Apartment Balcony Garden Ideas For Beginners

Small Apartment Balcony Garden Ideas for Dummies

Hello gardeners, we are here today with a topic of apartment balcony garden ideas and tips for beginners. An apartment balcony garden is a garden arranged on a balcony. The apartment balcony garden is the most beautiful place to spend your time. Given the limited space, this type of gardening relies on container gardening. Depending on the balcony size, you can add small trellises to pots to enable some plants to grow vertically. Creating an apartment balcony garden can be easy and need some tips. In balconies, you can grow conifers, herbs, vegetables, creepers, shrubs, flowers, and even dwarf trees. Flowering plants as well as unique foliage plants, add to the beauty of your apartment balcony garden. It mainly depends on your space, light and exposure, and the amount of time, energy, and money you want to spend. In this article we also discuss the below topics about Small Apartment Balcony Garden Ideas in India;

  • How to make a garden on a small apartment balcony
  • Balcony Gardening for beginners
  • The best plants to grow on an apartment balcony
  • Things to consider before starting a balcony garden
  • Gardening in the balcony for beginners in India
  • How to create a balcony garden
  • Benefits of an apartment balcony garden
  • Simple balcony garden design ideas
  • Tips for starting a balcony garden
  • A list of plants are recommended for a balcony garden

A Step by Step Guide to Small Apartment Balcony Garden Ideas, Tips for Beginners in India

Guide to Small Apartment Balcony Garden
Guide to Small Apartment Balcony Garden (Image Source: Pixabay)

In India, one of the most recent ideas in gardening is the idea of balcony gardening. You can grow a wide range of vegetables, herbs, fruits, perennials, flowers, and vines on the balcony. One factor to consider is your available budget. With many apartment balcony garden ideas, you can create a fabulous space without spending much money. Another thing to think about is the amount of sunlight your balcony receives. This can help mainly determine the plants you choose. Mounting pots, jars, planters, or hanging baskets vertically on the wall of the balcony are few ideas that can be used to create a balcony garden.

Apartment balconies are microclimates, differing significantly from the climate on the ground. Then, there can even be different microclimates on a tiny balcony. If an area is shaded, that can be one climate, if another area is exposed to the wind that is another climate. The conditions on balconies can be extreme, with huge temperature level fluctuations.

Advantages of Having a Balcony Garden

Cost-Effective – Very few gardening tools, a small packet of manure, limited soil, and your few minutes daily are required to commence a balcony garden.

Connect with Nature – Apartment balcony gardens are for those who love the feel of nature in their home.

Healthy living – A balcony garden a plant acts as a filter for the polluted air entering the apartment and encourages fresh airflow.

Fresh produce – Generally, growing plants in a balcony garden will provide access to fresh produce even if in small quantities. It can be the go-to source for herbs and vegetable plants like Tomatoes, Chilies, and Beans, etc.

Easy to Manage – You need limited efforts to manage balcony gardens.

Size – If you have a small balcony, you can design a balcony garden in a manner by which you can utilize the maximum available space.

Direction – If you have a north-facing balcony sun rising to the right and setting to the left if designed by working on few additional precautions, you can have an appealing garden on the balcony.

Basic Supplies Required Making a Balcony Garden

  • Gardening gloves – By keeping gloves your hands, especially nails, clean, and safe.
  • Gardening soil – It is a natural soil when mixed with other components enhances plant growth.
  • Watering Pot – Pot size depends on how much weight you can lift. The watering pot has a movable container with a funnel and a handle.
  • Fertilizer, manure, and harvesting tools.

Requirements for Small Apartment Balcony Gardening

Requirements for Small Apartment Balcony Gardening
Requirements for Small Apartment Balcony Gardening (pic source: pixabay)

Firstly, observe or learn about the natural conditions in the balcony garden. Each plant species requires a particular set of weather conditions to thrive. For example, some plants do well in sunny balconies, whereas other plants need shade to look their best.

In general, balconies on higher floors get more amount of sunlight as they aren’t obstructed by walls, neighboring buildings, or trees. So, when looking for the best-potted plants for balcony gardens, one can even consider growing fruit trees such as pomegranate or lemon in pots. For the lower floors, where most balconies are in the shade, ferns and other plants that don’t need much sunlight will work best.

Get your light right for plants- Before you buy plants, take the time to learn how many hours of sun per day your apartment balcony receives. Then, pay attention to indirect light as well that is, no trees or walls blocking large portions of the sky.

Full sun plants are Grasses, Succulents (like Echeveria), Morning Glory Vines, Strawberries, Lettuce, Lavender, Oregano, Sage, Mint, and Basil.

