Indoor Gardening Thread

Ostrodamus

Ostrodamus

Member
Location
Southern Colorado
First name
Fox
Hardiness zone
6a
Hello all.

I'm creating this thread in hopes that we can have a bit more of a centralized location for all things "indoor gardening" related. If anyone is anything like me then you likely can't be bothered to go out in the cold to garden during the winter. I'm new to this region, and it's much colder than I'm used to in the winters, therefore I have set up an indoor greenhouse for winter gardening. This comes with its own issues. Mainly... I'm new to indoor gardening. Just this first winter I am encountering endless questions. So much so that I stopped looking them all up and decided to just try them for myself.

Things like...

Pots vs. bags
Self-pollination and my role in it.
Watering adjustments (ongoing)
Which veggies grow best?
Grow lights - lumens, red/white/blue spectrums
Heating and air flow
Indoor pests and how to handle them best
Fertilizing - Do, don't, give half when, except when - sheesh!

It just goes on and on it seems. I figure; I enjoy gardening enough that I want to do it year-round in some fashion (for now), why not learn how to do it indoors? I'm hoping there are others on this site who also enjoy indoor gardening, or are interested in starting. Maybe we can figure this out together.

Thanks for checking out the thread.

-Fox-
 
This looks like the interesting makings of a thread :) The first thing I'd think about if using an upstairs space, or extended veranda area would be the weight issue. Growing mediums can be very light when dry, but dangerously heavy when wet. I know someone who used a flat roof area for a few plants in pots, and the roof rotted, and it all went crashing through and caused a huge amount of damage. No special clever knowledge to impart here, just interesting to think about, and maybe glean some knowledge.
 
The only "indoor gardening" I do is houseplants and starting seeds indoors because I have to in order to have plants big enough to transplant out into the garden in March.

I would think it all depends on what you are trying to grow. Winter veg like cabbages and broccoli you would have an easier time I would think because you can keep the room cool and they will grow with less light than tomatoes and peppers where you have to keep the room warm. For all of them you have to have humidity. A 20 buck humidifier should take care of that.

You would still need to fertilize as if they were growing outside.
 
Tetters said:
This looks like the interesting makings of a thread :) The first thing I'd think about if using an upstairs space, or extended veranda area would be the weight issue. Growing mediums can be very light when dry, but dangerously heavy when wet. I know someone who used a flat roof area for a few plants in pots, and the roof rotted, and it all went crashing through and caused a huge amount of damage. No special clever knowledge to impart here, just interesting to think about, and maybe glean some knowledge.
Click to expand...
I did think about this, and I'm well under any weight limits. I have two 20-gallon grow bags in the center, up to four 5-gallon grow bags on either side (left right - total of eight 5-gallon bags), then I smattering of gallon/4" pots on the shelves. What I didn't [fully] think about was water runoff. Luckily, I didn't completely neglect it and I put down a double layer of thicker painter's clear tarp. I also have drip mats of sorts that catch runoff of the larger bags. That being said, I saw some moisture under the tarp the other day and now I'm worried the flooring under will have some discoloration come spring. 🫨
 
Get ya some of those black plastic pans that guys use to catch the old oil when they do an oil change on their car. The grow bags should fit in those and use trays under the rest to catch the water.
 
IF I ever decided to garden indoors, it would definitely move the whole operation to a place on the ground floor, and keep the top of the house for living accommodation. Even the plastic covering or trays, especially in a humid situation can cause damp, and once damp gets into timber you will finish up with problems, so more than a little risky for you and your family.
In a cold winter, the top of a house is usually the warmest, as heat rises. Here, we have the living room upstairs, with one small bedroom, store cupboard and bathroom. The views are better up here, and it's a good place to be should we get unwelcome guests :giggle: Too much humidity, incidentally, can cause mould.
Downstairs is the busy, working area.
 
Ostrodamus said:
Hello all.

