If you want your cooking area to look green and refreshing, learn about the Best Plants to Grow in the Kitchen!
Kitchens usually have good ventilation with large windows that provide plenty of light and fresh air. The only downside is the fumes and humidity, which can be easily avoided. Don’t let your space go to waste; make the most of it with these kitchen plants!
How Much Light Does Your Kitchen Receive?
Okay, so you wanna grow some plants in your kitchen? Awesome! But before you even think about what to plant, the first thing you must ask yourself is–“How much sunshine does my kitchen actually get?”
Think about it. Plants need sunlight to grow! So, if your kitchen is super dark with no windows at all, you’re kinda out of luck with most plants.
You’ll need to find the ones that love total shade, and then you can plant them in grow lights. But if your kitchen has a big window with so much sun (a south-facing one), you have way more options! You can grow all sorts of herbs, maybe even some smaller veggies.
The rule is simple: the more sunlight, the better. If your kitchen window receives indirect sunlight, you’ll need to grow plants that grow without direct sunlight.
Best Kitchen Plants to Grow
As a rule of thumb, plants that can thrive in humidity and survive changes in temperature and air currents are best. Here are great choices that will thrive easily in a kitchen’s atmosphere and won’t give you much trouble:
1. Herbs
Herbs are great for growing in the kitchen. Why? Well, the kind of setting herbs need to grow is exactly what a kitchen offers–partial light, moderate temperatures, and frequent use. The more you harvest, the more you’ll get.
Herbs also spread their lovely aromas, so your kitchen will always smell nice. Good options include rosemary, basil, parsley, lemon balm, lemongrass, mint, oregano, cilantro, and thyme. Here’s how to set up a herb garden in your kitchen easily.
2. Edibles and Flowers
For the edibles, think small and easy! Sprouts are a fantastic choice–they’re super simple to grow and packed with nutrients.
Microgreens like radish, arugula, spinach, beetroot, and cilantro are another winner. They add a lovely flavor boost to your meals and look really pretty.
For flowers, violets and pansies are perfect. There are tons of edible flowers you can grow. You can also grow wheatgrass for your morning shot of juice!
The best place to keep them really depends on your kitchen. A sunny windowsill is ideal for most, but you can also use grow lights if your kitchen is a bit dark. Just make sure they get enough light and water!
3. Easy Kitchen Plants
Herbs and edibles might be great kitchen plants, but they need harvesting and a bit of extra care. If you don’t want much other than pretty foliage in the kitchen that’s also low maintenance, then pothos, monstera, aloe, and snake plants are your best bet.
They’re not the only option; you can also try philodendrons, wandering dude, ferns, spider plants, and English ivy. Why stay limited to just one kind? You can combine easy-to-grow herbs with some of these low-maintenance plants to decorate your kitchen and make cooking more enjoyable. Here are more tips to help you!
4. Air Purifying Plants for Kitchen
Some plant species, such as the peace lily, jasmine, mum, geranium, mint, Boston fern, rubber plant, and gerbera daisy, can absorb odors, purify the air, and are suitable for growing in the kitchen.
Now, what’s the best spot for these? Near the stove, of course! But not too close; you don’t want them to get burnt. A windowsill nearby is perfect. They’ll soak up the sunlight and keep the air fresh while you’re whipping up culinary masterpieces.
5. Succulents
Succulents are nearly maintenance-free and do very well indoors. Since kitchens often have good light from windows and can get a bit dry, it’s a perfect spot for these low-maintenance beauties.
Make sure they get some sunlight each day, but avoid direct midday sun, as it can scorch their leaves. There are plenty of options–aloe, snake plants, cacti, sedums, peperomia, and jade. You can also repurpose kitchen items and grow succulents this way!
Plants You Should Avoid Growing in the Kitchen
Avoid plants that can grow too large or spread too widely, as well as toxic ones. Dieffenbachia, castor bean, oleander, English ivy, sago palm, and the ZZ plants are all toxic and can be harmful if ingested, especially if you have children or pets in the household.
Also, avoid plants with toxic berries. These could easily fall into food preparation areas and pose problems. It’s best to do a quick search to determine whether the plant you’re going with is toxic.
