13 One-of-a-Kind Windowsill Gardens
Readers show us how no shelf or ledge is too small for a plant or two
Almost any sunlit ledge, shelf or windowsill can be transformed into an indoor oasis, whether it’s in an herb-filled kitchen in Turkey or a dramatic bathroom in Los Angeles. We asked readers to share their indoor gardens. Here are some of our favorites.
Who gardens here: Michael Stout
Location: East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Where it is: All along his apartment’s east- and south-facing windows
What’s growing: “I have an herb garden by our windows in our kitchen area, succulents and air plants on a window shelf in the bathroom. I also keep some potted plants on a metal potting station near the windows of our common space. In my bedroom, I have an outdoor flower box.”
How long he’s been gardening: About a decade
What he’s learned: “Different plants require different spaces, depending on the amount of sunlight.”
What he loves most: Quick access to herbs in the kitchen and a way to brighten up the mostly industrial view.
Location: East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Where it is: All along his apartment’s east- and south-facing windows
What’s growing: “I have an herb garden by our windows in our kitchen area, succulents and air plants on a window shelf in the bathroom. I also keep some potted plants on a metal potting station near the windows of our common space. In my bedroom, I have an outdoor flower box.”
How long he’s been gardening: About a decade
What he’s learned: “Different plants require different spaces, depending on the amount of sunlight.”
What he loves most: Quick access to herbs in the kitchen and a way to brighten up the mostly industrial view.
Who gardens here: Anamaria Dobrin
Location: Sibiu, Romania
Where it is: On a table in her living room in front of a south-facing window
What’s growing: Succulents, including echeveria, peperomia, senecio, titanopsis, kalanchoe, sempervivum, pleiospilos, crassula and cactus, plus a weeping fig, ivy, and avocado and lemon trees.
How long she’s been gardening: About a year, after she received an ivy plant as a gift from her husband.
What she’s learned: If you have plants on windowsills, guard them from the excessive heat of radiators often placed under windows. “When we use the radiators, I move them to a room where the radiators stay off or guard them with a thick drape, but sometimes that drape still is not enough.”
What she loves most: “The joy of watching them grow, the surprise of new pups and the way they turn towards the sun.”
Location: Sibiu, Romania
Where it is: On a table in her living room in front of a south-facing window
What’s growing: Succulents, including echeveria, peperomia, senecio, titanopsis, kalanchoe, sempervivum, pleiospilos, crassula and cactus, plus a weeping fig, ivy, and avocado and lemon trees.
How long she’s been gardening: About a year, after she received an ivy plant as a gift from her husband.
What she’s learned: If you have plants on windowsills, guard them from the excessive heat of radiators often placed under windows. “When we use the radiators, I move them to a room where the radiators stay off or guard them with a thick drape, but sometimes that drape still is not enough.”
What she loves most: “The joy of watching them grow, the surprise of new pups and the way they turn towards the sun.”
Who gardens here: Anna Downey
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Where it is: In the bedroom along a west-facing window
What’s growing: Jade plants, elephant bush, peperomia, pothos and one mystery plant
How long she’s been gardening: “My mom has always had a garden — vegetable and flower — but I only became interested myself about 2½ years ago.”
What she’s learned: “Pay attention to your plants and only give water when they need it,” she says. “I have killed a succulent or two by overwatering.”
What she loves most: “The plants, honestly, just make me happy. The green adds life to my apartment, and I love watching them develop.”
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Where it is: In the bedroom along a west-facing window
What’s growing: Jade plants, elephant bush, peperomia, pothos and one mystery plant
How long she’s been gardening: “My mom has always had a garden — vegetable and flower — but I only became interested myself about 2½ years ago.”
What she’s learned: “Pay attention to your plants and only give water when they need it,” she says. “I have killed a succulent or two by overwatering.”
What she loves most: “The plants, honestly, just make me happy. The green adds life to my apartment, and I love watching them develop.”
Who gardens here: Christine St. Jean
Location: Outside Boston
Where it is: In her south-facing kitchen-dining room that overlooks the garden
What’s growing: Three potted echeverias: ‘Black Prince’ on the ends and ‘Colorata’ in the center
How long she’s been gardening: “It’s my lifelong love,” she says. “My mother was my greatest influence. She taught me early on about caring for plants both indoors and out, and instilled a love of plants and flowers.”
