Lindsey's Life

Today’s post is a little late because a certain 4-yr-old had to have a dance party at midnight last night! 

So grab your coffee or tea, and cozy up on the couch while you read. It doesn’t matter if you’re tired, because today’s post is super chill. It’s ALL ABOUT GARDENING!

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Remember, as an Amazon associate, I earn commissions on anything you purchase through my links here, so please make sure to click these links each time you put something in your cart. You can check out all at one time, just return here to click the proper link each time to find the next item. Happy gardening!

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I know you’re probably thinking, “I can’t even grow grass. There’s no way I’m growing a garden!” But, honestly, it doesn’t matter if you’ve never grown anything ever in your life, you’ll be sure to find success with these easy items to help you! And of course, I’m just a message away if you need help! So let’s get digging! 

There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments.

Janet Kilburn Phillips

First, you need to decide “what” you are going to grow. You can go to the store and grab an already grown, leafy green house plant to give you cleaner air and visual appeal, or simply get a little baby aloe or other succulent plant that doesn’t need much attention and is super cute to look at. Or, you can start from seeds and grow flowering plants, annuals, perennials, fruits, veggies, chia heads, dandelions, herbs or just grass! It’s up to you what you want to start with. I’m here to help!

Below you will find an extensive list, with some examples, of a few basic items you’ll need to get started. There are also some outdoor gardening items for when your seedlings mature enough to be planted outside. And, of course, some cute things I had to throw in there at the end.

NOTE: Please do not get overwhelmed at the amount of items that are available! You do not need everything to get started! Choose what is best for you and your plant, and take into consideration the amount of space and time you have to begin. My advice is to start small. Remember, we’re just getting back to basics! We don’t need to be experts, and we don’t need to spend a fortune to get started. Use what you have around the house, and reuse items for next time. You can accrue pieces as you move forward.

Take a look around your house and garage and shop the list below. Comment your must-haves, and what project you decided to start with! I’m excited to hear about it!

indoor plants

(Click the photos to shop)

Lighting

You’re going to need a window for good lighting, or one of these indoor lights for plants. There are cute ring lights, stand up lights, or clip lights. Choose the style you like best, and most importantly, that fits your space! Make sure you read up on how much light your plants need, and group them accordingly.

Pots For Seedlings

When you first plant your seeds, you’ll need a small container for easy maintenance and ease of growth for the seedling to germinate. These can be compostable (so you just put the whole pot in the ground) or it can be plastic (so you can reuse them again on the next round.)

A Seed Starter Kit 

Again, choose a compostable or reusable option. It is up to you. These kits come with everything you need to start some seeds from scratch. This is how I started. The plastic lid is helpful to create the greenhouse effect to germinate the seeds. It’s extremely low maintenance too!

Potting Soil Mix 

You can find organic mixes, Miracle Grow, compressed starter pods and many other brands and types here. Find the one suitable for your plant, i.e.: fruits & veggies, flowers, herbs, etc. NOTE: I have found success with those little potting pods when you start with seeds, so that is a good non-messy starter option IMO. If you are repotting a grown plant, you’ll need a bag of mix.

GMO-FREE Seeds

Choose whatever YOU want to grow! I would suggest a variety to start. See what grows best with your skills, environment, and the eventual location where they will “grow up” into an adult plant. You don’t want to go through all this and end up with 35 tomato plants and nothing else! Or what if none of them survive? You don’t want an all or nothing kind of trial. Trust me on this! Herbs are an excellent place to start. They don’t take up much space if you plant them in pots inside. If you decide to plant them outside, you could use them in garden beds to keep bugs away, use for ground cover, or just so that they smell nice when you walk by. They grow really well with little help if they don’t fry in the sun or get eaten or trampled by dogs. Again, this is just in my experience. lol

Seedlings

Feeling like seeds are a little too needy for your “basic” attempt? Head on over to your local nursery, and pick out the baby plants you think will thrive in your zone and environment. I have had luck with the Bonnie brand, and they have a lot of options. But your local farmer’s market should have some good options too! Shop local!

