A great way to learn how to grow plants indoors is to start a plant from seed. Starting seeds to grow indoors allows you to learn a plant through its various stages and gives you confidence in learning how to read a plant and attend to its needs. There are many reasons why starting a plant from seed is a great way to learn how to garden, and I will share some of my favorite reasons why I prefer it.

It’s cheap!

Packs of seeds go for a few dollars. Even specialty seeds for rare types of tomatoes, for example, may cost ten dollars for a pack of ten to twenty seeds, but just think of how many plants you could grow from that! Plus, you know exactly what type of plant you are getting when you purchase seeds.

You don’t want to grow huge plants indoors

By starting from seed, you have better control over the size and distribution of your plants. Plants grown indoors usually need to be kept smaller and by starting from seed, you can better control the size of your plants. Good sized plants can be grown in surprisingly small pots, and using smaller plants you can make better use of lighting and space restrictions that come with growing indoors.

Pests? What Pests?

Buying a young plant from a garden center not only brings with it the chance of getting a weak plant that is easily susceptible to disease, you also run the risk of importing those diseases and pests to your indoor garden. By starting seeds yourself, the environment is under your control and because of that, there is less chance of disease and pest infestations in your indoor garden.

Learn how to read, little by little…

By starting your own seeds, you begin to learn how to read a plant and understand its changing needs throughout its life cycle. By observing your plant at the start, you begin to understand what works and what doesn’t. Plus, when your plant is big and healthy, it is really satisfying to remember the day when it just broke the ground and spread its cotyledons (first leaves) toward the light!

Starting seeds for your indoor grow not only makes sense from a financial standpoint, it is a good way to ensure that you get exactly the type of plant you want, regardless of what’s being sold in the local garden centers. It also reduces the chance of an infestation that could happen by bringing in plants grown in less than ideal situations. It allows you to pamper your seedlings in a controlled environment. Plus, the pride you get from starting and learning a plant from its beginnings can’t be beat! So buy a pack of seeds, and get growing!