Due to modern urbanisation and population growth we gradually far away from green nature. We now lost ourselves in an urban concrete forest. Our busy work schedule pushes us towards a stressful full life and decreases our quality of life.
But don’t worry, nature has a unique power of healing our stress levels and giving us some peaceful moments. Those people have ample of space in their house; they can grow beautiful gardens but what about people living in Apartments?
Here we discussed and shared tips about growing a beautiful garden in Apartment Balcony which provides us some quality and peaceful time.
Apartment balcony gardens depend on the size and direction of balcony, micro climate of balcony like exposure to sunlight, shade etc. amount of time, energy and money you want to spend.
You can grow a wide range of vegetables, herbs, fruits, perennials, flowers, and vines on the balcony.
Advantages of Having a Balcony Garden
Stay with nature- Apartment balcony gardens are connecting us with beautiful nature.
Healthy living- Apartment balcony gardens provide us purified air and also we can grow organically fresh vegetables for our day to day needs.
Cost effective- Like other gardens, Apartment balcony garden is cost effective as it requires less soil and manures and with minimum care we can grow it.
Good time to spend- We can spend our leisure time at balcony garden maintenance, it can give us pleasure and children can also learn about garden care.
Requirements for Apartment Balcony Gardening
Tools- Gardening gloves, Watering can, Pruning Shears, Hand Trowel etc.
We should have to observe the micro climatic condition of our balcony. Like some plants grow well in sunny balconies while some plants grow better in shade areas.
Mostly, balconies on higher floors receive more amount of sunlight as they are not obstructed by walls, neighboring buildings, trees etc. so one can consider fruit trees like lemon in pots.
Lower floors, where most balconies are in the shade, you may consider ferns and other plants that don’t need much sunlight.
So before purchasing plants, calculate how many hours of sun ray balcony receives. Full sun loving plants are Grasses, Morning Glory Vines, Strawberries, Lettuce, Lavender, Oregano, Mint, Basile etc. Some shade loving plants are Coleus, English ivy, most types of ferns, Fuchsia, Peace Lilies, and Begonias.
Selection of plant for the Balcony Garden
Choose the right type of plant according to the balcony size and micro climatic condition of balcony.
Plants for low balconies
Balcony on a lower floor may receive less sunlight, So shade loving plants are the most suited for them like Ferns, Orchids, Peperomia, Succulents, African Violets etc.
Plants that require morning sunlight
Some flowering plants that need partial shade will grow better in these spaces. Peace lilies, Anthurium, and Begonia are the perfect species for these types of gardens.
Balcony gardens with good afternoon sunlight
Plants that sustain this harsh sunlight are ideal in this type of balcony. For example, Bougainvillea and Germanium are the best plants for sunny balcony gardens.
Enclosed Vs Windy Balconies
Air circulation can affect plant development in the case of enclosed balconies. Though, one can use indoor plants that not only thrive in such conditions but also purify the air in the balcony. Examples of some enclosed balcony garden plants are Spider plant, English ivy, Aloe Vera, and Azalea.
When a balcony is located in a place with strong wind movements, then choose the type of plant that is able to withstand those conditions. So, it’s advisable to avoid those plants with a thin stem that can easily break. Among the best plant species for such balconies are Succulents and Cacti.
common balcony gardening problems
If the balcony faces towards the north or is shaded by other buildings or trees, look to some low-light plants.
If you have a small balcony, it is recommended to grow plants more in vertical space.
For shade loving plants you may take shade nets to cover.
Apartment Balcony Garden Design Ideas
Vertical garden
For small apartment balcony gardens, consider a vertical garden to save space. You can grow succulents, herbs, and veggies that need bright, indirect sunlight.
Adding layers to the garden
Growing plants of varying heights can bring an interesting look to a balcony garden and we can easily observe every plant and take care of them.
Hanging Garden
The vertical garden is great for hanging baskets or hanging terracotta pots. The metal rods create a chain between the pots allowing the water to flow from the top down. So, by watering at the top, you can save water from draining out. This design works equally well for flowers or herbs. It allows the balcony floor to stay clean and saves space. Depending on your skill level on home decor, this balcony garden can be the perfect design for your home’s balcony garden.
Zen garden
In this garden, a lawn has been added by using artificial grass, which looks as good as real grass. You can select some beautiful colorful plants for the balcony.
Apartment Balcony Garden care
Plants grown on balconies require more care than those growing on the garden. You must fertilize and water them regularly.
In the balcony garden, you may grow sun-loving plants in the planters installed on the windows and railings.
Use well-drained pot- Use a well-drained pot to ensure healthy plant growth, a pot with good drainage save plants from different diseases like root rot, fungus attack etc.
Companion Planting- Ensure companion planting in your balcony garden; study which plant you can grow with another one. For example, growing basil near a tomato plant enhances its taste and keeps both healthy.
Make your Compost- Don’t throw away the kitchen waste like peelings of vegetables and fruits you eat. Some fruits like Bananas, Peaches, and Pomegranate are high in potassium content and become a good organic fertiliser when used as compost.
Use Organic and Slow-release Fertiliser- Organic fertiliser supports the ecosystem and provides healthier crop nutrition than chemical fertilisers. Slow-releasing fertilisers provide slow and steady nutrition to plants, which is necessary for their healthy and constant growth.
Pruning and Deadheading- Pruning makes a plant bushier and controllable; prune the plant to give it a proper shape. On the other hand, deadheading is the secret of getting more flowers in the garden.
Pots for Growing Plants on the Balcony
A pot should have enough drainage holes in the bottom to allow sufficient drainage of water. Standing Pots and planters like ceramics, clay are stable and protect plants from falling over, but the containers mounted or fixed on the windows and railings must be of lightweight material like plastic.
If you have a small balcony, use the high, narrow pots that require less space, and also don’t forget vertical gardening.
If you’re growing vegetables, particularly the greens, use long and wide boxes like planters, you can also use crates.
Easy container vegetables for the balcony are Beans, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumber, Peppers and Chilies, Carrots, Radishes, Peas, Eggplants, and Beets.
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