Growing a garden can be difficult, especially if a yard-less dorm or apartment is what you call home. However, just because there is no yard, doesn’t mean that plants can’t become an everyday part of life. In fact, growing plants has positive implications for all facets of an individual’s life. According to a study at The University of Nevada’s Cooperative Extension, people who grew houseplants were happier, exhibited lower stress levels and had reduced levels of indoor air pollution in their domiciles. By growing a garden in your dorm room, you are epitomizing what it means to be sustainable. While some people think that growing plants can be an expensive venture, it’s actually cheap and easy. All that is required is soil, a pot and a few seeds.
Deciding what to grow is a crucial part of the dorm garden. As the fall season begins, the best plants to grow right now are herbs such as basil, cilantro, parsley or chives. Also, leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce or collards can be tasty windowsill companions. Flowering plants, such as wildflowers, bluebells or geraniums can be well suited to grow in a dorm room environment as well.
If you go to a local seed store or look online, you should not expect to pay more than a few dollars per seed package. A package usually contains enough seeds for many pots, so what I like to do is buy several packages with my pals and trade. We all get a variety of seeds, and only have to buy one package each.
Preparing a pot is simple. A pot can be made from any receptacle that will hold soil and plants. One of the easiest things to do is take a cup or reusable plastic container and cut several holes on the bottom for proper drainage. Procuring soil is simple. If only a small amount of soil is required, the banks of streams or the edges of fields are excellent places for gather soil.
Reading the back of the seed package should give exact directions on what depth the seeds should be planted and how much water they require. The most important thing to remember when planting seeds is depth. If you plant seeds too deep they won’t sprout, and if you plant them too shallow their roots won’t be able to anchor themselves effectively. By following the proper steps, there should be little doubt that seedlings will soon emerge from a properly prepared pot.
Upkeep on these delicate little seedlings is simple and takes two minutes a day. Placing the seedlings on a sunny windowsill secures their happiness, and keeping their soil moist makes sure their roots grow healthy and strong. Rotating the pot once a week keeps the stems growing straight and true.
Donating a few minutes of time to your dorm garden per day is all it takes to grow fresh herbs, leafy greens or pretty flowers all winter without much toil. You will be the envy of all your friends. Your days will be brighter, your air will be cleaner and your windowsill will be tastier. So don’t wait, start planning your dorm garden today!
Chris Cioffi is a senior in English and an intern for the Office of Sustainability.