Growing a garden is a fantastic way to add a bit of color and ‘life’ to your space, whether you’ve lived in a high-rise for decades or moving into your new condo. Gardening in the urban jungle is possible, and there are many ways you could use the available space to add a bit of nature in your space in the city. Even if you don’t have much space, you can still build the garden of your dreams following the practical tips below.
Choose the Right Plants
The best plants that can grow in condo balconies range from potted fruits, vegetables, herbs to perennials. For edibles, you can choose from blueberries to leafy greens. Meanwhile, for flowers, chamomile, daisies, and marigolds are great choices. However, most plants can grow in containers or small garden beds like they would do in outdoor gardens—with the right care.
Gardening Vertically
Those living in condo units usually don’t have sweeping balconies to grow a decent garden, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the remaining space to make a gorgeous garden. An excellent way you can make the most out of your small balcony is by practising vertical gardening. This approach is when you use vertical wall planters or hanging baskets instead of traditional garden beds, helping you make the most out of the space. Great plants for vertical gardening include hostas, air plants, vines, ferns, and succulents.
You can also use a wall pocket by incorporating various plants from spillers, fillers, or thrillers. Plus, you can seamlessly move the ‘wall pocket’ around if you change your mind.
Shelf Your Plants
If your balcony has limited space and you want to get the most out of it, install shelves along its walls for extra and uncrowded green space. Plus, the height of the plants you’ll place on these shelves will naturally lead the eyes upward, giving the illusion of a larger balcony. You could use small pots and planters of plastic made by companies using injection molding not only for a sleek and modern look but also provide an easier way to transfer and care for plants.
Stick to Potting Soil
The best soil to use for condo gardens is potting soil, especially if you’re considering planting on containers. That’s because, unlike regular ground soil, potting soil is lighter, drains better, and is often sterilized, allowing it to kill weeds and ward off diseases that may harm your plants.
Find the Right Fertilizer
Whether you have a vertical hanging garden or a rooftop garden, the best fertilizers for condo gardens are slow-release fertilizers in pellets. That’s because since container plants need to get watered often, regular fertilizers would wash right off. However, when you go for pellets, a single application will slowly release the plant food, allowing it to last for several months.
Grow Plants in Containers
If you live in a condo, you likely don’t have a front or backyard, and even if you do, you might not have enough space to grow a garden. An excellent solution to this is growing your plants in containers or hanging baskets, adding a touch of color and vibrancy to any porch, balcony, or patio limited in space.
Avoid Overwatering
If you have a small garden bed and want your plants to stay alive and add vibrancy to your space long-term, ensure you thoroughly soak the containers each time you water them but get rid of any extra water that gets to the saucers underneath the planters. That’s because making plants sit in stagnant water encourages their roots to rot, leading to short-lived plants as the common signs of rotting roots is wilting, causing many people to think that the plants need more water.
However, if you live high up, have an exposed balcony, and user containers, it can get very hot and dry from the sun rays reflected off other buildings. If this is the case, you’ll need to water your plants daily.
Even if you don’t have a backyard, don’t let that prevent you from growing the garden of your dreams. All you need is a bit of creativity—and the tips mentioned to help you add greenery even to the tiniest porch, patio, and balcony, making your condo fresher and vibrant.
