Set Up a Balcony Garden in Your Apartment

Gardening is one of the hobbies that bring you close to nature or the environment. The word garden brings the imagery of beautiful flowers. Today, cities are growing fast and space around us is decreasing. You may be one of those living in an apartment and fond of growing plants or enjoy gardening. You can try creating a balcony garden that best suits your lifestyle and allows gardening in a limited space of your apartment. The plants on an outdoor balcony will usually be enjoyed indoors as well, so be sure to plant eye-catching displays where they can be viewed through glass doors.

Things required for creating a successful balcony garden

• Planning: Planning is the first and most important thing that you need to consider before starting your balcony garden. There are a number of plants available in your neighborhood or nursery for your balcony garden. It might not be possible to go out and get plants during the lockdown but you can still start with your existing plants and add more plants once the lockdown ends. Before you start your balcony garden, make sure that your building management allows you to maintain a balcony garden. A balcony garden is not allowed in all apartments. Safety is the most important factor in having a balcony garden. Ensure that your balcony can handle the weight of your plants or garden.

• Research or knowledge: Before you start your balcony garden, you need to research well about the plants you would like to have and the things required for your plants. They include information about things like how often you need to water your plants, which plants need sunlight and which prefer shade, etc. You can contact experts or a nursery in your neighborhood for more knowledge on plants and its growing conditions. Spend some time reading, looking for information on plants or ideas focussed on balcony gardening. Vertical Gardening is also well suited for gardening in a limited space. Today, there are a number of websites which will help you to choose plants that grow best in your city or neighborhood.

• Container: Balcony garden is also known as container garden because plants in a balcony garden are grown in containers of various sizes and shapes. If your ceiling can support the weight of your basket or container, you can try hanging the basket in your balcony garden. It gives attraction and beauty to your balcony garden.

• Number of plants: If you are a beginner in balcony gardening, it is better to limit the number of plants in your garden. It is not important that your garden must be filled with plants but it is important that you give proper attention to all your plants. Success of your balcony garden depends on your planning and the time you spend with your plants in your garden. Since you only have a small area to work with, you need to be space conscious.

• Potting Soil: Most local garden centers will offer packaged potting soils that are ideal for containers; the key is to ensure that the mix is not too high in organic matter. Potential balcony gardeners should always check their allowable weight restrictions as a safety precaution.

• Sunlight and water: Adequate sunlight and water is important for the growth of plants. Ensure that your balcony gets adequate sunlight; also, water your plants at regular intervals. Ensure that the water from your plants does not drain to your neighbor’s house.Plants for your balcony garden

• Grandiflora petunias: Many summer bedding plants are suitable in a sunny, balcony location. Try grandiflora petunias, graced by big, bright flowers, or compact salvias with red blossoms on strong, stocky spikes.

• Annuals: Annuals are also known as seasonal flowering plants which flower only for three to four months. They are normally grown through seeds.

• Biennial: A plant that takes two years to grow from seed to fruition, bloom and die or a plant that lasts two years is a biennial. These seasonal flowering plants flower only in the second year of planting.

• Shade loving plants: Experiment with shade lovers including climbing or trailing ivies like impatiens or browallia to brighten sheltered areas.

Plants can dramatically change the way your balcony looks and feels. Countless apartment dwellers enjoy the pleasures and relaxation of creating and tending to a balcony garden. Many types of gardens can be created on balconies. With the addition of floral color, a balcony becomes an entertainment center just right for relaxing. Balconies even offer the opportunity for food production, with flowering fruit trees and container-grown herbs and vegetables.