How To Build an Indoor Garden in Your Student Accommodation

Plants, flowers, and gardens bring many benefits to your life. They provide a calming influence and a hobby to look after something that is your own.

Whether you are used to gardening growing up or want to give it a go for the first time, there are several ways through which you can accomplish this.

Let us find out how you can build your in your student accommodation with ease!

The benefits of an indoor garden

Indoor gardening is a popular hobby for many people, and you see it a lot on Instagram and TikTok with indoor garden as part of the wider interior design trends lately. You should never treat your indoor garden like a fad though, it truly can stay with you for the long haul with many benefits. We have some of the popular ones below.

Reduce stress levels

Having plants in your home and study space (which your student accommodation is the perfect combination of) can help make you feel more comfortable and allow you to relax. It also brings about a natural aesthetic that reduces stress levels organically. Taking time to look after your indoor plants is the perfect way to relax and recharge away from the busy university life you have.

Sharpen your focus

Research shows that the presence of indoor plants can have a calming and soothing effect, helping to boost your memory by 20% and increasing focus and attention to detail. This means that the impact of greenery around you can be largely beneficial especially while you are studying.

Home therapy

If you have been struggling with your mental health or just need to find ways to take the stress away for a short time, indoor gardening can be extremely helpful. Horticultural therapy helps to increase positive feelings in people suffering from anxiety and depression amongst other mental health conditions.

Boost productivity

Due to the benefits of increased calmness and focus, it is found that the presence of an indoor garden can have a real boost on levels of productivity. As a student, you are always looking at ways to make that difference, to maximise your potential when it comes to your studies and having that plant on your study desk could make the difference in how productive you are over time.

Improve air quality

For a relatively small space, the presence of indoor plants could make a big difference to the quality of air, reducing NO₂ levels by as much as 20%. The higher the number of plants you have, the greater the impact on air quality. All of this will help to make you feel more positive, feel lighter and happier in your home space!

Choosing indoor garden plants

Now that we have discussed the benefits of indoor plants, you might be wondering, how can I choose the right type of plant? It isn’t as straightforward as going out and buying the first plant you see, as you might have to choose something with little maintenance otherwise it will be brown and dead within a week.

Understand the light

First, look at your student accommodation and work out how much light there is and where it comes from. Some plants require little light whereas others might need plenty.

How much maintenance is required

This relates to you. If you have a busy study and social life, do you have a lot of time to maintain your indoor garden? If you don’t, then look for plants that do not require a lot of maintenance to keep alive.

Building the indoor garden

There are a couple of things that you can do to maximise the space and make your indoor garden look incredible, even if space is limited!

Install plant stands

Plant stands hold the plants in place of course, but you can also find different heights that add a creative element and stagger the levels of different plants you have. We can assure you that this will look amazing in your room!

Use the windowsill

Where space is limited, many people have windowsill gardens. Whether you grow aromatic herbs or have small plants, it brings that little bit of joy to a small space.

Desk-friendly plants

Adding some greenery to your study desk can lift the mood, improve the air quality, and just make the space more than just a study place.

Best house plants for an indoor garden

Here are some of the best plants you can get for your student’s indoor garden:

Cactus

The best thing about a cactus is that you can let them be and they will be completely fine. Pretty much indestructible, as you’d have to do a lot to lose a cactus. On top of that they are spiny and mean-looking, come in all different weird and wonderful shapes and are just fantastic!

Spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum is a house plant that is easy to care for. They help to brighten up the space with their leaves, purify the air around them and give you plenty of little babies to pot and give to your friends as gifts.

Aloe vera

A popular and low-maintenance succulent, aloe vera has a long lifespan and the long and thin leaves can be part of your room décor. The restorative nature of aloe vera makes it a calming presence in any space.

Peace Lily

This plant looks beautiful and is a great addition to any space that is looking to be freshened up. You need to ensure medium or high lighting and make sure it is watered regularly to keep it at its best.

Tillandsia

Air plants are great for student spaces and indoor gardens as they don’t need much water – absorbing water from moisture in the air. These are the perfect addition if you are considering hanging some plants on the wall of your indoor garden.

In conclusion, creating an indoor garden in your student accommodation is a rewarding and fulfilling endeavour that can enhance both your living space and your well-being. By following the steps outlined in this guide and incorporating your own creativity and personal touches, you can transform even the smallest of spaces into a thriving oasis of greenery and tranquillity.

Whether you’re a plant enthusiast or just beginning your gardening journey, remember that the process is as important as the end result. Embrace the opportunity to nurture and care for your indoor garden, and enjoy the many benefits it brings to your student life.

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