What she’s learned: “If it fails, toss it and try something new.”
What she loves most: “Plants add life to a room and a home, not to mention fresh oxygen.”
Location: Outside Boston
Where it is: In her south-facing kitchen-dining room that overlooks the garden
What’s growing: Three potted echeverias: ‘Black Prince’ on the ends and ‘Colorata’ in the center
How long she’s been gardening: “It’s my lifelong love,” she says. “My mother was my greatest influence. She taught me early on about caring for plants both indoors and out, and instilled a love of plants and flowers.”
What she’s learned: “If it fails, toss it and try something new.”
What she loves most: “Plants add life to a room and a home, not to mention fresh oxygen.”
Who gardens here: Beth Heim
Location: Diamond Bar, California
Where it is: In the family room off the kitchen in a west-facing window
What’s growing: Orchids, African violets, violets and succulents, including string of bananas and string of pearls. (She restored the apothecary chest herself with milk paint, chalk paint and tung oil.)
How long she’s been gardening: More than 30 years
What she’s learned: “For orchids and African violets, fertilizer is an absolute must to get them to flower.”
What she loves most: “My windowsill garden makes me happy when I look at the colors, the light streaming in and the new growth that takes place. When I see new growth and little flower buds, I know I’m doing it right.”
Location: Diamond Bar, California
Where it is: In the family room off the kitchen in a west-facing window
What’s growing: Orchids, African violets, violets and succulents, including string of bananas and string of pearls. (She restored the apothecary chest herself with milk paint, chalk paint and tung oil.)
How long she’s been gardening: More than 30 years
What she’s learned: “For orchids and African violets, fertilizer is an absolute must to get them to flower.”
What she loves most: “My windowsill garden makes me happy when I look at the colors, the light streaming in and the new growth that takes place. When I see new growth and little flower buds, I know I’m doing it right.”
Who gardens here: Faith Towers
Location: Reading, Massachusetts
Where it is: On a TV stand in the family room, near south- and west-facing windows
What’s growing here: From front to back: Golden barrel cactus, Echinopsis saltensis and Echinocereus polyacanthus ssp. pacificus
How long she’s been gardening: About 10 years
What she’s learned: “Every plant is so different.”
What she loves most: “It adds a little life and vibrancy to our home during the long, cold winters we have here in the Northeast.”
Location: Reading, Massachusetts
Where it is: On a TV stand in the family room, near south- and west-facing windows
What’s growing here: From front to back: Golden barrel cactus, Echinopsis saltensis and Echinocereus polyacanthus ssp. pacificus
How long she’s been gardening: About 10 years
What she’s learned: “Every plant is so different.”
What she loves most: “It adds a little life and vibrancy to our home during the long, cold winters we have here in the Northeast.”
Who gardens here: kimokele
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Where it is: On a table in a small sunroom (above her dog Pippin’s bed)
What’s growing: Succulents, including aloe and a cactus
How long she’s been gardening: “I always had a plant in my room starting in elementary school, but I’ve only started growing a large variety of succulents within the last five years.”
What she’s learned: “Don’t overwater!”
What she loves most: “It creates a soothing atmosphere without taking up too much space.”
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Where it is: On a table in a small sunroom (above her dog Pippin’s bed)
What’s growing: Succulents, including aloe and a cactus
How long she’s been gardening: “I always had a plant in my room starting in elementary school, but I’ve only started growing a large variety of succulents within the last five years.”
What she’s learned: “Don’t overwater!”
What she loves most: “It creates a soothing atmosphere without taking up too much space.”
Who gardens here: Brenda Sevigny-Killen
Location: Augusta, Maine
Where it is: In the pantry in an east-facing window
What’s growing: Jade plants (Crassula ovata, C. ovata ‘Variegata’, C. ovata ‘Gollum’), aloe vera, burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) and echeverias (Echeveria glauca and Echeveria derenbergii)
How long she’s been gardening: 35 years
What she’s learned: “Plants are sensitive to microclimates both in and out.”
What she loves most: “I feel like I am outside in the garden while in my house. This is one of five windowsill gardens.”
Location: Augusta, Maine
Where it is: In the pantry in an east-facing window
What’s growing: Jade plants (Crassula ovata, C. ovata ‘Variegata’, C. ovata ‘Gollum’), aloe vera, burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) and echeverias (Echeveria glauca and Echeveria derenbergii)
How long she’s been gardening: 35 years
What she’s learned: “Plants are sensitive to microclimates both in and out.”