Live Plants

If you want to skip the whole seed and baby plant stage all together, there are many adult plants to choose from. Shop at your local greenhouse and pick your favorite leafy house plant. There are many types to choose from, like ferns, ficuses, money trees, bonsai trees, orchids, philodendrons, bromeliads, lilies, ivies, roses, and much more! The most important thing: You HAVE to name it!! Shop local first, but you can also click the picture to order from Amazon.

Aloes, Cacti & Other Succulents

Succulents have gone viral as the “new” house plant to have, and for good reason! They take very little time and attention. The problem most people face with these cute little colorful plants is that they over-water them. They require very little water and very little attention. They are seriously there just to be looked at. They thrive almost anywhere you put them, and they are excellent bathroom plants! They only need the steam from the shower, and that’s about it! I have a bunch of aloe plants, so beware that if they love their space, they are liable to multiply! But that’s ok, because then, you’ll have an excuse to shop these cute pots I’m about to post! You know I’m already stocking up, because I have ton of babies to transplant! I will write a blog about all the benefits of aloe later. So keep checking back for new updates!

Air Plants

Are you feeling a little daunted by all the growing and planting and just plain work that is involved with this whole gardening thing? It can be overwhelming. I feel you! With 5 kids, and 7 dogs, and a husband; who has time to keep anything else alive?! But, I want you know: there are very basic plants that are almost impossible to kill, because they literally thrive in the air! They are cleverly called “air plants” and they are perfect for bathrooms, because the steam waters them and all you have to do is enjoy their presence! You can decorate with them, design and photograph products with them, and they look amazing all the time! Just spritz them with water every now and then, but you seriously cannot kill one of these plants! It’s a perfect starter plant, and there are so many cute things you can get to hang them with or on or set them in! I’ll post some options below. They can be so fun to play with in your decor!

outdoor planting tools

Strawberry Supports

Are you growing strawberries, or other plants that grow along the ground like squash or cucumbers? Protect them from disease and pests by raising them up with this viral hack I newly discovered. My sister just ordered a bunch of these. I wish I lived closer by her so I could help her “harvest” her crop. You know, the ol’ family way: one for me, one for the bucket…”

Gloves

You may want some gloves (even if you are planting indoor pots) to keep your hands clean; or more importantly, to keep them from getting poked if you are transferring baby aloes, or other difficult plants. These are great because they can come in leather or breathable rubber, but then they have some that are still fingertip sensitive for your cell phone! Plus, if your like me and my family, and spend some money on your nails, you’re going to want to get a nice pair of gloves to protect them!

Tool Sets

If you venture to the great outdoors to finish planting your seedlings in a garden bed, you may want things like a padded knee mat, a hand shovel and rake, or an apron. Did you know there are so many cute styles out there now?! And they make complete sets, so you don’t have to go searching for all the pieces you might need, only to realize you forgot something when it’s time to start digging. Make sure you choose one that has all the things to make your life easier, like a coordinating carrying bag! Ok, so, I might be partial to pink, but they have any color you can think of these days. Get yourself some stylish gardening tools! It will make you feel better (being cute is always an emotional booster) when you have to do work!

Raised Beds

You may want raised beds or larger outdoor pots if your soil is mostly clay or sand. Most of the time, to start the outdoor garden, you need a tiller, a lot of top soil, compost, and peet moss. But if you don’t have a tiller or want to use one), raised beds or large planters are an equal (and usually easier, and less labor intensive) substitute. Even Joanna Gaines uses raised beds for her garden! So don’t feel bad if you have to plant your garden “above ground.” It can be easier on you all (plants included)!

