Do you think your living space is too small for an indoor garden? Think again! Even if you don't have a "green thumb", or simply don't have the time, it is possible to grow your own garden indoors, any time of the year, in a small space. I had my doubts when a friend recommended this tabletop unit to grow lettuce, herbs, flowers, and even vegetables such as cherry tomatoes and hot peppers! It sounded incredible, but I took the plunge and invested @$50 in the smallest countertop garden unit. It is self-watering, with an LCD light, and can accommodate up to 3 plants. Bigger units will require more space, and can hold more sprouts. I liked the narrow shape, size, and color of this particular one.

Equipment:

Seed Pods:The unit came with 3 seed pods, and I ordered 3 more. Each seed pod is labeled with number of days needed for germination and plant heights..
Nutrients: Each seed pod kit includes a bottle of nutrients.
Domes: These are plastic lids which create a "greenhouse", and encourages growth.

Set-Up:

Add water to fill line. Be sure it's room temperature. City water is fine.
Insert your seed pods. Place tallest in the back of the unit.
Cover the pods with the cute little plastic domes. They won't really snap on, but don't worry. These lids stay on until the pods have sprouted and the leaves grow big enough to touch the tops of the lids.
Remove the lid from the well and add a capful of nutrients (see photo below). When the plants need more, a light will go on. Usually every two weeks.
Plug it in to turn the light on. Just know that the time you plug it in, is the time the light will go on every day, automatically. It will stay on for 16 hours/day. It has automatic shut-off, so you don't need to keep track of how much light your plants are getting. Note: The light is VERY bright, so you may want to set it so that it doesn't interfere with your sleep patterns!

That's it! Depending on what you plant, you should see sprouts within 10 days! I began with a lettuce, basil, and lavender. I suspect I shoudn't have mixed up my plants, because my basil failed to sprout. I think it was taken over by the lettuce, which did extremely well, however. So far, I have been most successful with lettuce and lavender. I planted rosemary, which did sprout, but has been slow to grow. In the future I am probably going to grow my herbs together. I have yet to try tomatoes and peppers.

I was so excited when my lavender actually flowered! As you can see, the lettuce needs pruning, which is recommended to encourage growth and make room for the other plants. The light is adjustable and can be raised as plants grow. I hope you will give this a try, even if you don't have a "green thumb"! Be sure to leave a comment if you do and share your tips for indoor gardening. Happy planting!

Post by: Nicoletta Siccone / ETSY Shop: ArtologieDesigns / Website: www.art-ologie.com

Nicoletta is a lifelong artist and art educator, with an M.A. in Art Education and Administration. She travels the world seeking cultural inspiration for her art, and has worked in fibers, acrylics, oils, and sculpture. Her current work is inspired by the reinvention of the mundane zipper, elevated to an art form into unexpected jewelry designs, and shown throughout the New York/New Jersey area as Artologie Zipper Jewelry.