There are plants that will happily grow with limited natural lighting and minimal space. All you need is a window, water, soil, and a container to put it in — anything that will hold dirt will work. From bowls to buckets, the decision is yours, so long as it’s the appropriate size for your plants’ expected growth and drainage needs. There is no need for green houses and expensive potting mix. The key to a happy, healthy garden is to simply know your plants and what they need.
By outlining a few low-maintenance plants, this guide hopes to make gardening in your tiny spaces as easy and accessible as possible. From sunny apartment windows to cool, shaded basement suites, here are some plants that will be right at home, in your home.
In general, herbs are relatively easy to grow, and will happily sit in small pots on a windowsill. They’re also delicious! Ideal for a kitchen window, basil, lemon balm, oregano, and rosemary, are popular indoor plants. Only water them when the soil becomes dry, and ensure the pots allow for drainage of excess water. They can be grown and harvested year-round so long as they have sun exposure for at least four hours per day and are kept moderately warm.
Alliums
Green onions can be grown in something as simple as a mason jar with a little bit of water. This can be a great way to extend the life of store-bought green onions as well, allowing you to get two to four more cuttings out of them.
Garlic is another allium that can be grown indoors. While it does require a bit more attention, it’s well worth the reward. Begin by taking a clove of garlic (ideally one already trying to sprout in your pantry) and place it in the refrigerator for about two weeks before potting. The period of chill actually helps encourage growth once planted — weird, I know. Garlic prefers a lot of bright light, so try to place it near a south or west facing window for best results. Garlic tolerates drier conditions and only needs to be watered once or twice a week. Â
Greens
If you’re living in a basement or other lowlight locations, leafy greens are the perfect plant companions. Lettuce, spinach, and kale grow surprisingly well with limited light. Most leafy greens also prefer to grow in slightly cooler temperatures (between 10 and 22 degrees celsius). They are also content in fairly shallow pots. Remember to water regularly, but make sure the soil and pots drain well. They like to be hydrated, but not soggy. They are easy to harvest and a delight to eat. What better way to add more greens to your diet, than from your own little garden?Â
This one might surprise you, but you can absolutely grow carrots, beets, and radishes indoors. However, they will require larger growing containers, at least 30 cm tall, to accommodate their roots and downward growth. They can do well in slightly cooler spaces, comfortable slightly above and below room temperature. Beets and radishes prefer sunnier spaces, with at least six hours of direct light per day, whereas carrots are happier in slightly shadier spaces. Water them often, but minimally, for best results.Â
Fun fact: there are dozens of variations of carrots and beets, which grow vegetables in all kinds of crazy colours. Try planting Chioggia beets or purple carrots to add more colour to your plate.
Mushrooms
Do you have a humid bathroom with a tiny window? Then you’re in luck! While technically a fungus and not a plant, mushrooms are perfectly acceptable additions to a garden. In recent years, mushroom kits have become a popular home garden trend. The oyster mushroom is my personal favourite. They are so easy and simple to care for, needing only minimal light, some airflow and water, everything else is included in the kit. Most produce two to four large clusters of mushrooms to harvest per box and give you access to fungi that most grocery chains don’t carry.Â
Small-scale, in-home gardening is a low-risk, high reward kind of hobby. It brings greenery to your space, food to your plate, and a low intensity practice of patience and observation to soothe your mind in a busy world. Regardless of the limitations of your home, there are plants and mushrooms that will thrive alongside you. Happy gardening! Â
Elyssa is a BSc student, pursuing studies in Physical Geography while also entertaining her creative side within the visual arts. She is currently the Creative Director here with the Cascade. Having previously been an Illustrator, Production Assistant, and Production Manager, she's been around a while. In her free time she can often be found knitting and watching reruns of outdated shows from the 80s.