Turn Your Apartment into a Small Garden
As cities grow bigger the number of apartment blocks rises. People tend to leave their small hometowns to seek better opportunities or move from the suburbs just to be close to work. If you are one of them you probably live in a small apartment tucked in a big building. You may be close to the city centre but the view is not that great. With buildings that look the same and cars everywhere, trees and plants can be seen mostly in the parks. You want to make your own green spot but there isn’t enough space outside. Why not make one in your apartment? You can use some indoor gardening ideas and turn your place in to a small garden.
Apartment Vegetable Garden
Besides turning your living space in to a green heaven, in-home gardening can be a way to produce your organic vegetables and fruits. Who said you have to stick only to flowers? You can grow tomatoes, potatoes, onions, some citrus trees and herbs. Grow your own pesticide and GMO-free produce and forget the over-priced and tasteless veggies and fruits at the local store.
There are a lot of ideas about apartment balcony gardening design. You can make grow your greens vertical or in containers. Having a container garden is easier than the traditional in-the-ground type. You can easily manage plant rotation and alter drainage. Water is used more efficiently and some common garden pests, like slugs or mice, are not a problem.
Follow these steps and turn your balcony in to “a fecund vegetable garden”:
- Choose your plants. Popular choices are tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, beans, spinach, and radishes.
- Make sure your container will provide enough space for your greens as they mature. The bigger the pot is, the better, especially for beginners. Think about the colour too. Dark ones absorb the heat — this way they can dry or make the soil too warm for your plant.
- Make sure your containers have drainage holes. If they don’t make some with a hand drill.
- Plant your vegetables the same time you would plant them in the garden. Depending on what type of plants you want to grow you can start seeds in your pots, use transplants from indoor grown seeds, or purchase some from a commercial grower.
- Watering is the most important part. Observe your veggies regularly and make sure the soil hasn’t dried out.
- Don’t forget that tomatoes will need cages, and cucumbers and beans will need something on which to climb.
- Harvest is the most satisfying part. Your balcony vegetable garden crops are ready to pick as soon as they reach a size where you will enjoy them.
Indoor Herb Garden
You will need a large plant pot (make sure it has drainage holes), plastic or ceramic tray, stones or gravel, potting soils and compost. Pick herbs like basil, chives, rosemary, bay and parsley. Consider which ones will be helpful and you will use in the kitchen.
After this you can start by placing the pot over the tray. It will prevent any damage when the water drains. Next, put the stones or gravel on the bottom of your container. This way you will promote irrigation. Now fill with the soil (or compost), but leaves some inches to spare at the top. Make a small hole like a nest and put the herb plant in it. Don’t forget to loosen up its roots. Cover with soil and continue the same process with the other plants you wish to add. Finish with plenty of water to give your garden a fresh start.
Choose a sunny spot on your balcony for the herbs. They will need from six to eight hours of sunlight. In the summer make sure your plants aren’t under direct exposure. When it get’s cold move them to a window with southern exposure.
Enjoy your harvest but remember to snip from the top. Don’t pluck all the leaves and wait for the herb to grow fuller before harvesting again.
Beautiful Balcony Pallet Garden
First you need a pallet. You can find one behind the local grocery store near the dumpster. Completely for free! After this you have to prepare the pallet. Repair loose boards and cover the back of it with some fabric. This way you won’t damage the wall it will lean on. Now you can pick your flowers. Cascading plants are the best choice. When spring comes and your greens bloom you will have a delightfully coloured balcony.
Succulent Vertical Garden
The greens you will need to make your living painting are succulents. They are easy to maintain, hardy, and come in different shapes and colours. Also they are famous for surviving in harsh conditions such as hot air and low humidity. Their leaves, stems and roots are able to store water for a really long time.
You will need:
- Selection of mature succulent plants
- Medium or large picture frame
- 90x11mm pine or similar
- Mini wire mesh panels with 25x25mm squares
- Sheet of plywood
- Succulent potting mix
- Addition tools are a hammer, nails, handsaw, measure, staples and a staple gun, PVA glue, hand drill, picture wire, eye bolts, paint and a paintbrush.
If you are done with the collection of materials follow these easy steps:
Step 1 Take cuttings from the mature succulents. Make sure the stems are at least 2cm long. You will need enough to fill the frame. Leave the cuttings in a cool area for a few days. This will make the stems dry out and callous over.
Step 2 Next you need to make a simple box to fit the back of the frame. Measure the length and width of back of the frame and cut pine to size. Glue the corners together and secure with nails. After this position the box on the back of the frame and glue together.
Step 3 Measure the inside of the box and cut wire mesh to fit. Position it inside and secure it with staples.
Step 4 Now measure and cut the plywood to fit the back of the box. Put it in place and nail it. Drill drainage holes. Attach the eye bolts on both sides of the frame and tie a long piece of picture wire around them.
Step 5 Turn the frame face up. Wipe it with a cloth. Paint it in a colour you like and let it dry. After that fill the box with succulent potting mix. Work it through the mesh with your fingers and packed it firmly until it gets right up to the mesh.
Step 6 Now you can arrange your cuttings in the desired design. Make small holes with a pencil and position the stem of the succulent in it. First you should tuck in the bigger plants and then the small ones. Continue until you fill the whole mesh.
Step 7 Water you plants with a gentle spray. You have to leave them in a horizontal position for the next 6–12 weeks. This way you will allow the roots to form. Keep your living painting in a protected but sunny place. After the roots have formed you can hang it on the wall. You should remember to lay it horizontally every time you water the plants. Let drain for an hour and you can hang it again.
Follow any of these intriguing indoor gardening design ideas your apartment is one step closer to a captivating green dreamland. You can enjoy a mellow atmosphere. But don’t forget you have to take proper care for your plants.
Here are some useful advices from gardening experts from Bristol that will help you maintain your small apartment garden.
Sunshine — You should make sure you know how much sunlight your plants require. Some types need six or more right hours of bright sunshine. Other want direct sun rays only part of the day. These greens don’t demand a lot of sun — they prefer shady places with little ambient light. Find what’s best for your foliage and provide the right amount of sunlight.
Water — Conditions vary and there is no way to give an advice like “Water every week.” The soil of your plants will dry out at different rates. You have to learn to observe your greens. When you water, saturate the soil until the water comes out from the bottom of the pot. Occasionally take your plants to the sink and give them a good soaking — most plants love this. But make sure you don’t over-water because you can kill them.
Plants & Containers — When you buy your foliage choose the ones that look firm and healthy. Make sure your pot is the right size. If it’s too big it will require more soil that holds more water. This will cause the roots to rot and your greens will die. Also, your pot should always have drainage holes. Remember to re-pot when you see that the plant has become too big for its container.
