Indoor Gardening vs. Outdoor Gardening: Advantages and Disadvantages - Medicgrow (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to grow plants indoors or outdoors? ›

In conclusion, both indoor and outdoor growing have their own unique benefits and drawbacks. Indoor growing offers control over the environment, year-round gardening, and protection from pests and diseases. On the other hand, outdoor growing provides natural light, cost savings, and greater plant diversity.

Yes! If you choose to garden indoors, we recommend you begin growing vegetables indoors and then during the spring/summer months, moving your vegetables outdoors. If it's warm during the day in the spring, you can bring your plants outside during the day and then move them indoors at night.

Very few of us have enough natural light to grow an indoor garden. Vegetables and greens can grow well in front of a window with good sun exposure. Sometimes you may need to supplement with a little artificial light for optimal growth. Optimal growth will occur with at least 12 hours of light each day.

Plants also replace carbon dioxide with fresh oxygen. According to a 1989 NASA study, houseplants can help improve air quality by removing cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene from the air. Another study found that the soil in potted plants can also help clean indoor air.

While crops grown outdoors usually get enough CO2, strategically placed fans in a greenhouse can draw air closer to plants for maximum growth. Higher CO2 levels result in bigger leaves, stronger stalks, and ultimately higher crop yields.

The growth rates of crops from indoor hydroponic gardens are also typically faster, as they don't rely on the temperament and unpredictability of the outdoors. This can lead to long-term reduced food costs, improved nutritional value, and overall improved food safety for yourself and your family.

Pay attention to the backs of seed packages, which will often tell you if a plant is not recommended for indoor seed starting. Typically, those plants have tender root systems that are easily disturbed by transplanting. Plants that don't like to be moved include small leafy greens, root crops, beans, and some peas.

If you love this delicious fruit and want to produce your own—no matter the time of year—you'll be happy to learn that you can grow tomatoes indoors.

Indoor planting can be problematic at times since plants drop leaves, leak water, or even stink. On the contrary, some plants may take longer to grow than usual, which is another annoying disadvantage of growing inside. Remember that some species require specific feed, nutrients, humidity, and soil conditions.

Do indoor plants attract bugs? ›

Indoor plants are the perfect place for bugs because there are no natural predators present. In addition, inside conditions often have high humidity and low air circulation, creating a warm, enticing place where bugs want to live and reproduce.

Greens. Like lettuce, most greens can take a little less light than most veggies. Try arugula, mustard greens, kale, chicory and spinach indoors in containers filled with six or more inches of potting soil, or you can grow them using a hydroponic kit.

Sunlight is crucial for plants as it provides energy for growth. While sunlight contains a full spectrum of colors, most artificial lights typically emit only yellow or green light. However, modern full-spectrum grow lights are designed to mimic sunlight's spectrum.

Some take a long time to mature, so if you want to enjoy them sooner in the season, it's worth starting your seeds indoors. This way, you don't have to wait for the weather to warm up to start growing. However, some plants don't adjust well to being transplanted, so starting the seeds outdoors is necessary.

Like us, houseplants can benefit from time outside, too. The best time to move your houseplants outdoors is during the summer growing season when conditions are just right.

In comparison to the ground, containers hold substantially less growing media. This means their surface-area-to-volume ratio is far greater, which causes them to heat up and cool down far quicker than the ground. These fluctuations in temperature can damage plant roots and compromise overall growth.

1. Indoor plants may help reduce stress levels. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that plants in your home or office can make you feel more comfortable, soothed, and natural.