On the Vine

There are quite a variety of vines you can grow, like tomatoes, strawberries, grapes, watermelon, squash, honeysuckle, jasmine, and ivy to name a few. If you choose to grow vines, you may want a trendy trellis or cute cage. There are some fun shapes available! No more boring trellises in the garden! Get a cute structure that compliments the garden and is beautiful to view even at the early stages of development. They can be wooden, plastic, metal, wire, and even golden ones!

pots & planters

Cute Pots

There are a plethora of cute pots for your “grown up” plant to live in, especially if you plan to keep them indoors. I created a little montage of my favorite ones and posted it on TikTok. I will find their direct shopping links and post them at the end of this blog. Let me know what others you find along the way! I might be little obsessed.

Cute Aloe Pots

I know a lot of you have been looking forward to my next harvest of baby aloes, so here are a few cute aloe pots to shop. When you find your new aloe “bestie”, be sure to give her/him the best little home there is! An adorable little pot!

Clean White Pots

To keep your house looking modern and clean, shop a variety of white planters in an abundance of shapes and sizes. There are some that are “self-watering” too! Make sure they have the air holes on the bottom, so yo don’t have to deal with root rot. And the demure bottom plates make for a more elegant look. Also, the bright white really lets the color of the plant POP against a blank canvas. So modern. So sophisticated.

Trendy Baskets

Combine these trendy baskets with your clean white decor, and you’ve got the perfect combination for a warm farmhouse feel. They are lightweight and easy to move around, since you can place the whole “original” planter right inside. So anytime you want to swap them around, you can just pop out the plant (pot and all) and rearrange them as necessary, without getting dirty! The plastic lining inside keeps messes at bay, as well. Clever, trendy, and clean. Highly recommend!

Macramé Plant Hangers

These retro, boho chic planters are really making waves in home decor this year. Working at the farmer’s market every weekend, I saw so many cute designs of these planters. They come in all different lengths and styles. Always handmade, usually with a spun cotton, so the color remains neutral and your plant remains the center of attention. They are easy to install and you can use them in any room. The best part is, you can use whatever pot you want inside. Some come with a pot, some are just the macramé hanger. But the facts are, no matter which size or style you choose, you will be sure to stay on trend for years to come.

Air Plant Holder

There are so so many cool holders and hangers out there for air plants. I am just so enthralled with this little species. So delicate, yet so strong and powerful. It can survive anywhere you put it. The trends available are endless. They can be floating by themselves on a string of fishing wire, they can be placed in glass jars, hung from the ceiling, placed in logs, decorate walls and trellises, and just enjoyed in every room! I love them so much. I’m going to design my new shower (we’re about to build an addition = another blog, lol) around them! I can’t wait. Which type are you going to get? I especially love the ones that look like jellyfish!

Tiny Trendy Trellis

Some indoor plants need a little help standing up on their own, especially if they are newly replanted or just little babies! If you have any kind of vine or droopy plant, there are some cute and clever tiny trellis options available these days. So while you’re waiting for your baby to grow up, you don’t have to withstand the unsightly view of a boring ol’ trellis ladder. You can decorate with a cute, modern, trendy one that doesn’t even look like a trellis!

Decorative Rocks

To finalize the look, you may want to spruce up those decorative plants with some pretty river rocks, (so you don’t stare at dirt inside your house all the time) especially if you are a neat freek (which I’m not, I just prefer seeing pretty rocks, not dirt, in my house, lol)! I had no idea there were so many options of rocks out there! I knew you could get black, white, or natural colored stones, but they even have some pink quartz and green jade stones out there! So, pretty much, whatever look you have going in your home, you’re bound to find something perfect to cover up that gnarly dirt! There’s even bright green moss! What are you going to pick?

watering

The Essential Indoor Watering Can

Don’t forget about your watering options! You can use the leftover water from glasses you find around the house, just make sure they contain water and not sprite…or vodka, haha! jkjk! But really, when you want to take your watering game to a new, cute and trendy, level, there are some watering cans that will double as statement pieces in your home. No need to hide them under the sink anymore! Grab your favorite color, style, and material for your new favorite watering can!

