Gardens for Small Spaces, Balcony Gardening
Caption: My beautiful balcony garden thriving in the sunlight.
Kit is the blogger behind itskittygirl.com. She delves into what it means to develop a meaningful lifestyle. The aim of It’s Kitty Girl is to inspire others to be the best, most authentic versions of themselves be it through fashion, healthy living or exploring the world!
Gardening can be tough when you live in the middle of a big city. In my neighbourhood in Sydney, Australia actually living in a house is a luxury few and far between. Of course, there are larger properties near the park and away from the main roads that have a few smaller houses, but even these have relatively small yards compared to what I saw growing up in Colorado.
Despite living in a densely populated spot, though, I’ve come to realise that gardening is possible with even the smallest of outdoor spaces.
What began as a small venture into growing a few plants on my balcony quickly evolved into what could be considered a balcony garden. It’s not always easy. Gardening in such a small space does come with challenges that don’t arise when you have a full, outdoor yard. But it’s not impossible.
Below, I’ll outline a few tips to help you kickstart your balcony garden, or inspire you to take advantage of other small spaces. You’d be surprised how much a few plants can really transform the vibe of any living area.
Choosing the Right Pots
When it comes to choosing the right pots for your balcony garden, you should consider both looks and function. Even if you find the cutest pot at Target, it will be a pain later on if it isn’t also functional.
Two big factors to consider regarding functionality are size and drainage:
- Size: If you’re planting something that you hope will grow large and live long, make sure that you get a pot big enough to accommodate growth. There are so many amazing larger plants that will be stifled if potted in too small a container. Plants like ficuses, palms, birds of paradise, and any large leafy variety need the space to grow. They won’t necessarily die if the pot is too small, but you won’t see any progress regarding their size.
- Drainage: Checking that your pot has drainage is an essential step when it comes to balcony gardening. Because you can’t plant directly in the earth as you do in a typical yard, you need to create a similar environment in your pots. If your pot has decent drainage (even a hole or two on the bottom), it can allow water to flow through and the excess to drain out. Without this, it is very typical for plants to drown or start dying of mould and mildew damage.
Choosing the Right Plants
You can choose the perfect pots, but if you choose the wrong plants your balcony garden might never survive. Do a quick check of your balcony before you start shopping to consider factors like space, temperature, and sunlight.
- Space: Before you plant, think about the future. You still want to be able to access the plants once they grow, so ensure that you only buy as many as will comfortably fit once fully grown. Spacing should also be considered when planting multiple seedlings in one large pot, as too little space will stifle growth.
- Temperature: Just like you would in a normal garden, make sure that the plants you’re choosing for your balcony can withstand the outdoor temperatures where you live. If you live somewhere that gets cold in the winter, odds are your palm might not survive the season. Of course, you can always take plants inside when temperatures drop, but as they grow this can become difficult or cramp your living space if your apartment is small.
- Sunlight: One huge consideration with a balcony garden is the amount of direct sunlight your balcony receives. Depending on the direction your balcony faces and whether there is another one directly above can dramatically impact the light that will be able to reach your plants. If your balcony gets direct sunlight for most of the day, choose plants that prefer a lot of sun. If you get very little direct light, opt for ones that like shade or filtered light better.
Caption: Propagating plants from grocery store scraps to later replant in pots. It’s a great way to test what will thrive in your environment.
Tips for Maintaining a Balcony Garden
Just because your plants are in pots doesn’t mean they don’t require maintenance. Balcony gardens are equally susceptible to weeds and insects, so regularly caring for your plants is a must.
Work to maintain your balcony garden by following the precautions you would gardening in a yard. A few things to habitually do include:
- Watering plants regularly
- Check that all pots are draining properly
- Check for pests and insects
- Fertilize plants
- Trim and prune when necessary
Thankfully, caring for plants can be a lot easier when they’re in pots. If freak weather hits, you can always move them inside, or if a plant is receiving too much light, you can move it into the shade. Don’t be afraid to play around, and experiment with which conditions your plants prefer most!
No matter how small your balcony might be, I’d highly recommend starting a miniature garden of your own. Even if it’s just a succulent or two, or simply a pot of herbs, having a garden to care for is both relaxing and rewarding. Hopefully, these tips have helped, no matter which stage of the journey you’re at!
Caption: All the plants can easily be moved indoors during bad weather.
