Build a Garden in your Window!

Do you like fresh veggies? How about dirt? Indoor gardening is a great way to learn about plants, play in the dirt, and grow delicious and nutritious vegetables. An indoor garden will produce tasty veggies all year round, no matter what season it is.


An indoor garden can use as much or as little space as you choose. You can even grow tomatoes in a window! A larger garden can be placed on a table or bench. Shelves are a great choice. They can hold many plants while giving them enough space to absorb a lot of light.


Indoor Gardening Tools


Plants love the light! They survive by a process called photosynthesis. Just like you need to eat, plants need light to photosynthesize and grow strong. Lights are one of the most important tools you need for indoor gardening. Even if plants get a lot of sunlight, they will probably be small and thin without a grow light. You need more items than plants, dirt, and seeds to grow a healthy garden. Before you start gardening, check out this list of supplies:

• Grow lights: Different lights work well for different plants. Choose from incandescent, fluorescent, compact fluorescent and HID bulbs. HID bulbs are the strongest and can be used to grow any type of plant. Compact fluorescent lights will make your herbs grow healthy.


• Support cage: You will need one of these if you want to grow tomatoes. They need room to climb and you can attach your grow lights to the top.


• Timer: Did you know plants need sleep? Your plants need darkness and light to photosynthesize. A timer can set your grow lights to turn on and off on their own. They will get the hours of darkness they need.


• Fan: We all like a cool breeze. So do plants. Moving the air around your plants can keep away harmful bugs and leaf fungi.


• Rug or plastic mat: Protect the floor under your garden. You might spill dirt or water while working.

Choosing Plant for Your Garden


You can grow almost any plant indoors! Some are easier to grow than others. Here are a few of the best plants to grow indoors:

• Vegetables: Chard, Carrots, Beans, Peppers, Salad Greens, Kale, Tomatoes, Onions


• Herbs: Basil, Catmint, Chives, Cilantro, Parsley, Oregano, Rosemary, Lavender


• Flowers: Begonia, Alyssum, Candytuft, Geranium, Pansy, Roses, Marigold, Shasta Daisy, Zinnia,


• Fruits: Citrus, Apples, Strawberries, Blueberries, citrus

These plants are known for thriving indoors. But you can try to grow any plant with enough light, fertilizer, space, and care. Get creative with your garden!


More Gardening Tips


Apart from tools and types of plants, there are few other factors to consider when planning your indoor garden.


Temperature: Most plants grow best between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can adjust the temperature around your plants with different lights. Plants that are too hot will be small and skinny. Plants that are too cold with grow yellow leaves that fall off.


Humidity: Humidity means the amount of moisture or water in the air. In the winter, your house will probably be dryer and have lower humidity. In the summer, humidity will be higher and your plants will get more moisture. Make the air around your plants humid by using a humidifier, setting out open water, or misting your plants.


Fertilizer: Fertilizers give your plants the nutrients they need to grow strong! A hydroponics garden will give your plants nutrients directly instead of through soil. You can also make a compost tea to fertilize your plants. Compost is the remains of old food and other organic material. You can store your table scraps and feed them to your plants. Mix your compost with water and let it sit for a few days. Then, strain that mix into another container, add more water and spread it on the dirt around your plants.


With an indoor garden, you can save money at the grocery store by growing food at home. Plants are also good for the air and look beautiful. Learn more about indoor gardening and make plants a fun and colorful part of your home.

• Let's Move: Kitchen Garden Checklist


• Experiments Advance Gardening at Home and In Space


• Composting at Home


• Got Veggies? (PDF)


• University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Houseplants


• Plant Life: A Teacher's Guide (PDF)


• Growing Herbs Indoors


• Houseplants Help Clean Indoor Air


• Starting Seeds Indoors


• Vegetable Garden: Container Garden


• Let's Get Growing in Containers! (PDF)


• Getting Ready to Grow Under Lights


• DIY: How to Grow a Window Garden for Kids


• Window Farming: A Do-It-Yourself Veggie Venture


• Inside Urban Green: SIP Recycled Soda Bottles


• Indoor Gardening Toolkit


• How Does Your Cat Grass Grow? Plant a Feline-Friendly Indoor Garden


• How to Start a Hydroponic Garden


• DEEP: Home Composting


• Starting Vegetable/Flower Seeds Indoors


• Kitchen Window Treatments Overlooking Garden

Article written by Lexi Westingate

Door Blinds - How to Measure for French Door or Traditional Door Blinds
Door blinds can be any blind or shade mounted as a door mount blind. French door blinds or traditional door blinds are simply outside mount blinds or shades with hold downs to keep them from swinging as the door opens or shuts. People commonly mount blinds in a door at their home or office. Popular blinds that are used on doors range from faux wood, wood, cellular shades and roller shades. When measuring for french door blinds there are several things to consider.... more

Corner Window Blinds
If two windows meet in the corner and privacy is a concern, the best way to install window blinds or shades is to overlap them (see figure). One blind will be the measurement from the wall to the window. The second blind will be the measurement from the wall to where the second blind will be. This measurement will be from the wall to the window subtracting the width of the blinds. For a 2 inch wood blind, that will be about 2 to 2 1/2 inches.... more

Measure Window Shades or Blinds for Tile or Moulding
Occasionally obstructions can get in the way of window shades or blinds such as wood moulding or a tile back splash. Cut-outs can be made in the blind or shade for proper clearance in these areas. There is a surcharge for each cut made.... more

Blinds for Angled Top Windows
Blinds or shades can be difficult to find for angled top windows. A few manufacturers make window blinds or shades with angled headrails for this purpose. Another option is to leave the angled top of the window open and just mount the window blinds or shades with the headrail just before the angled portion of the window. This article will discuss how to the the later.... more

How to Measure Window Blinds for Bay Windows
When measuring window blinds for bay windows, you will need calculate the intersecting points of the blinds to determine the width of each piece. The first step is to select a window shade noting that different types of shades will have different depths. Once you have selected the blinds or shades, you will be able to get the depth you need to calculate the intersection point. See the product specifications for exact depths.... more

2" and 2 1/2" Horizontal Window Blinds Installation Instructions
When installing horizontal window blinds, the same process can be used when installing all types of horizontal blinds. This page will cover basic installation of our 2 and 2 1/2" blinds.... more

Parts for Installing Horizontal Window Blinds
Below is a list of parts that are used when installing horizontal blinds. Note: You may not receive all the parts listed. You may also receive additional parts that are not needed. We will only send you the horizontal blinds parts for your particular application.... more

Vertical Window Blinds Installation Instructions
To install vertical window blinds, please read completely the instructions below before beginning the installation process.... more

Honeycomb Cell Shades - Installation Part 1 of 2
Our honeycomb cell shades are made to be either an inside mount or an outside mount, depending on what you desire. A few tools are required to install your blinds.

Measuring Tape

Battery or Power Drill

¼ Hex head bit or Phillips driver bit

... more

Honeycomb Shades - Parts For Installing Cellular Shades
Below is a list of parts that are used when installing cellular honeycomb shades. Different brackets are needed for installing cellular shades with different lift mechanisms.... more

The New Simplicity of Window Coverings Affords Customers Endless Choices
There is a new attitude in the world of window treatments and blinds are quickly becoming the choice for home decorators because they are sleek and simple, and much of the hardware has gone high tech.... more

Energy Efficient Window Treatments - Energy Conservation Tips From Blinds Chalet
Energy efficient window treatments can translate into considerable utility bill savings. Though windows can be an attractive feature in any home, they can also account for 10% to 25% of a family's heating bill.... more