It’s true that you don’t need a house, a backyard, or a big outdoor space to start gardening. But, growing something in a small space — as I tragically know from experience — is about a lot more than just picking the plants with the best vibes.
Some of these plants fare better than others, and they require a special kind of love and care. Thankfully, there are plenty of smart, patient plant parents who’ve figured it out for us. |
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HOW TO GROW PLANTS WITHOUT A FANCY HOME GARDEN |
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If the conditions inside your house are good enough for your human needs, they’ll be good enough for at least a handful of different plants — no garden necessary.
Start with herbs, like basil and parsley, or tomatoes, which are so self-sustaining that they can literally plant themselves.
If you’re not trying to have a homemade Italian summer, the best nonedible easy-to-grow indoor plants include money trees, snake plants, and spider plants. I’m not sure why all of their names are so sinister, because they’ll actually be very kind to you.
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YOU MIGHT BE ACCIDENTALLY KILLING YOUR OWN HOUSEPLANTS
Learning to take care of any living thing is a process, but there’s no need to commit botanical manslaughter. These two tips will save you from hosting a plant funeral:
- Make sure you’re bottom-watering your plants so they don’t drown, dry out, or harbor weird bug eggs. This simple change will save water, too.
- When you repot, make sure you’re starting your plant buddies off in a good situation. Give those roots room to breathe and pack the soil around them.
Protect your plants → |
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THIS CHARITY GARDEN POISONING SCANDAL IS THE MOST HEARTBREAKING THING YOU’LL READ TODAY |
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With only her personal garden and a passion for community service, Carly Burd fed more than 1,000 people overwhelmed by the U.K.’s cost of living crisis. Then, a vandal destroyed her entire charitable operation with table salt.
In a viral TikTok, Burd tearfully showed how the plot of land where she grows fruits and vegetables that she donates to families in need through her “A Meal on Me With Love” initiative. Over 4,000 of her supporters donated to a GoFundMe to help her bring the garden back to life for the benefit of the whole neighborhood.
Here's what's happening now→ |
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I just got into brewing my own cold brew at home, and I’m wondering if there’s anything more sustainable I can do with the leftover used coffee grounds instead of throwing them away. Thanks in advance for keeping me grounded!
– Abbey K. |
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Hi Abbey!
Plants, they’re just like us! They feast on sunlight and benefit from a little caffeine jolt — or at least the minerals found in coffee.
Toss those leftover grounds in your garden, and they’ll double as a free fertilizer. (Use just a thin sprinkling, because too much of a good thing may not be great for plants.) You can enjoy your morning java alongside your plants, but sadly, you’re the only one who is obligated to answer emails at the same time.
If you don’t have a garden, you can either donate the grounds to a local one, or chuck them into a compost bin. I personally recommend making a coffee scrub, which will leave you smelling like a productive morning.
Now that I’ve said the word “coffee” so much, I’m starting to sound like those black-and-white word-art signs that keep home goods stores in business. |
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That’s all for this week. See you next weekend, when I’ll figure out the best way to avoid all that nasty wildfire air.
– Kelsey from TCD
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