The Statement Piece Outdoor Watering Can

Just like you have to have your favorite indoor watering can, you have to have a strong, statement piece outdoor watering can. You know, something that stands alone as a beautiful accent to a growing garden! I prefer the look of a copper metal, solid and sturdy, last through the test of time type watering can. But there are come innovative plastic ones available that I bet are way easier to maneuver! With so many styles and colors in stores and online, it might be good to get a couple to try!

The Mister Bottle

Some delicate plants require only a misting of water, and not a whole dredge of it in their base, like the air plants, ivy, and many gentle house plants. The amount of misters bottles available is astounding to me. The technology put into something so simple, yet so functional is impressive. There are sleek, modern, plastic spray bottles all the way to these retro, stained glass, extravagant bottles. Of course I like the elaborate, brightly colored glass bottle that will probably get knocked over the first week I own it, but it is still my favorite! But the plastic, modern one is probably more practical for my family. Depending on which style you choose, it can also be a statement piece to adorn your plant collection. Getting one that you like to see is helpful for when you want to just leave it out and not have to put it away every single time, just because it’s ugly. Might as well get something you enjoy! It makes the whole process that much more worth it! Pretty things make me happy, so I choose the pretty things!! Make life easier!

Automatic Drip

These cute little mushroom sit quietly in plain sight, but they double as slow trickle, automatic drip irrigation. How cool is that? They have thought of everything! There are the original glass globes you’re used to seeing, but there are also electric timers and watering drip systems with hoses and all the parts! It’s incredible what they have now for indoor plants! So, there is no excuse for not watering your plants! I’m definitely getting some of these! A lot of these!!

Outdoor Misting System

I’m pretty sure we have all walked through and enjoyed a quick spritz on a hot summer day, with a sprinkler nearby, or at a ball park with those overhead misting machines, or even getting caught getting misted in the produce isle at the grocery store. I know I have, since it is usually over 100 degrees F here in Texas! Thankfully, you can bring that cooling relief to your own yard! If it feels nice on you, image how your plants are going to feel (since they live outside 24/7)! You can choose how much you need, how long you need, how many nozzles you want, set the timer, and completely customize the whole thing, all by yourself! Count me in! I’ll take two!

Expandable Garden Hose and Spray Nozzle

Will they ever stop reinventing the wheel? I think not. I am just shocked that we didn’t think of this sooner! For so long, I have been dragging that old, long, rubber hose around everywhere! I cannot wait to be able to use one of these lightweight, flexible hoses for my garden. It is going to make life so much easier!

Soaker Hose

Save water and protect your plants from fungal growth with a soaker hose. Keeping this hose at ground level, and slightly buried in the ground prevents trip hazards as well as keeping the eye appeal of your garden in top notch shape. No need to set a sprinkler out in the middle of your yard to try and get all the garden beds. Just run this hose along the median, and set the timer. That’s it! Don’t even think about it again, and your plans will grow big and happy! It’s great if you vacation a lot, or are just too busy to stand there watering your garden every day, morning and night! Some of us have other things to do! Am I right?

Self Watering Wick

Save time, and cut this self watering wick to the right length to go between your pot and its water source. It’s safe and effective because you don’t have to worry about any glass breaking, like in water globes, or clogging any hoses. Just set it up, and walk away. You can even hide it away from view if you put it in the hole at the bottom of the pot and set the pot on a container the same size. See more at Mother Earth News and learn how these simple wicks can make life easier!

for the “extra” gardener

Garden Gnome

No garden is complete without the traditional garden gnome. Lucky for us, there have been a few updated to the original. We now can decorate our gardens with gnomes holding solar lights, rain gauges, funny gestures, and more. Be sure to adorn your new garden with your favorite gnome, especially if you’re extra (like me)!

Garden Lights & Decor

There’s really no other way to express just how extra you than by decorating your garden with more beautiful objects and lights! These include wind chimes, sculptures, benches, bird baths, glow-in-the-dark rocks, fairy gardens, metal creatures like ladybugs, birds, and bees, and extra pots and such! Whatever you can think of to decorate your garden, go for it!

