You can still have a garden while living in the city, but you’ll need to get creative with your space. If you’re willing to sacrifice square footage to bring the natural world into an urban setting, the balcony floor is a good spot for large containers full of plants. Also, you can build a staircase from cedar or redwood and arrange rectangular planters on the steps; you’ll love the serenity of your green paradise. Some mistakes can hamper your balcony garden from blooming.
If you want your urban oasis to thrive, use these tips and kick back and relax.
Go For Lightweight Pots & Planters
There are many different types of pots and planters suited for a balcony. Overloading the balcony could result in a safety hazard that could engender you or a loved one, so it’s recommended to use lightweight containers. Pots and planters made from recycled plastic are low in weight but high in strength, so they’re the first step in ensuring safety and stability.
elho’s product range has grown significantly in recent years. Select heavy containers only if the balcony is exposed to strong winds and it can bear the weight.
Wall planters are perfect for the balcony because they don’t take up too much space. If you’re renting from a private landlord, you might not be able to add screws for the planters, so use adhesive hooks instead. Maybe your balcony is particularly small. In that case, hanging plant pots are the answer.
Make sure to purchase lightweight soil and compost if there’s any weight restriction. Potted planters are smaller, round, and meant to accommodate one plant; they’re similar to what you’d see in a garden patio. You can repurpose household items as planters, so use whatever you’ve got lying around.
Don’t Use Just Any Dirt
The potting soil used in containers should be light and fluffy with good aeration and drainage. Its ingredients and large particle size strengthen the roots and benefit plant growth. The term soil is commonly used as a description for potting soil and potting mix, but potting mix is a soilless medium, meaning that it may or may not contain soil.
Fill your containers with high-quality lightweight soil and grow your own herbs, vegetables, and flowers no matter where you live. Since the organic parts of the soil eventually break down, it’s necessary to replace the soil every couple of years.
Water The Plants to Keep Them Happy
Follow the usual gardening rules and water the plants on a regular basis. The potting soil should be kept moist but not wet, so water once or twice a week in the spring and summer but less in the autumn and winter. Put saucers to avoid drainage issues, and perhaps a layer of pebbles to help the container drain.
It’s not a good idea to place pots with drainage holes directly onto the balcony’s surface because water will inevitably seep out, and this will discolour and damage the surface. If you don’t have too many plants in your balcony garden, bring them inside to water in the sink and drain without trouble.
Use A Top Dressing of Compost
Using compost improves the overall health of your plants, not to mention that it stimulates growth. In case you didn’t already know, tea leaves are compostable, even those left over after brewing, so use them to quench your plants’ thirst. Tea leaves contain important nutrients, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can be sure your plants will grow faster, healthier, and stronger, so use a thin layer of used tea leaves (green or black) at the base.
Before composting tea bags, make sure they’re made from biodegradable material, as most tea bags on the market are made of polypropylene. Equally, they should be free from materials that could be harmful to the soil.
If You Have a Shady Balcony, Don’t Be Discouraged
If your balcony doesn’t receive too many hours of sun per day, it can have an effect on plant growth, the number of tillers, and the ability to replace leaves. The most obvious trick to getting your plants more light is getting their placement right. Hook balcony pots along the rail to make your garden more attractive to you and passers-by; keep a couple of pots empty so that you have a place to stash your supplies. Another thing you can do is hang pendant grow lights. Options are endless, so just make sure that whatever you use isn’t too heavy.
To make the most of your north- or east-facing balcony, grow shade-tolerant plants such as Acanthus mollis, Filipendula purpurea, or Tellima grandiflora. These plants have adapted their photosynthesis to function optimally under low light conditions, so they’re capable of surviving on a shady balcony. Mulching after planting enhances water retention.
Autumn planting enables some plants to establish more effectively over winter, but it requires skill and understanding, even if some plants are more forgiving. Seek plants that are well-established in their containers. If the roots are fibrous, white, and fresh-looking, the plants are ready to go in the balcony pots.
Bring Your Garden Inside During Winter
When it starts to get cold outside, make sure your plants are indoors, so you get to enjoy them for another season. Annuals can’t survive in the cold winter temperatures, so act ahead of time to avoid frost or freeze, which can be particularly damaging. They need a sunny or well-lit position, away from any heating that might dry the leaves. If you like to collect succulents, keep them cool, so they’re not tricked that it’s time to grow. Don’t feed and water on an as-needed basis (they don’t need too much water during dormancy).
Wrapping It Up
Growing plants in a balcony garden is less straightforward than growing in a traditional garden, but it’s doable. Don’t grow anything that will take over the entire space.
