Article by Anna Rogers

Transform Your Home and Mood with Indoor Plants

The days are short, and the nights are long. The air is cold, and cabin fever is starting to settle its way into your heart and mind. You’ve enjoyed the holidays and gotten a little rest and relaxation through some early-to-beds and cozy book curl-ups on the couch. But now, you just want to go outside and see signs of life in the world around you. It’s a classic case of the winter blues, and we’ve got your remedy. Here are some ideas for curing the winter blues with some indoor greens.

Emotional & Mental Connections

Our holistic well-being is deeply connected to our surroundings, including nature, the changing seasons, and plants. The dreariness of winter can weigh more heavily on some people than others. For everyone, though, adding lively cheer to our homes through living plants brings many emotional and mental benefits.

A study published in 2019 in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture by Charles Hall and Melinda Knuth evaluates the emotional and mental health benefits of plants. Much of the study refers to the benefits found when people are in proximity to green spaces. The harsh Billings winters create a natural break in our access to “green” space. While we can still enjoy the outdoors throughout winter, there is a lack of interaction with the frozen earth and an absence of new growth, blooms, and buds.

In-home plants can fill the void left by winter, helping reduce stress, promote productivity and creativity, and lead to an overall higher quality of life. They purify the air and bring beauty into a space. In addition to house plants, adding some indoor microgreens can bring freshness to your plate and peace and purpose to your daily routine.

Local Insights

Mick Gainan of Gainan’s Flowers & Garden Center has been a part of the flowers, garden, and home scene in Billings for many years. Gainan’s garden center is open year-round, offering a wide selection of indoor plants. They carry blooming and tropical plants, succulents, and indoor plants grown for their lovely foliage, and they have the supplies you need to start a microgreen garden.

Mick shared his recommendations and expertise on channeling some life and joy into your home or office this winter to combat those winter blues.

Microgreen Garden

Create a miniature indoor garden that packs a nutritional punch. “Microgreens are fun and fresh and can be grown at home all winter long,” Mick says. Many different vegetables, grains, and herbs can be grown and harvested as microgreens.

Microgreens grow in about 10-20 days, offering a quick turnaround and a versatile edible product that can be used to top soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, and more! Because they are harvested so soon after sprouting, the greens are nutrient-dense, giving a concentrated dose of vitamins and nutrients.

Microgreens can be grown in small spaces with artificial light, so you can make these mini-crops work for you even if you don’t have an ideal spot near a window. See Parker at Gainan’s to assist you with any microgreens questions!

 Nurturing Houseplants

Your houseplants need a little extra TLC in the winter. Mick has advice for taking care of all houseplants in the winter:

“Part of being a good plant parent is the placement of plants to give them the best light for winter months. Plants that love north exposure might want to move to southern windows due to the short days of winter. Give plants a 90-degree turn once a week so they grow evenly.”

He also advises a general-purpose plant food year-round, like Jack’s 20-20-20.

Indoor Struggles

Some common struggles with indoor plants are bugs, fungus, and over- or under-watering. Gainan’s can help you troubleshoot your issues, recommend products to fix your problems, or recommend best watering practices for your plant selection.

“We have a yellow strip that is sticky and will help collect some of the challenges plants experience,” Mick says. “You’re welcome to bring in the sticky trap, and we can help identify the culprits and fix you up with the solution to eliminate them.”

 Starting Seeds

The days are getting longer, and spring is inching closer with every passing week. “Our seed racks are filled with the 2025 selections, and it’s not too early to start planning for spring gardening,” Mick says. Decide what to plant and create a garden layout plan to get you out of the winter blues and into the springtime spirit!

Give Gainan’s a visit if you need a little motivation to navigate the winter doldrums. If you can’t decide what to plant, ask their staff for suggestions based on your preferences and the type of space you have. 

“Every time the season changes, we are ahead of it in our greenhouses generally by 3-6 months. Come visit in the dark days of winter if you need a boost! Tea and coffee pot is always on,” Mick says.

Originally printed in the January 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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