Increase yield indoor container garden | 7 Pro Secrets Inside

1. How to increase yield indoor container garden

I am going to cover three pillars for the plant care essentials lighting, watering, and nutrients. I have been covering these practical guidelines after testing various techniques, tests, and trials from my own experience.

Light: The Plant’s Energy Source

Light is the first pillar for plant growth and it’s a major food source. All plants are not treated equally, every plant is unique. Following a proper strategy to become successful in indoor gardening.

• Indirect sunlight through windows suits houseplants.
• Use LED Grow light if the room is dark.
• Rotate the pots in different directions to get proper lighting.

How I learned

One day I placed a pot of shade-loving fern in direct sunlight and it fried faster than an egg on a frying pan. After I came to know, that indirect sunlight through a window or low light is ideal for this type of plant.

Water: Finding the Goldilocks Zone

Water is crucial, overwatering and underwatering can cause major diseases to the plants. I have developed a simple method that works for most of the plants.

• Check moisture level by placing a finger one inch deep into the soil
• When the soil is dry it’s time for watering.
• Adjust the watering schedule based on season and less watering or stop watering during winter.
• Use a digital soil test kit if you have the budget.
• I have a routine schedule for watering.

Nutrients: Feeding Your Green Babies

Plants also get hungry like you and you need to provide nutrients for plant growth and health. You need a proper balanced approach that works best in most indoor containers.

• Feed them liquid-based fertilizer and balance them.
• Feed them at least 2-4 weeks during growing seasons.
• Stop or reduce the level of feeding.

Initially, I thought more fertilizer leads to faster growth but my plants end in burned leaves and under fertilizer do some critical damage but you need to maintain a balanced fertilizer technique for steady growth.

Every plant is unique and don’t hesitate to work the experiment from trial and error. You need to work out which works best for every individual plant and learn from the mistakes. You will master the technique slowly by experimenting.

2. Containers and Soil: The Foundation of Your Garden

When I first started indoor container gardening, I had no idea how to choose the right pots and soil mixes. I thought we could grow from any container but sadly ended in the death of many of my major plants. After several failed attempts, I learned the process of selecting the right containers for my indoor gardening.

Container Size Matters

Choosing the right container size is crucial for indoor gardening. Once I tried growing tomatoes in a tiny 6-inch pot and it taught me that the plant was overcrowded, unhealthy, and produced very little fruit.

Finally, I learned about the container sizes

• A bigger container suits all types of plants, you can grow tomatoes and it has enough space for roots and holds a moisture level longer.
• Plants such as herbs are well to grow in small pots
• Plants such as basil and cilantro can be grown in 8-inch containers
• Match the containers as per the plant needs and every plant is unique, tomatoes and peppers need at least 5-gallon pots to maximize the yields.

The Dirt on Soil Quality

Using the right soil is important for maximizing the yield and I made a bigger mistake when I just started by using garden soil for my containers. Once I realized plants are unhealthy and struggle to grow, I learned from my mistakes.

• Use a potting mix specially designed for the container and it’s lighter, fluffier, and drains better than the regular soil.
• Look for a mixing of potting mix and container mix to provide proper balancing of nutrients and drainage.
• Consider adding compost and worm casting for plant growth and increase yield.

Choosing the Best Containers

Choosing the right container is important as well as creative. Some factors need to be considered for selecting a container.

Drainage is Key

I never realized that many of my plants are dead due to choosing fancy pots without proper drainage. Use a container with proper drainage holes and drill a hole if your pot doesn’t have drainage holes.

Material Matters

Terracotta pots are a good option but they dry out quickly, plants such as succulents, cacti, rosemary, and lavender need less amount of water and grow in dryer conditions can be good to grow in terracotta pots

Plastic and ceramic pots can maintain moisture levels long, it’s a good option if you forget to water or live in hot temperatures such as ferns, peace lilies, and tropical houseplants.

Self-watering plants are the best option for all types of plants and many of my plants lived happily without my involvement during weekends or busy with family. It’s okay to make mistakes but learn from the mistakes.

