How to grow your own plant nursery

What is a plant nursery

A plant nursery is a place where plants are grown either indoors or outdoors to grow and propagate for sale or transplanting. While most plant nurseries are commercial in nature, you can still create your own personal-sized version at home. If you start a plant nursery, you can use the plants to move to your garden, add to your home’s landscaping, or simply as a way to add greenery and life to your interior décor. They’re also ideal for a backyard or rooftop garden.

Starting a plant nursery: how much space will you need?

Before you begin your plant nursery, you’ll need to determine how much space the plants will need to grow. This depends on a few factors, including the size of your plants, where you live, and generally how much extra space you have available. You can always grow just a few varieties or cultivate your plants in pots and containers if you have a small backyard. For large backyards, measure the dimensions of your yard and use that as a guide. You can make your plant nursery as large or small as you want, but remember that the more plants you have, the more work you’ll need to do to make sure they thrive. A backyard greenhouse is another excellent way to keep all of your plants contained and protected from the elements.

Important tools required

Here are some essential tools you’ll need to create your own plant nursery at home:

Seeds or young plants:
Start your gardening project by choosing a variety of seeds or young plants. Pick out a few plants that require the same conditions, such as the amount of sun and water they need. This will make it easier to keep them together in one place.

Soil:
Make sure you grow your plants in healthy, nutrient-rich soil free of pesticides and chemical-based fertilisers.

Gloves and other tools:
Gardening requires various tools, including protective gardening gloves, a trowel, and pruning shears. These tools are designed to make it easier for you to move plants, cut off dead leaves and branches, and protect yourself from dirt and thorns.

Water:
Make sure that you plant your nursery in an area where you have access to water, like a garden hose. You can also install your own sprinkler and irrigation system so the plants can be watered any time they need a drink.

Protection:
Keep your plants protected with netting or a cover during times of frost. You can also plant them in a greenhouse or simply create a small container garden indoors, potted plants are a great idea if you are planning to move to a new home, to make it easier to move your garden without killing your plants, especially if you need to move long distance.

Fertiliser:
Choose a safe, chemical-free fertiliser to feed your plants. This is especially important if you’re doing organic gardening.

Planting from seeds vs. cuttings

You can choose to grow your plants using seeds or propagate them from cuttings. Let’s compare the difference between the two methods.

Growing plants from seeds:
It takes practice and patience if you want to grow your plants from seeds. Make sure that you know how to germinate the seeds first before you plant them in the soil. Certain species may need to be kept inside until they’re established. Some seeds need to be refrigerated before they can germinate, too. Research the types of plants you want to grow and learn how to germinate the seeds before starting your gardening project.

Propagation by cuttings:
Another way to plant is through a process called propagation. This involves cutting parts of an existing plant and rooting in either water or soil. Propagation makes it easy to add new plants to your nursery since you’re simply taking a small part of an existing plant to start a new one. Most cuttings are taken from the leaves and stem but check your specific plant species to confirm which area to use for propagation.

Easy to grow plants for your nursery

You don’t need to have a green thumb to enjoy a plant nursery. Here are a few of the easiest plants to grow in your new nursery or garden.

ZZ Plant:
This popular plant is a succulent that produces dark green leaves. It’s easy to grow indoors and requires little watering but be aware that it’s toxic to cats and dogs, so don’t plant it if you have pets at home.

Geraniums:
These colourful flowers are perfect for a sunny area, but they do need to be protected from cold and frost.

Cacti:
Unique and drought-tolerant, plant a variety of cacti in your nursery to enjoy a Southwest-inspired vibe.

Jasmine:
Enjoy the beautiful fragrance of the jasmine plant in your nursery. This plant is easy to care for with regular watering and plenty of sunlight.

Christmas cactus:
This flowering plant doesn’t require much light, making it a perfect choice for an indoor plant nursery.

Keep these tips in mind if you want to try your hand at creating a plant nursery at home. Whether you cultivate your plants from seeds or cuttings, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty and peace that plants can bring, and keep your home beautiful with fresh flowers and plants. No matter where you live, with the right tools and some patience, you can start a home plant nursery that will be enjoyed for years to come.

Blog written by Porch.com