Are you looking for a fun, educational activity to do with your young kids at home? Why not explore the world of gardening? A DIY indoor herb garden with kids is a great activity to get your kids excited about gardening, and it can also help to teach them some essential life skills. Keep reading to find out more about how to get your kids involved in this project.
1. Five Reasons to Start a DIY Indoor Herb Garden
1. Stress Reduction – Starting your own herb garden is a great way for your kids to take a break, and find a moment of calm. The process of planting, watering, and pruning can be a calming and rewarding activity for children and adults alike.
2. Better Quality Herbs – When you’re raising your own indoor herb garden, you can ensure that you get fresh herbs of the best quality, without any added preservatives or chemicals. Plus, if you’re adventurous, you and your kids can supplement your diet with unique herbs and spices.
3. Sense of Accomplishment – When your kids get to see the progress of their garden as it grows, it can be a great source of pride for them. Watching something turn from seed into a beautiful herb plant is not only an educational experience, but it can give your kids a sense of independence and accomplishment.
4. Safe & Easy Access to Herbs – Growing your own indoor herb garden is much easier and safer than heading to grocery stores, which all carry risks due to the current state of the world. You can keep your family safe and still have access to fresh herbs by growing them right from home.
5. Fun, Ongoing Activity – The best part of having an indoor herb garden is that it provides your family with an enjoyable and ongoing activity. Kids can continually watch, nurture, and tend to the garden, giving them something engaging to do and leading to a very rewarding experience for the whole family.
2. Creating an Enjoyable Herb Garden Experience with Kids
Getting your kids interested in growing their own herbs doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive task. All you need is a few simple supplies that can be found around your house or purchased for a minimal cost. Here are some tips for making an enjoyable herb garden experience with your children:
- Start with seedling pots that come in a variety of fun shapes and sizes. Decorate each pot with different colors or drawings that the kids can choose.
- Choose enough seedling plugs to fill the pots and give each child a selection to choose from.
- Label each pot with the name of the chosen herb.
- Allow the kids to help with the planting of the chosen herbs in their pots.
- Explain how to water and care for the herbs while making it a fun and interactive learning experience.
- Position the plants in an area that has access to enough natural sunlight.
- Provide other items such as potting soil and seeds, if desired.
Once the herbs are planted, show the kids how to monitor the growth and help with the care of the plants. Working on an indoor herb garden with your children is an enjoyable and rewarding activity that can get them involved in gardening, leading to many other outdoor projects together.
3. Supplies Needed for Indoor Herbs
When it comes to DIY indoor herb gardens for kids, there’s a few basic supplies needed to get the job done. Fortunately, these supplies are easy to come by and budget-friendly.
1. Containers/Planters for each Herb: Depending on the size and type of herbs you decide to grow, you may need planters with drainage and holes in the bottom, or just larger containers.
2. Potting Soil: You can purchase soil that’s specifically made for indoor gardening, or regular potting soil from your local garden shop.
3. Plant Markers: Before you begin planting, make sure you either label each herb with a plant marker, or have your little one’s help write the name on a piece of paper and slip it in the planter with the herb.
4. Watering Can (or jug): Kids are usually eager to help water the plants, so make sure you have a nice container that’s reserved just for them to water the plants.
5. A Tray to Put the Planters On: This isn’t necessary, but it can help keep excess water and dirt from making a mess of your windowsill or counter.
With these basic supplies, you and your children will be ready to start planting your indoor herb garden!
4. Planning the Indoor Garden Layout
Create Your Kids’ Own Mini Garden
Now it’s time to plan the layout of your new mini garden! Get your children involved and energized with the creative process – allowing them to help design and plan the final layout of their herb garden is sure to make them even more excited to bring it to life. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Choose Your Garden Spot
Find a suitable spot in the room to place your garden. Make sure it’s easy to access, away from direct sunlight, and gives your kids enough space to move around and comfortably reach the herb containers. - Get Creative and Colorful
Designing the layout of the garden is where the fun really begins, so get your kids involved in the creative process! Draw out the outline for your garden together on a piece of paper and let the kids pick out colorful designs, shapes, and themes for you to work with. - Label Containers
Tag each container with a special name or label, and let your kids help you with this too. You can use some of the plants’ Latin names to give your mini garden an extra fun and educational twist. - Organize and Decorate
Now it’s time to get organized. Arrange the containers into a neat design that will look aesthetically pleasing, and add a little bit of decoration for extra pizzazz! Get your kids to help you with this part as it may entail some light carpentry or scissors work they will love.
Once the indoor herb garden is set, your children will be ready to fill them with soil and plant the herbs of their choice. In no time, the garden will be all set and ready for growing and nurturing!
5. Indoor Herb Care Basics
Watering – Herbs need to be watered regularly but don’t overdo it. Water the soil until it’s damp, but not soaking. When the topsoil is dry, it’s time to give your herbs a drink.
Fertilizer - It’s important to give your herbs the nutrients they need for happy, healthy growth. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer every month, or purchase a fertilizer granule that can be sprinkled around the base of the plant.
Light - Most herbs need at least four hours of indirect sunlight a day, and some need as much as eight. Place your herb garden in a spot that gets sunlight in the morning and then filtered light in the afternoon.
Pruning – Pruning your herbs is essential to keep them from getting lanky. Cut back stems to just above a leaf node, as this encourages bushier growth.
Harvesting – To keep herbs healthy, fresh, and full of flavor, it’s important to keep a regular harvesting schedule. Cut or pinch back the newer growth so the plant can regenerate. Try to pick the leaves before the flowers start blooming to ensure that the essential oils are at their peak.
6. Insider Tips to Maximize Enjoyment and Success with the Garden
1. Start Small: Having a DIY indoor herb garden with kids can be fun and encouraging, but can also be overwhelming and difficult. To make sure that everyone enjoys the process, it is best to start with a small garden. Choose only a few plants to start with, that are not going to require too much attention in the beginning. This will prevent kids from getting discouraged and will help everyone stay interested in the project.
2. Choose The Right Plants: When gardening with kids it is important to choose the plants that they will be able to take care of. Herbs such as Rosemary, Basil, Thyme and Parsley are very hardy and resilient, so they are excellent choices for a kids garden. These herbs are also fragrant and allow kids to experience the tangible connection between food and plants.
3. Incorporate Learning: Gardening with kids is an excellent way to teach them about the basics of plant life. Explain how important sunlight, water, and soil are for plants, and describe how particular plants need more or less water and sun than others. Letting them observe the changes in the plants over time is a fun and interactive experience. Incorporate some science by adding experiments such as testing out what plants roots look like in different containers.
4. Make It Fun: Gardening can be boring and tedious at times. To keep kids interested, make sure to include some fun activities. Let them paint their own planters or help create labels for the different herbs. You can make it a game by looking for ladybugs or see who can spot the first flower bud. Reinforce their efforts with simple, fun rewards.
5. Keep It Going: Once kids have enjoyed their first success with the garden, they will be more likely to want to continue their involvement. Encourage them to keep observing the plants and to be devoted to the process of keeping the garden alive and thriving. Most importantly, remind them not to be too hard on themselves if something doesn’t work out or if a plant doesn’t make it.
Wrapping Up
Once your indoor herb garden is in full bloom, you and your kids can enjoy not only the fruits of their labour, but the satisfaction of knowing they can create their own little piece of green paradise. Plus, herbs grown at home are fresher, healthier and tastier than store-bought ones, and you can be sure they’re pesticide-free. So why wait? Pick up some seeds and soil, get your kids involved and build your own indoor herb garden today!