3. Indoor Light Basics

When I first started, I thought indirect sunlight through the window was enough for growing, but I was surprised it was not enough for most indoor plants. Grow Lights are necessary for personal sun for steady growth.

Few main types of grow lights have their own pros and cons

• LED lights are the best option for energy saving don’t produce much heat and its most suitable for indoor setups.
• Fluorescent lights are cheap and affordable and work better for herbs and seedlings. I used to start seedlings.
• HID (High-Intensity Discharge) and it’s more powerful for large setups and produces more heat.

Positioning Your Lights

Placing a grow light in the right position is crucial and I learned this technique from several test trials by burning many of my seedlings by placing them too closely.

• Maintain a distance between 6 to 12 inches for most indoor plants and adjust accordingly to the plant’s needs.
• Make sure all plants get enough lighting and rotate a plant positing for proper balanced growth.
• I use aluminum foil to reflect light to plants to maximize light exposure and balanced growth.

Light Cycles: Timing is Everything

Every plant needs a balance of dark and light, when I just started I used my grow lights for 24 hours, thinking more light is required for healthy growth.

• You need a proper timing schedule and most plants need 12-16 hours of lights per day and you need to give them rest at night.
• Some plants such as tomatoes and peppers survive even at night, they don’t have darker periods and it helps them to develop flowers and fruits.
• Adjust lighting schedules based on the growing stages, plants need more light during young stages such as seedlings.

Common Lighting Mistakes

In my personal experience I have learned many things from my mistakes, here are the mistakes you need to avoid while growing indoors.

• Use the best and highest-quality grow lights based on the plant’s needs such as LED Lights, Fluorescent lights, and HID.
• Use a timer to maintain the light schedule and avoid improper lighting.
• As the plant grows you need to adjust the lighting schedules based on requirements and their maturity.

Troubleshooting Light Issues

A few symptoms need to be considered as improper lighting or not getting enough lights.

• Leaves turn pale or yellow and it’s not a healthy green
• Plants are stretch height and skinny, it grow toward light
• Plant is struggling to grow over older stems or leaves due to insufficient lights
• Plants are not giving enough flowers and fruits.

Remember, every plant is different, and it might take some trial and error to get things just right. Don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust your setup as needed. With a little patience and the right lighting, you’ll be amazed at how well your indoor garden can grow.

4. Watering and Feeding: The Lifeblood of Your Plants

I thought more watering is good for healthier growth but it can cause more damage and fungus due to overwatering and underwatering.

Understanding Watering Basics

It’s very simple but you need to watch the clock and water as per the right schedule and plants don’t wear watches.

• Check the moisture level.
• If it is dry you need to give it water.
• Give them water deeply and slowly to grow healthy and stronger roots.
• Every plant is unique, some plants need less water and some plants need more water, so give them accordingly.

The Overwatering Trap

Overwatering may cause death and it’s a silent killing method for every plant, here is a way to avoid overwatering.

• You need to understand the symptoms of overwatering like yellow leaves, mold on the soil, and stems with red flags.
• Use a high-quality potting mix and use pots with drainage holes to maintain a moisture level.
• Wait for the soil to dry before watering.
• Let the soil dry out between waters and don’t make the soil always wet, it may cause major pests and fungus.

Underwatering Woes

You need to be careful in watering, underwatering can harm your plants and make it a week

• Understand the symptoms of underwatering such as fallen leaves, dry, unhealthy, improper sizes, and crispy edges.
• Prefer using a self-watering plant with proper care.
• Group the plants of similar needs of watering.

Feeding Your Plants

Give them food for healthy growth and give them high vitamins to survive and boost their energy. 

• Prefer using organic fertilizers and avoiding chemicals.
• Use properly balanced liquid form fertilizers.
• Follow the right strategy, less fertilizing is better than over-fertilizing.
• Feed them during spring and summer and feed them less or need a break on winter.

Best Feeding Practices

Giving proper fertilization is a good practice and it makes a huge difference. Here are the ways that work for me and you can also follow.

• Start with half the qty of fertilizer and adjust and add in the next schedule or over a period of time.
• Feed them 2-4 weeks during a growing season and adjust based on plant growth and appearance.
• Prefer watering before fertilizing and it can help with root burn and better nutrient absorption.

