When winter blankets the garden and snow crunches underfoot, the active gardening season slows — but gardeners don’t have to simply stop. The colder months are the perfect time to stoke your passion, expand your skills, play garden-themed games, and enjoy cozy activities indoors that keep your green thumb satisfied. We’ve collected a range of ideas to keep your inner gardener thriving this winter, from books and games to rituals, craft projects, and social ideas to share with friends and family.
1. Cozy Garden-Themed Games to Play (Digital & Analog)
Even when your outdoor beds are dormant, you can still play in the dirt — virtually! Garden-themed games are a fun way to unwind, spark creativity, and feel that satisfying sense of growth and care without getting cold hands.
Digital Gardening Games
Video games that simulate garden care or garden life are becoming increasingly popular — and not all of them require heavy mechanical skills.
-
Garden In! – A cozy plant care simulation where you pick pots, plant seeds, water, and watch them grow at your own pace.
-
Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator – Build and nurture your dream garden in a peaceful, colorful world, planting seeds, arranging ornamentals, and watching everything flourish.
-
Viridi – Tend to a pot of serene succulents and enjoy a calming, meditative experience that’s perfect for horizon-less winter days.
-
Home Garden Lulu & Terrarium (mobile) – Decorate a greenhouse with plants, frogs, coffee corners, and mini-games — fostering a whimsical, cozy environment.
These games capture the emotional connection to nurturing growth and weathering seasons — all from your couch, with zero risk of frost damage.
Board & Tabletop Options
If screen time isn’t your vibe, keep it analog:
-
Planted – A beautifully designed game where players collect houseplants and learn how to care for them while building the healthiest indoor jungle.
-
Herbaceous – A strategic yet relaxing game centered around harvesting and storing herbs — perfect for gardeners who love organization and planning.
-
Wild Flowers – A nature-inspired strategy game that works well for solo play or small groups, ideal for cozy winter evenings.
Bonus: Create your own “garden trivia night” with friends — quiz each other on plant facts, seed germination times, or garden history.
2. Curl Up With Garden Books: Winter Reading List
Winter is reading season — and for gardeners, it’s a chance to absorb inspiration, expand planning skills, and daydream about spring blooms. Several gardening book ideas make perfect cozy reads (or gifts):
Inspirational & Practical Gardening Books
-
American Roots: Lessons and Inspiration from the Designers Reimagining Our Home Gardens by Nick McCullough, Allison McCullough, and Teresa Woodard
This inspiring look at modern American garden design features voices like Erin Schanen of The Impatient Gardener, known for her practical, encouraging approach — especially in colder climates. Her focus on smart planning and enjoying the process makes this a perfect January read for shaping thoughtful garden plans ahead.
-
Solving Problems in the Landscape by Janey Santos, Michael Glassman, and Ashley Villanueva
A highly practical read for gardeners who enjoy troubleshooting. This book helps you approach garden challenges with confidence and clarity — especially useful during winter planning season.
-
Plant Coach: The Beginner’s Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet by Nick Cutsumpas
A warm, accessible guide that blends plant care with sustainability, making it a great winter read even if you’re not actively growing indoors.
-
Epic Homesteading by Kevin Espiritu
Ideal for gardeners interested in expanding beyond traditional beds — this book covers self-sufficiency, food growing, and long-term garden thinking.
Light & Cozy Reads
Pair a book with a hot tea or cocoa for the ultimate winter comfort:
-
Planting a Rainbow — A beautifully illustrated kids’ book about planting and color.
-
Uno’s Garden — A playful book with nature themes and fun activities.
-
Wintergarden (picture book) — Soft illustrations show winter planting, perfect for reading aloud or sparking small indoor projects.
3. Cozy Indoor Garden Rituals & Projects
Even if you’re not focusing on growing new plants, your gardening mindset can continue indoors through rituals and creative practices.
Garden Planning & Journaling
Use January to plan spring dreams:
-
Sort and organize seed packets for spring planting. Label by type and ideal planting date — a satisfying, long winter afternoon activity.
-
Start a garden journal: past successes, lessons learned, and sketches of ideas for new bed designs. For more information on starting a garden journal check out Hoselink’s garden journaling blog.
Nature & DIY Projects
Engage your maker side with projects that bring garden vibes inside:
-
Create a nature wreath from collected pinecones, twigs, berries, and dried flowers.
-
Press dried flowers or leaves into art pieces or bookmarks.
-
Arrange natural elements — pine sprigs, dried pods, acorns — in bowls or vases for winter décor.
-
Make homemade seed balls or “seed paper” as gifts or spring planting play.
Garden-Inspired Comfort Routines
Slow winter days are perfect for comforting rituals:
-
Brew herbal teas from dried herbs from last season — mint, lemon balm, chamomile — for a cozy reset.
-
Host a winter “garden party” indoors with friends: soups, breads, herbal blends, and garden story swaps.
4. Garden Creativity With Family & Kids
Winter days can drag for families, but garden-themed fun brings warmth and learning.
Garden Crafts
- Seed Balls & Seed Paper: Kids can make these with soil, clay, and seeds — then plant them in spring.
- Sprout Jars: Watch seeds sprout on the windowsill — it’s science, food, and fun.
Read Aloud Time
Choose picture books with rich nature themes — Planting a Rainbow, Uno’s Garden, The Curious Garden (urban nature fable) — and discuss environmental ideas together.
A winter project like planning kids’ garden journals or creating seasonal artwork helps keep learning lively through the colder months.
5. Podcasts, Community & Learning
If you like listening more than reading, garden podcasts are perfect for long winter walks or quiet mornings.
Great Gardening Podcasts
- Good Growing episodes discuss winter activities and favorite gardening books — rich with recommendations and expert insights.
- School Gardens With Ease offers indoor activity ideas that translate for adults too: seed stratification, seed paper, and microgreens.
Local gardening clubs and online communities often do winter challenges — like seed swaps or design contests — which can be a fun way to stay connected.
6. Micro Projects That Grow in Winter
While your focus isn’t on plants per se, small growth projects are delightful when outdoor beds are asleep.
Microgreens & Sprouts
Growing microgreens indoors requires minimal room and gives you fresh greens in a few weeks — a satisfying sensory project.
You can create a microgreen tasting board with different varieties and engage your family or friends in a winter “grow off.”
Final Thoughts: Winter as a Season of Growth — Just Different
January may seem like a quiet month garden-wise, but your passion doesn’t have to hibernate. Whether you’re curling up with a book, rearranging seed packets by planting date, tending a digital garden, or crafting with natural materials, winter can be rich with connection to the natural world — even from indoors.
With cozy games, inspiring books, creative projects, and community challenges, you’re not just waiting for spring — you’re shaping it.
