Balcony Gardening Tips For Beginners and Experts

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, balcony gardening is a fun challenge that anyone can enjoy. With a little effort, you can transform your small space into a vibrant green oasis!

While water and sunlight are essential, you also need supplemental nutrients for your plants to thrive. Thankfully, there are lots of apartment-friendly fertilizers available for you to use in your small garden.

Choose Your Plants Wisely

Balcony gardens are a great way to bring nature into your home. They provide a beautiful escape from the city and allow you to enjoy some fresh air without having to deal with all the problems that can come along with a garden at ground level.

When balcony gardening, it’s important to choose your plants wisely. This includes choosing the right type of soil and containers for each plant.

Your plant’s needs are also based on the amount of sunlight your balcony receives, so be sure to select plants that are ideal for your space.

Wind is also a factor to consider, so be careful when choosing hanging plants. Some plants are particularly sensitive to the wind and will not thrive if exposed to it.

Get Creative With Containers

One of the best ways to make your balcony garden unique is to get creative with containers. From wine crates to old boots, you can create a unique design that is both interesting and reflects your personality.

Choosing plants that thrive in like soil, watering and light conditions will ensure that your container garden is successful and easy to maintain. Succulents, perennials, annuals and vegetables are all good choices for a balcony garden.

Use colors that complement and contrast with each other to create a beautiful, fluid look. Try to use a variety of shades and tones in your containers, so you can easily add new plants as the season changes or remove some when they become overgrown.

Make Sure Your Plants Get Plenty of Sunlight

When you are choosing plants for your balcony, it is essential to consider how much sunlight they need. You can do this by checking a plant label or description to determine whether it likes full sun, part sun or shade.

A west-facing balcony garden can enjoy six or more hours of direct sunshine each day, while a north-facing one may only get a few hours of direct sun each day.

For shady balconies, there are many herbs that thrive in partial sun and most soft flowers will do well if the balcony receives 2 hours of direct sunshine each day. Geraniums, begonias, heucheras, ferns and ivy can be planted in hanging pots to provide a bit of interest.

Water Your Plants Regularly

Watering your plants regularly is a great way to keep them healthy and ensure they grow well. However, the frequency of your watering schedule can vary depending on the weather in your area and the plants you have growing.

In general, it’s best to water early in the morning when temperatures are cooler and before the sun comes up. This will give your plants time to absorb the water and avoid dryness.

Another great tip is to use self-watering containers. These allow you to water your balcony garden less frequently than a traditional garden. These come with water retaining soil granules that help to slow down the rate of evaporation and keep your balcony garden well-watered.

Keep Your Plants Healthy

Plants are a great way to brighten up your balcony, but it’s important to know how to keep them healthy so they last longer. When you’re gardening on a small space, it’s a good idea to grow plants that are easy to care for.

When it comes to edibles, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and eggplants are all easy-to-grow on a balcony. If you’re growing greens, lettuce, spinach, arugula, and swiss chard are also popular.

Watering your plants regularly is a must. The key is to water them slowly and thoroughly, draining the excess water off of their soil.