no better time than winter to indulge in all things green. “Don’t let the cooler weather deter you from gardening. Just move inside and discover the wonderful world of indoor plants,” she says.

Narelle predicts that this winter we will see more creativity, balcony herb gardens and indoor feature plants entering our homes.

To help you embrace the trend, here are eight indoor plant trends to embrace this winter.

1. Plants become centre stage

Indoor plants are becoming more popular as a simple way to decorate your living space. Although potting your plant in concrete, glass and ceramic pots adds to the aesthetic, the lush look we’re all loving is from the plant itself. Some of the most popular decorative indoor plants include monstera deliciosa, devil’s ivy, fiddle leaf fig and plants with patterned leaves like rattlesnake plants.

2. Vertical gardens

Aside from being totally trendy, a vertical garden is a convenient gardening option, especially if you’re short on space. Vertical gardens and green walls can be grown indoors or out and are surefire way to bring a blank wall to life.

3. Indoor herb garden

The greatest myth in gardening is that you need a backyard when in fact, the most productive herb gardens live indoors on terrace balconies and window sills. This winter’s hottest herbs will be mint, rosemary, basil and thyme. They’ll also become a delicious addition to your winter recipes.

4. Desert-scaping

For visual impact, group your cacti and succulent collections together in a single pot to create a feature piece with various characteristics. Always remember to add a layer of gravel beneath the soil for optimal drainage

5. Hanging plants

Transform your home into a lush oasis and save precious floor space with hanging plants like easy-to-make Kokedama. To hang plants indoors you will require a hook anchored into your ceiling that is capable of withstanding the weight of your plant. Most plants are fairly lightweight, so you can usually get away with a self-driving plasterboard anchor and a threaded hook.

6. Growing in water

Take advantage of a windowsill in winter and grow something in nothing else but water! Whether it’s a beautiful hyacinth bulb you will eventually transplant in your garden, an avocado tree from an old seed, or even new vegetables from your scraps! The options are limitless.

7. Indoor plant care

Plants rely on nutrients within the pot you plant them in, in order to flourish. To ensure your plants reach their full potential, use a good quality, premium potting mix. Give your plants a shot of controlled release fertiliser to ensure they have all the nutrients they need to remain happy and healthy.

8. Upcycled pots

As more of us join the fight to rid single use plastics, a growing trend is ‘upcycling’ used containers and bottles to pot indoor plants. This is a great DIY project for a cold winter’s day – perfect for families with children that need indoor entertainment.

Related stories