Gorgeous grass summate vast ingathering to our outdoor gardens and yards – but did you know they make beautiful houseplants as well ?

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Wonderfully divers , they come in a vast variety of colors , sizes , and shapes suited for many interior options .

A close up horizontal image of a cat and a kitten munching on grass growing in a pot indoors.

Photo by Lorna Kring.

you may create a cool green mini - meadow in a methamphetamine hydrochloride bowl with grains like wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) or bestow a fiery potted New Zealand sedge ( Carex testacea ) to your vacation decorations .

These ornamental also bestow grand var. and texture , from the twat bottle screw rush ( Juncus effusus‘Spiralis ’ ) to the pretty Nipponese sweet flag ( Acorus gramineus ) .

And for the most part , they have a endearing , graceful quality that appeal a sentiency of equanimity .

A close up vertical image of potted ornamental grass growing indoors as houseplants set on a plant display in front of a sunny window. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

Just like in the garden , when spring up indoors , these durable plants are easy to cultivate and low maintenance .

Typically fast - growing , their length of service is find out by the type of grass acquire , but all can thrive indoors for at least a short flow .

So whether you ’d like a bandage of console dark-green indoor “ lawn ” to bust the brusque day of winter or a long - condition , showy decorative grass to exhibit year - pear-shaped , join us now for the details on how to grow grass houseplant .

A close up horizontal image of three ceramic pots on a shelf growing ornamental grasses.

Here ’s what we ’re looking at :

What You’ll Learn

Best Varieties of Grass for Indoor Growth

A vast variety of grasses and similar plants will thrive as houseplants , from vulgar grain and turf types to rushes and sedges – and they all do well in containers .

These exhibit a all-inclusive range of cultivation requirements , such as necessary brightness and moisture levels .

They have their own unique temperature preference as well , which give us an mind of their ontogenesis habit .

A close up horizontal image of fiber-optic sedge growing in the garden.

Most cool - season species like fescues ( Festucaspp . ) are perennial evergreen , and naturally keep their foliage yr - round in ideal options .

But many quick - season type such as natural spring grass ( Pennisetumspp . ) go dormant in wintertime , with leaf that browns and dies back – and keeping these vibrant indoors for longer than a couple of months can be a frustrating challenge .

To help you get the most out of your indoor plantings , keep the following point in head when making your excerpt :

A close up of a seed packet of bunny tails with text to the left of the frame and a hand-drawn illustration to the right.

coinage and cultivars that prefer a fond specter setting are better suited for long - term growth indoors than full - sun lovers , due to the limitations of indoor kindling .

For a exhibit of cool , lawn - like blades , turf varietiescanbe used , but they often give disappointing results .

or else , use fast - growing and popular eatable for a lush potted lawn . variety such as annual ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ) , wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) , and big cat grass mixes are all right choices .

A close up square image of Mexican feathergrass growing in the garden surrounded by purple flowers.

Packets of seminal fluid for pet wasting disease usually contain oats ( Avena sativa ) , but they can also check barleycorn ( Hordeum vulgare ) , rye ( Secale cereale ) , and medium wheat-grass ( Thinopyrum intermedium ) , which also make good “ lawns ” indoors .

For interesting eye , improbable character – such as the elegantly erect New Zealand flax ( Phormiumspp . ) – make interesting upright pieces while mound eccentric strike in a luxuriant shower , like the wizard fiber - oculus sedge(Isolepis cernua ) .

Or calculate for variety that expose colorful or variegate foliage like zebra miscanthus ( Miscanthus sinensis‘Zebrinus ’ ) , that have interesting cum headway like the spikey Gray ’s sedge ( Carex grayi ) , or feature unique growth habits such as the aforementioned corkscrew rush .

A close up square image of oatgrass growing indoors with seeds scattered on the concrete surface.

There are hundreds of mintage and cultivar to choose from , but here ’s a sample of choice that make good houseplants , which can be originate from seed .

Blue Fescue

Perennial blue fescue ( Festuca glauca ) cause a beautiful choice for get indoors . It feature dense , spikey mounds of fine , blade - grim foliage growing up to 18 column inch in height .

‘ Festina ’ Blue Fescue

you may findF. glauca‘Festina ’ seedsavailable at True Leaf Market .

A horizontal image of indoor grass in crystal pots with a ceramic pot behind them set on a countertop.

Bunny Tails

With sorcerous , fluffy seed chief , fast - growing bunny tails ( Lagurus ovatus ) are attractive as houseplant and they may also be used in dry out heyday arrangements .

Bunny seat are annuals that grow up to 20 column inch tall , with fast , reliable sprouting .

Seed packets can be purchasedat Botanical Interests .

A vertical image of ryegrass growing in a crystal container indoors on a countertop pictured on a soft focus background.

Hard Red Wheat

One of the good for lawn bowls ( and sweet talker ! ) , laborious cherry-red pale yellow ( Triticum aestivum ) is tight - grow and features thick blades with even growth .

seminal fluid packet and bulk options areavailable at True Leaf Market .

Mexican Feathergrass

For a soupcon of airy elegance , upright Mexican feathergrass ( Nassella tenuissimasyn . Stipa tenuissima ) is a clumping perennial with wispy and whimsical seeded player brain that trip the light fantastic toe in the lightest of child’s play .

Plants grow up to 24 inches grandiloquent .

Packets of seed in a variety of sizes can be foundat Eden Brothers .

A top down horizontal image of seeds sown on the surface of rich potting mix in a glass container.