What she loves most: “I feel like I am outside in the garden while in my house. This is one of five windowsill gardens.”
Who gardens here: Pinar Tekbas Cam
Location: Antalya, Turkey
Where it is: In the kitchen
What’s growing: Mint, basil, parsley, thyme and lettuce
How long she’s been gardening: A couple of years
What she’s learned: “Don’t forget to set up a hydration system for those weeklong vacations.”
What she loves most: “These green beauties provide great energy in the kitchen every morning,” she says —and she always has fresh herbs.
Location: Antalya, Turkey
Where it is: In the kitchen
What’s growing: Mint, basil, parsley, thyme and lettuce
How long she’s been gardening: A couple of years
What she’s learned: “Don’t forget to set up a hydration system for those weeklong vacations.”
What she loves most: “These green beauties provide great energy in the kitchen every morning,” she says —and she always has fresh herbs.
Who gardens here: Nancy Martin
Location: Wilmington, Delaware
Where it is: In the bathroom in a south-facing bay window
What’s growing: Lenten rose (Hellebore sp.), waiting to be planted outside
How long she’s been gardening: More than 30 years
What she’s learned: “Water a plant thoroughly in a pot that drains out. Stop when you see the water coming through the holes.”
What she loves most: “It’s so cheerful, and I can have plants all year round.”
Location: Wilmington, Delaware
Where it is: In the bathroom in a south-facing bay window
What’s growing: Lenten rose (Hellebore sp.), waiting to be planted outside
How long she’s been gardening: More than 30 years
What she’s learned: “Water a plant thoroughly in a pot that drains out. Stop when you see the water coming through the holes.”
What she loves most: “It’s so cheerful, and I can have plants all year round.”
Who gardens here: Shae Hermon Laird
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California
Where it is: On the kitchen windowsill
What’s growing: Aloe vera, African violet, arrowhead vine, philodendron
How long she’s been gardening: 13 years
What she’s learned: “Water once a week. I also talk to them.”
What she loves most: “The variety of plants I have. I also love the greenery it adds to my kitchen.”
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California
Where it is: On the kitchen windowsill
What’s growing: Aloe vera, African violet, arrowhead vine, philodendron
How long she’s been gardening: 13 years
What she’s learned: “Water once a week. I also talk to them.”
What she loves most: “The variety of plants I have. I also love the greenery it adds to my kitchen.”
Who gardens here: Tonya Long
Location: Outside Glade, in northern Kansas
Where it is: In her newly renovated porch
What’s growing: Succulents, cactuses, ivy, geraniums and other houseplants
How long she’s been gardening: 20 years; she gardens with her husband, a master gardener
What she’s learned: “I tend to overwater, and I am reminded by my husband not to do that.”
What she loves most: “I find it relaxing to see the flowers and the natural air it gives to the surroundings,” she says. “When you look outside and things are brown and dirty, it is nice to be surrounded by pretty things.”
More
See other windowsill gardens from fellow readers
See more ideas and growing guides in the Houseplants section
Location: Outside Glade, in northern Kansas
Where it is: In her newly renovated porch
What’s growing: Succulents, cactuses, ivy, geraniums and other houseplants
How long she’s been gardening: 20 years; she gardens with her husband, a master gardener
What she’s learned: “I tend to overwater, and I am reminded by my husband not to do that.”
What she loves most: “I find it relaxing to see the flowers and the natural air it gives to the surroundings,” she says. “When you look outside and things are brown and dirty, it is nice to be surrounded by pretty things.”
More
See other windowsill gardens from fellow readers
See more ideas and growing guides in the Houseplants section
Location: Los Angeles
Where it is: In the master bathroom
What’s growing: A variety of tropical houseplants and succulents
How long she’s been gardening: “Since I was a kid. I had a collection of 15 orchid plants in my bedroom when I was in junior high.”
What she’s learned: “Cautious watering can be a lifesaver to most plants,” she says. “My houseplants enjoy constantly moist soil, while my succulents like to completely dry out between waterings.”
What she loves most: “I love the splash of texture and natural beauty the plants bring to the dark walls in our bathroom. Plus, the added benefit of cleaner air doesn’t hurt.”