Put together mini-indoor garden ideas with these clever projects perfect for apartments, including terrariums and hanging and wall gardens.
Adding a bit of greenery to your living space is especially welcoming during the winter months. As the outdoor world is lacking color at this time of year, indoor gardens can bring an element of life and vibrancy to your home. When space is an issue, a mini indoor garden will add just the right amount of verdant ambiance to your space.
There are many creative ways to create mini indoor gardens, but the greatest ones incorporate innovation with the simplicity of plant life. Let’s take a look at seven examples of indoor gardens and learn how you can make them a part of your own living space.
Lightbulb Planters
With lightbulb planters, you can enjoy the bulbs for longer than the life of the bulb itself. Repurposed old lightbulbs can find a new use as mini terrariums to create an inexpensive mini garden. Combine a few of these to a window sill or shelf or create a hanging version to accentuate your living space.
Lantern Terrarium
Lantern terrariums take up very little space and bring a beautiful element of life to any room. Making them can be as complicated or as simple as you like, but the idea is that the sealed space of a terrarium creates a perfect environment for indoor plants. It’s basically its own recycling facility. Plants breathe in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Sunlight and carbon dioxide are taken in through photosynthesis and the plants provide food for themselves and water from the condensation from terrarium walls.
Assorted Potted Plants
Anyone can create a lovely mini indoor garden space using pots and plants, and then arrange them in an interesting way. It can be as simple or as bold as you’d like. You can choose a variety of shapes and sizes for the pots, or keep everything uniform. Even the type of plants you choose can be simple or elaborate. The arrangements can also be as effortless as stacked shelves or an intricate as hanging shelves for pots.
A garden of potted plants is especially wonderful if you grow your own plants from seeds. After they sprout and grow a bit, they can find a new home in your garden.
Mason Jar Wall Planters
Mason jars are one of the most versatile everyday household items, and they make especially nice hanging herb gardens for the kitchen. With a few simple supplies, you can create a mini indoor garden that’s not only easy to create, but also easy to maintain.
Vertical Wall Garden
Vertical wall gardens require a bit of wall space, and they can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. With a little research and some legwork, you can produce a DIY version for your home.
Mini Hanging String Garden
Add some height and depth to an indoor space with a hanging garden. The beauty and structure of the indoor plants is the focal point of hanging string gardens, because the eye is not distracted by pots. Their simple elegance makes them one of the best ways to finish a room’s décor.
Bottle Garden
A bottle garden is a self-watering mini indoor garden. Using any type of bottle, from a pony beer bottle to extra-large wine bottles, you can create a unique conversation piece that doubles as an indoor garden. If you’re busy and don’t want to add more plants to water to your to-do list, consider a low-maintenance bottle garden.
Mini-Indoor-Garden Ideas
When space is of concern or you’re looking for something small to add the finishing touch to a room, mini indoor garden ideas might be the answer. They perfectly couple simplicity with innovation, and add the perfect touch of greenery to a living space.
Originally published in January of 2015 and updated October 2023.
James White is green builder and home improvement blogger who focuses on sustainable living via his family blog Homey Improvements. He also enjoys sharing his recent discoveries with DIY projects, home tips and organic gardening. James is “Alaska Grown” but now resides in Pennsylvania. Connect with him on Twitter at @DIYfolks. Read all of James’ MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here.
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