10 Fun Indoor Gardening Projects to Do This Winter

Stuck inside this winter but itching to put your green thumb to work? There are plenty of fun winter gardening projects you can work on indoors while you count down the days until springtime planting begins. Here are 10 of our favorite projects to keep avid gardeners busy all season long.

 

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1. Create a Succulent Fairy Garden

Have you ever seen those mesmerizing terrarium gardens some people keep in their living rooms? If you have children, or just want to unleash your own inner child, consider crafting a succulent fairy garden to put on display. Purchase succulents in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors and add rocks, moss or a myriad of miniature accessories such as tiny cottages, benches and fairytale critters. Even broken planter pots can work as a creative fairy garden container. Let your imagination run wild!

2. Start an Indoor Herb Garden

Many herbs can be grown inside throughout winter, so why not take advantage of the chilly weather and cultivate a few of these handy, aromatic plants indoors? From parsley to cilantro and just about everything in between, you can enjoy the fruits (or, well, herbs) of your labor all season long. If you want to start small, focus on one or two herbs that you know you’ll use while cooking. Choose a bright, sunny spot (like a kitchen windowsill) and get growing.

See more: 8 Best Herbs to Grow in Your Windowsill

 

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3. Build a Succulent Wall Garden

You’ll likely need to make a special trip to pick up supplies for this project. But don’t let that prevent you from surging forward. A succulent wall garden makes a dramatic statement piece and can bring a little extra sunshine to your home on the cloudiest of winter days.

4. Grow Microgreens

Have you ever purchased microgreens at the grocery store? These expensive little additions to your meal can bust the bank in no time flat. But we all know they are delicious and packed with good-for-you nutrients. The solution? Grow your own. All you need is a microgreen kit and the ability to keep them watered, and you’ll be harvesting your own microgreens in three weeks or less.

See more: How to Grow Your Own Microgreens

 

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5. Start a Miniature Moss Garden

There’s something deeply therapeutic about miniature moss gardens, and you may be surprised to learn just how many varieties of moss you can grow. The list of materials you need to make a simple one of your own is short: a drill with a ceramic bit, decorative pebbles, potting mix, moss, landscape fabric and a ceramic dish. Once everything is arranged the way you like, you just need to give it access to indirect light and water. Learn how to make one here.

6. Germinate Seeds

Depending on your climate, you could go ahead and begin germinating seeds for spring indoors. If you know you need to purchase more seed-starting materials, such as seed trays, potting mix or seed markers, you might as well get a head start on those tasks while you wait for spring to roll around, too. But germinating the seeds is when the real fun begins. It’s a wonderful way to pass the time until spring, especially if you’ve only ever purchased starts from a greenhouse or garden center.

See more: How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Seeds

7. Regrow Veggies From Scraps

Regrowing vegetables from scraps was all the rage a few years ago. But just because the hubbub has faded doesn’t mean it’s any less fun or worthwhile. You might be surprised to discover just how many things you can cultivate in your own kitchen using scraps from the grocery store. From lettuce and cabbage to basil and onions, you can work on a whole new side of your green thumb with this clever tactic.

See more: 12 Vegetables You Can Regrow From Scraps

8. Make Homemade Bird Feeders

You don’t need to invest much money into bringing more birds into your backyard. With a few simple household items, you can make your own homemade bird feeder to encourage more feathery friends to make a pitstop outside your window. Repurposed milk cartons and plastic bottles work well, but you could also bake a birdseed wreath in a bundt cake pan if you want to fancy things up a little. Check out these easy DIY bird feeders for inspiration.

9. Learn to Propagate Plants

Propagating plants is a skill that will not only earn you major cool points among your fellow gardeners but could also save you loads of money on growing your own food or houseplants in the years to come. Plant propagation simply means creating new plants, often using cuttings from an existing plant. There are a bunch of different ways to go about propagation, but you can use these techniques on everything from indoor house plants to basil plants, tomato plants, pepper plants and more.

See more: How to Regrow Plants From Cuttings

10. Plan Your Spring Garden

If you’re really longing for the dog days of summer and getting your hands in the dirt, get to work planning your garden. It’s never too early, especially if you want to get lost in beautifully illustrated catalogs with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Think about what worked for you last year, what you want to experiment with this year and if there are any new varieties or methods you need to research before warm weather arrives.

See more: Spring Gardening To-Do List