Five green tips to creating an indoor garden on a budget
GO green to help keep you feeling serene.
Plants are a great way to boost your mood, especially during the darker months.
So create your own indoor garden on a budget, using these tips . . .
SOW FOR IT: There’s no need to splurge when cultivating your mood-boosting oasis.
Consider joining a local seed exchange group, where fellow gardeners trade or donate seeds.
It provides an excellent opportunity to start your indoor garden without spending.
Search for the UK Plant/Seed swap group on Facebook or check on the Nextdoor app.
TRIM THE COST: Propagating your plants — for example, by taking cuttings and replanting — is a cheap way to start your indoor garden.
To avoid buying a new plant, ask a neighbour or a friend for a cutting (from the stem) and place it in a potting mix.
Begin with an easy-to-propagate spider plant, which purifies air in your home.
Or you could try growing your own English ivy, which thrives in steamy bathrooms and can help reduce mould.
POT LUCK: Why spend a fortune on fancy plant pots when you can make your own and help the environment?
Start by washing and decorating empty food tins, then poke a few holes in the bottom to turn them into pots.
Or you could recycle egg boxes and use them as seed starters before moving to pots.
MAKE A SCENE: No interior designer? No problem.
Create a green display to add some chic style to your living room.
Pick up a set of five easy-to-manage starter succulents for £9.89 on Amazon and place them in the Ikea Akerbar mini greenhouse, reduced from £19 to £15.
It will look great on a sideboard or shelf.
Or you can place it on a mantelpiece to create a focal point for your room.
AND RELAX: Lavender is said to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, so treat yourself to the Munstead Blue English lavender dwarf plant pot for £5.99 instead of £3.99 at gardeningexpress.co.uk.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
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