You might think that when you have a baby, your life as a plant whisperer is over. Not so; you just have to figure out ways for plants and toddlers to coexist. Growing plants indoors with kids has tons of benefits. Particularly if you live in an apartment with little or no yard, having plants inside can give your kids a way to connect with nature daily. And the leaves of your potted plants help purify your air. Of course, growing plants indoors with kids in the house also can give the potential for huge messes. Here are some options for those of you who want to keep your house green but not covered in potting soil.
Growing Plants Indoors With Kids – Several Methods
1. Windowsill Gardens
Photo by Lesly Juarez.
If you have wonderful, wide windowsills, that’s your best option for a tiny indoor garden. Think herbs in
the kitchen, air-purifying plants in your living room, maybe a resilient ZZ plant in the bathroom. And if you don’t have wide enough windowsills, you can consider smaller pots for tiny plants [pictured at right] or a windowsill extender.
2. Sturdy Plant Stands or Shelves
I have some beautiful plant stands that my husband found for me on sale at Lowe’s. Unfortunately, they’re too easily overturned to have out in rooms where we will have small children. (It’s doable to train your own child to leave a plant stand alone. But all his little friends? Forget about it and find a different option!) Look for lower, hard-to-shake-or-overturn plant stands or use the top of a sturdy bookshelf. (Preferably a bookshelf that receives some daytime light.)
3. Large Pots
The larger the pot, the more difficult it is to tip over. On top of the dirt, you might try layering some large, decorative pebbles for additional drainage and less risk of spillage. It’s easier to pick up a couple pebbles grabbed while you weren’t watching than a handful of dirt sprinkled around the carpet.
4. Wall Planters
I recently found a beautiful piece of wall decor from Hobby Lobby with small metal tins that make perfect planters for my low-light vines. I finally figured out how to get plants on my wall without having a living wall! Pictured above is another option for plants as wall decor. High enough to be perfect for growing plants indoors with kids–especially little ones–they’re also plain gorgeous.
5. Hanging Planters
Hanging planters can either be hung from the ceiling or across your window, as in the picture above. (Click on photo to find this shelving unit on Amazon.) And macrame is back in style! I expect to see a lot of macrame planters in people’s homes again over the next few years.
6. Air Plants
While air plants require a little more know-how than the name might suggest, they can be a great choice for growing plants indoors with kids because: no dirt! You just soak them in water occasionally, let them dry out, and they live happily on their containers/frames. You can even make a fun, dirt-free fairy garden with the kids! (Here’s a tutorial on caring for air plants.) Below is a picture of several varieties of air plants you can buy online.
7. Succulents
Succulents often require less care (and have fewer tempting trailing leaves and vines for young children’s hands to grab) than other houseplants. You can keep them in small pots that fit in most sunlit mantles or windowsills. They’re a great option for growing plants indoors with kids in the house.
8. Plant Stands Attached to Windows or Balconies
The picture above shows a great example of using the space you have to provide a sturdy home for your plant babies. [Source] Your kids will enjoy watching the plants grow and bloom. And they will be less tempted to stir and throw dirt if it’s out of reach.
Enjoy!
Our lives are better with a little nature around us! We breathe cleaner air and we gain a calmer environment when plants surround us. Let your kids join in caring for your plants. Don’t give up on growing plants indoors with kids!
Let us know in the comments if you have more ways for keeping plants indoors when you have babies and toddlers in the house.