My son has loved plants for as long as I can remember. This wasn’t something we pushed. He just gravitated toward plants. Even when he was very young, he would ask if we could go to the plant nursery so he could pick out a plant. As early as kindergarten, he loved walking through the rows of plants and deciding which one he wanted to bring home.
Over time, what started as curiosity turned into something we now do together. He helps us with the vegetable garden in the spring and summer, and he helps me take care of our houseplants throughout the year.
At this point, we have 21 houseplants scattered throughout our home. Some of them I chose, but many he picked himself during our trips to the plant nursery.
We have a little bit of everything. A money tree, a snake plant, several succulents, orchids of many sizes in different rooms, and a few pitcher plants that he finds fascinating. We also have a Venus flytrap, which, of course, he loves because it actually eats bugs.
Some of the plants I honestly couldn’t even tell you the name of. He picked them out, and they came home with us. In his room, he has a cactus and a succulent that he takes care of himself. Most recently, he started growing bonsai trees. Right now, we have four small bonsai plants, and one of them just started to sprout. Watching that tiny bit of growth has been very exciting for him.
If your child has even a small interest in plants, gardening can be a wonderful hobby to encourage. It teaches patience, responsibility, and curiosity about how things grow.
The key is starting with plants that are easy to care for, so kids can experience success early on. When something grows well, it builds excitement and keeps them interested. Here are a few starter plants that tend to work well for kids and families who are just beginning.
Starter Plants to Try with Kids
1. Pothos: Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to start with. It tolerates a range of lighting conditions and doesn’t require constant attention. One of the most fun things about pothos is that you can cut a small piece and place it in water, and it will grow roots. Kids love watching this happen.
2. Spider Plant: Spider plants are another great beginner plant. They produce little offshoots that are often called “babies.” These babies can be replanted into new pots, which makes it feel like you’re multiplying your plants. Kids often love helping with that process.
3. Herbs like Basil or Mint: Herbs are a great way to connect gardening to everyday life. Basil grows well in a sunny window, and mint is very hardy. Kids enjoy clipping herbs and seeing them used in meals, which makes the experience feel more meaningful.
4. Cherry Tomatoes: If you have outdoor space, cherry tomatoes are a great starter plant for a vegetable garden. They tend to produce a lot and grow fairly quickly. Watching tomatoes grow and ripen can be very exciting for kids, and checking the plants each day often becomes part of the routine.
5. Marigolds: If you want to start with flowers, marigolds are a great choice. They are colorful and easy to grow. They work well in gardens or containers and add a lot of brightness to a space.
A Few Things That Helped Us
Let your child help choose the plants. When they feel ownership over the plant, they are much more likely to take care of it.
Start small. A few pots on a windowsill can be the perfect beginning. Don’t worry if something doesn’t survive. Gardening involves trial and error, and learning from those experiences is part of the process.
You don’t need a large garden to get started. One plant can spark an interest that grows over time. In our case, it started with a single plant and slowly turned into 21 houseplants, a vegetable garden, and a child who genuinely enjoys taking care of something that grows.