Solar Powered Fairy Lights

I don’t know about you, but talking about gardening always makes me think of all the little fairies that live in gardens, and the forest, and everywhere nature thrives. This list would not be complete without talking about fairy lights. These beautiful, delicate, little fairy lights can be used to resemble fireflies at dusk, or just simply decorate and adorn your garden with a simple and sweet, whimsical light fest! You can’t go wrong with them because they are solar powered and waterproof! I’m excited to see what the summer nights look like this year!

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Did you think I would actually write a blog about gardening and not include the three R’s!? How silly! I grew up in the 90s. Saving the environment was ingrained in our childhood! I guess that’s why I decided to graduate in Biosystems Engineering! But for today, let’s just skim across a few things we can do to use what we have before we go and buy all these new things, shall we?

Grow an Avocado

Go ahead and throw back to 4th grade science class, and grow avocados from a seed! Keep your glass jars or bottles! You can get toothpicks and poke them in the sides, and of course let them float in the water until they sprout. to remember how to do it, watch The Ripe Tomato here. To learn how to grow them in a baggie, watch this video.

Sprout Seeds

If you want to start sprouting seeds from your own food (super basic) like I did, you need plastic baggies, a wet paper towel and maybe an over the door organizer to keep them all in! You might need some tension rods to hang the organizers on (in a doorway or closet or bathroom), but that’s only if you don’t have space in your kitchen or pantry. I’ll write about my experience soon, but for now you can read the Science Kiddo’s story to learn more.

Save Your Egg Shells

Clearly, egg shells are an egg-cellent source of calcium! But did you know, some plants crave all the nutritional value harvested from egg shells, like phosphorous and magnesium along with trace others. This basically helps balance the soil pH to be alkaline (base heavy), so make sure you test your soil and know if it’s trending on the acidic or alkaline side of the line. Some plants like tomatoes, roses, and hydrangeas thrive with eggshells. Read more here from The Gardener’s Path, and don’t forget to try using your eggshells for seedling pods! Crack them carefully to save the shells!

Save Your Coffee Grounds

There’s a reason why your stomach gets a little upset when you drink coffee, and why you may want to add creamer to it: coffee is acidic. This acid, however, can be an excellent source of nitrogen to plants. When mixed into compost, it can directly deliver much needed nitrogen to deprived plants. But you want to make sure that your soil needs this acid, so doing a soil test is helpful. Adding coffee grounds to your soil directly will still help your plants, but it may need a little push from Mother Nature to get it absorbed properly: enter, earth worms. Read more about it from Gardening Knowhow here.

Save Your Fishy Leftovers

Fish are amazing sources of omegas, nitrogen and other trace minerals. I used to watch my friends “plant” fish heads and all the remnants from gutting their catch at the end of the fishing trip all around their orange trees and garden. At the time, I had no idea what a great source of nutrition that was for those plants. Come to find out, the Native Americans used to do it with every crop. What an incredible use of resources. To learn more, read and watch videos from the Gardening Channel.

Compost

Ok, so I have to mention composting (I will not go into a lot of detail here) because I wrote a mammoth research report on composting and it’s applications for my internship at MSU Extension, when I graduated in 2002. I will have to write a separate blog about all the details, because it will be as long as this one! However, to get some good information so that you can start saving your scraps, read more from Homestead and Chill. It totally worth it!!!!

Gardening is how I relax. It’s another form of creating and playing with colors

Oscar de la Renta

Let’s be honest, if you just can’t hack this green thumb thing, even with air plants, you can always buy plastic ones and dupe it! You can even just add some to your real plants to fill in the gaps like I did. But no matter which way you go, enjoy the process, pick out the designs, create your masterpiece and play with colors! Because, the one true joy in life is being able express truly who you are! So work it!

Happy gardening and stay inspired!! Message me with any questions! And PLEASE comment with what you’d like to read about next! I have a lot of ideas!

This is the beginning of something beautiful!