Oats

A good option for cosmetic bowls , oat ( Avena sativa ) source have a eminent germination rate with fast , even growth . Oat forage is also delicious for the juicer and pets dearest nibble the blade .

Oat Grass

you could find bags of oat seeds in varying sizesat True Leaf Market .

A vertical image of ornamental grass in a terra cotta pot set on a windowsill indoors.

Whatever miscellany you prefer , you ’ll need something for your works or seeds to develop in .

Container Selection

Containers can be made of any material , such as ceramic , metal , resin , or terra cotta , and in any size worthy for your inside and species or cultivar selection .

If you ’re growing “ lawn ” type leafage , it ’s good to select shallow , wide container , and for the taller , cosmetic grasses , narrow , deep pots bring well .

Take into consideration the expected matured summit and width of the plants when choosing your pots and planter .

A close up vertical image of a large Bengal cat sitting in front of a pot of indoor grass.

Ensure each container has decent drain hole .

Before planting , I like to add a two - column inch bed of drainage cloth such as broken clayware or pebbles to the pot ’s bottom to improve drainage . Other gardener will send word against this , so do what you find kit and boodle best .

Use a catchment saucer to keep things tidy .

A horizontal image of a cat and a kitten munching on grass growing in a pot indoors.

tight - growing and short - lived varieties , such as rye or straw , can also be displayed in ornamental crystal or glass sports stadium .

But with no drain hole , care involve to be taken to avoid overwatering – use a light spot to annul problems like base rot from soggy soil .

filling container with an enriched and well - draininghouseplant potting soil .

Locate in a situation with ignition best suited to your plant ’s need , with a lower limit of four hours of sunlight each day .

Sowing Seeds

For indoor display , many varieties can be sown from cum .

Ornamental grass seeds can take longer to bourgeon than lawn and preferred grass types –   break your seed packet boat for planting directions .

Common seed - grown varieties include annual like barleycorn , oats , rye , and wheat , as well as ornamental such as bunny girl derriere ( Lagurus ovatus ) and quaking grass ( Briza maxima ) .

Seed - sown perennials include variety of blue fescue ( Festuca glauca ) , manyCarexspecies , jade princess millet ( Pennisetum glaucum‘Jade Princess ’ ) , dwarf pampas ( Cortaderia selloana‘Pumila ’ ) , pink muhly ( Muhlenbergia capillaris ) , and ruby grass ( Melinis nerviglumis ) .

However , many varieties are sterile cross and ca n’t be grow from seed , such as grim hair ( Koeleria glauca ) andpurple fountain grass(P.xadvena‘Rubrum ’ ) .

For sterile varieties , peck up starter plants at your preferent garden kernel or reputable on-line trafficker or else .

Transplanting details for nursery starts are available in ourguide to acquire ornamental grass in containers .

To propagate seed , satiate containers with a moistened , well - draining pot territory mixture and dust the ejaculate over the soil control surface . Sow seeds thickly to get a sumptuous gym mat of foliage .

Cover seeds with half an inch of filth and gently truehearted in place – orfollow the directions on the seed packetfor particulars .

Keep the soil gently moist , but not loaded . Seeds typically sprout in a week or two .

Now , let ’s move on to some general steps for care and maintenance .

Care and Maintenance Tips

In the garden or indoors , member of the Poaceae menage of Mary Jane and their close relatives are low maintenance and non - fussy .

Water and fertilizers should be give grant to each species or cultivar ’s needs .

If you ’re unsure of the item here , a broad principle of thumb is to water when the ground aerofoil is ironic . And feed according to the education on your favorite indoor flora food , usually once every one to two months .

Indoor leaf plant life foods are a good selection for grasses as their NPK proportion ( N , phosphorus , and potassium ) is typically high in nitrogen , which kick upstairs succulent leafage .

Empty catchment saucers of weewee to prevent soggy soil , and in dry wintertime environments , a light weekly misting can be good .

Lawn - like cultivars can be left unclipped for a soft , meadowy spirit , or trim with clean , shrewd scissors for a tightly cropped appearance . harvest edible types periodically also double as a anatomy of maintenance pruning , with pleasant-tasting issue !

Most ornamental varieties , except forpampas ( Cortaderia selloana ) , are pet good .

If you do plant any of the caryopsis varieties like barleycorn , oat , or rye , be sure to grow an extra sports stadium for Felix , Fido , and Fluffy – your furred family member will apprise having their own fibre - rich green to nibble on !

Keep myopic - season grains crop to six inches to forbid seed formation .

For extra optic interest , leave showy seed head in position to ripen on the stem . After they motorbike out and lessen in vigor , remove halt at the base .

Remove dead or damaged folio as they appear , cutting stalks close to the al-Qa’ida .

Prune perennial evergreens softly in previous winter . Use clean , sharp scissors to reshape or resize plants as postulate while conforming to their natural shape .

Perennials can become root tie down over time and may need to be divided and repotted every four years or so .

Most of the fast - grow metric grain varieties only last about two month indoors . Once leave start to yellow and energy flag , empty container and dispose of the contents in thecompostor yard waste bin .

A Little Patch of Green

Whether you ’re looking for a little patch of green or an optically interesting ornamental , there ’s a suitable dope or two for your inside .

Pot up seeds and starter plant life in containers , then put up appropriate lighting . Water and fertilise on a regular basis for beautiful houseplants .

Andfor more houseplant know - how , be sure to see out these articles next :

pic by Lorna Kring © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photos via Botanical Interests , Eden Brothers , and True Leaf Market . Uncredited pic : Shutterstock .

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Lorna Kring