I'm creating this thread in hopes that we can have a bit more of a centralized location for all things "indoor gardening" related. If anyone is anything like me then you likely can't be bothered to go out in the cold to garden during the winter. I'm new to this region, and it's much colder than I'm used to in the winters, therefore I have set up an indoor greenhouse for winter gardening. This comes with its own issues. Mainly... I'm new to indoor gardening. Just this first winter I am encountering endless questions. So much so that I stopped looking them all up and decided to just try them for myself.

Things like...

Pots vs. bags
Self-pollination and my role in it.
Watering adjustments (ongoing)
Which veggies grow best?
Grow lights - lumens, red/white/blue spectrums
Heating and air flow
Indoor pests and how to handle them best
Fertilizing - Do, don't, give half when, except when - sheesh!

It just goes on and on it seems. I figure; I enjoy gardening enough that I want to do it year-round in some fashion (for now), why not learn how to do it indoors? I'm hoping there are others on this site who also enjoy indoor gardening, or are interested in starting. Maybe we can figure this out together.

Thanks for checking out the thread.

-Fox-
Click to expand...
This is reminding of the film "Martian" with Matt Damon. You'll soon be growing rows of spuds!
 
I have a Greenhouse and trying to grow some inside. I had a big Grow Light but it didn't work out.

I only have one South Window but some of my plants wanted more so I moved them to the Greenhouse and their doing fine. Running Grow Lights in the Greenhouse 5 hours.

I have a Permit to grow Marijuana and at present building a room just for it. Kind of the same as other plants but more. I started using plastic self watering pots on rollers which work fine.

Got two huge Grow Lights and Fans. Have reflective material on ceiling and walls.

Mix my own soil. Building another room because I had Grow Tents but Zippers was messing up on them.

Having everything fixed with Wheelchair in mind.

big rockpile
 
@Ostrodamus, I didn't intend to do any indoor gardening, and now look what's going on :rolleyes: I had the idea of growing celery from @Ruler of the Roost, and now I'm getting hooked on the idea. This is without a special greenhouse, there simply isn't enough space for that, but it will be good for a couple of window ledges. Ruler of the Roost also grows lettuce, and all from scraps. Arugula is also a good one for window ledge growing so I'm reading, and good and tough for the winter months. Now I'm trying to find out what else in the way of edibles I can grow in the same sort of space, and with scraps. ??
 
Most of the space in two window bays is taken up with about thirty overwintering pelargonium plants at this time of year. These include oak leaf, citrus and rose scented varieties plus firestorm, a white and regal pelargonium. We put them in pots outside in the summer.
 
blenor 2 said:
Most of the space in two window bays is taken up with about thirty overwintering pelargonium plants at this time of year. These include oak leaf, citrus and rose scented varieties plus firestorm, a white and regal pelargonium. We put them in pots outside in the summer.
Click to expand...
I think you need a greenhouse, or a shed with a window - or a poly carb roof for the light to come through. Celery and lettuce like plenty of light, but shade and cooler temperatures. We can't really eat pelargoniums can we, even if they do make a spectacular display in the summer ;)
 
Tetters said:
IF I ever decided to garden indoors, it would definitely move the whole operation to a place on the ground floor, and keep the top of the house for living accommodation. Even the plastic covering or trays, especially in a humid situation can cause damp, and once damp gets into timber you will finish up with problems, so more than a little risky for you and your family.
In a cold winter, the top of a house is usually the warmest, as heat rises. Here, we have the living room upstairs, with one small bedroom, store cupboard and bathroom. The views are better up here, and it's a good place to be should we get unwelcome guests :giggle: Too much humidity, incidentally, can cause mould.
Downstairs is the busy, working area.
Click to expand...
You have TWO floors?!?!?! What's it like?
 
☺️ Just asked Zigs if he'd put on a photo of my new scrappy 'starts' tomorrow - he said ''😨you won't tell me off- will you'' so I've assured him it's ok with permission 😇
 

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