Every plant is unique, so make some time to experience and learn the errors. Don’t forget to adjust as per plant needs and change the feeding routine. With proper maintenance, patience, and observation you will learn and become a pro at indoor gardening.

5. Squeezing a Garden into Your Tiny Space

Initially, I thought we needed a big space to start indoor gardening but it’s not. We can start with tiny spaces and it turns me into a small jungle.

Climbing the Walls (With Plants!)

If you have tiny spaces in your home, vertical gardening is a perfect choice and I just started with little wall planters and avoided heavy containers. It turns my wall into living wallpapers.

• Try hanging platters from ceilings and walls, it depends on the sizes and requirements, so make sure it fits properly.
• If you have old ladders at home and turn them into plastic stands, make it attractive by applying fancy colors.

Plant Pals: Companions in the Garden

You can grow a companion plant, it has its loving plants. Put the right plants together to make them happy and help them each other like tomatoes and basil.

• Grow marigold plants near your veggies and they release a special scent to confuse the harmful insects.
• Typically grown vertically placed near corn, it acts like a natural pole to climb.

Making the Most of Every Inch

Be creative in your space and turn your households into planters.

• Old rain gutters are a perfect choice for herbs.
• Hanging shoes can be used to grow lettuce.

Let There Be Light

Don’t worry about lighting conditions for Indoor gardening even though it is complicated you can manage with growing lights. Grow lights are necessary for indoor especially in winter

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Indoor Container Gardening

Let’s face the common mistakes in increase yield indoor container gardening. I have done this for a few years but I learned these problems from my mistakes from sad plants to happy and healthy ones by applying these techniques.

Let’s start with overcrowding

I think growing many plants into a single pot leads to larger harvesting. Some plants need a place that is sufficient to grow. Overcrowding the plants leads to stunted growth and short air circulation. Once I give enough space to the plants, they end up in stretched roots and leaves start growing.

Inconsistent Care

Consistency is key to success and maintaining proper scheduling for watering, fertilizing, and pest control to make proper plant care.

• Water on a fixed schedule check soil moisture first.
• Fertilize regularly and avoid overfertilizing.
• Practice Prune and clean up unwanted stems and leaves.

Pests and Diseases: Uninvited Guests at Your Plant Party

Prevention is the best choice to avoid insects monitor the plants regularly and keep growing healthy from pests and insects.

• Use neem oil as a natural remedy. 
• Add a bodyguard to protect from insects like ladybugs.
• Avoid overwatering from fungal diseases.

7. Advanced Tips for Boosting

Let’s dive into some advanced techniques and tips for healthy growing and it takes indoor gardening to the next level.

• Remove unwanted certain parts of the plants from overcrowding to improve air circulation and light penetration.
• Pruning at the right time is the key, remove suckers that grow between stems and branches encourages upward growth and fruit production
• Start with a CO2 bag or bucket if you have tiny spaces.
• Add friendly flowers like sunflowers, marigolds, and lavender near your veggies to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
• Add compost to the regular soil to improve its fertility and it provides essential nutrients and beneficial microorganisms for plant growth.
• Avoid planting the same type of crop on the same spot year after year.
• Deep and less frequency with slow for deep root growth.
• Add mulch around the plants to maintain moisture levels and regulate soil temperature.
• Use organic pest control methods without hurting beneficial insects.
• Add radishes or lettuce near tomatoes and pepper to enjoy multiple harvests in the growing seasons.
• Add labels to each plant like planting dates, varieties, success, and challenges faced for future reference and ideas.
• Start small, experiment, and enjoy the process.

Conclusion

By applying these tips you can expect an increase yield indoor container gardens throughout the year whether you are new or already started indoor gardening.

From proper pruning and pollination to CO2 enrichment expect an increased yield on harvesting and you can consider reading our few other guides on starting indoor container gardens and how to avoid pests from diseases

Indoor gardening is a continuous journey of living, don’t be afraid to start anything new and adjust your approach based on what works for you for the specific plants and environment.