Lots of shade plants are Coleus, English ivy, most types of ferns, Fuschia, Peace Lilies, and Begonias.

A large part of growing plants in a small space like a balcony knows what kind of sunlight your space receives each day. Most plants need 4-6 hours of direct sunlight to grow well. Before you purchase anything, take a peek at your balcony at different times of the day and then marking where the sunlight hits your balcony.

This balcony garden is sunny and bright. For example, citrus trees love the sun, making a sunny balcony the ideal location for growing your fruit. This creative apartment balcony garden proves you do not need matching pots to be a stunning area.

Select the Right Type of Plants for the Balcony Garden

Choose the right type of plant depending on the location of the balcony as well as the weather conditions. Some of the best plants for a balcony garden in India are;

Plants for low balconies – Sunlight is limited in a balcony on a lower floor, shade plants are the most suited for them. Besides Ferns, Orchids, Peperonia, Succulents, and African Violets will work well for low balconies.

Plants for windy balconies – When a balcony is located in a place with strong winds, then the type of plant must be able to withstand those conditions. So, it’s advisable to avoid plants with a thin stem that can easily break. Among the best plant species for such balconies are Succulents, Crotons, and Cacti.

Balcony gardens with ample afternoon sun – Plants that handle the harsh sunlight are ideal in this type of balcony. For example, Bougainvillea and Geranium are the best plants for sunny balcony gardens.

Plants that require morning sunlight – The early morning sun requirement is much milder than the afternoon sun. So, flowering plants that need partial shade will suit these spaces well. Peace lilies, Anthurium, and Begonia are the perfect species for these types of gardens.

Enclosed balconies – Air circulation can affect plant development in the case of enclosed balconies. Though, one can use indoor plants that not only thrive in such conditions but also purify the air in the balcony. Enclosed balcony garden plants are Spider plant, English ivy, Aloe Vera, and Azalea.

Choosing the right plants for the site is most important. Sunlight is important for growing plants on the balcony.

Sunny Balcony – On a sunny balcony, you can grow anything, sun lovers like geraniums, verbena, and roses are the easiest to grow. Here, on the contrary, the shade-loving plants will be difficult to produce. Check out these common balcony gardening problems and solve them.

If the balcony faces north or is shaded by other buildings, look to some low-light plants like Coleus, Ferns, Impatiens, and Begonias. Keep in mind that most vegetable plants need a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. If you are a beginner, then start with some easy-growing plants given below, as they require comparatively less attention.

  • The best vegetables to grow on a balcony are Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Celery, Spinach, Broccoli, Lettuce, Radish, and Beans. If you have a small balcony, it is recommended to grow those vegetable plants, which occupy more vertical space.
  • The best flowering plants to grow on a balcony are Begonias, Rose, Jasmine, Pansy, and Petunia.
  • The best herbs for your balcony garden are Thyme, Rosemary, Fennel, Lavender, Chamomile, Oregano, Sage, Basil, Lemon Verbena, Mint, Chives, Rues, Coriander, Parsley, and Bay leaf. Depending on the space, weather conditions, and sunlight, you can grow any herb that you want. The good thing about growing herbs is that they can grow within a limited amount of space such as a balcony. Some exotic herbs like Curry plant, Fenugreek, and Betel Leaf plants also do great in limited space.
  • Some important Ayurveda plants such as Brahmi, Stevia, Tulsi, Ajwain, Ashwagandha, and Lemon Grass can easily be grown in balconies.

Apartment Balcony Garden Design Ideas

Besides the types of plants, the design of the balcony garden will depend on the amount of space available in the area.

Vertical garden

For small apartment balcony garden ideas, consider installing a vertical garden to save space. You can grow succulents, herbs, and veggies that need bright, indirect sunlight.

Small flower pots

For a small balcony, instead of large planters that take up a lot of space, using tiny pots helps to grow more plant species. Arranging pots and planters on a shelf or stand in a balcony corner is the best option to create a lot of space and grow as many plants as you want. In colored pots, the plants arranged horizontally in a stand will look gorgeous.

Adding layers to the garden

Growing plants of varying heights can bring an interesting look to a balcony garden, making it almost appear like a garden on the balcony.

Scrap Wood

Simply repurpose the wood for flower boxes and this design uses only the wall, it allows the balcony floor to stay clean and saves valuable floor space. Depending on your skill level and home decor, this balcony garden can be the perfect design for your home’s balcony garden.

Vertical Terra Cotta

The vertical garden is great for hanging baskets or hanging terra cotta pots. Then, the metal rods create a sort of rain chain between the pots allowing the water to flow from the top down. So, by watering the top, you can save water from draining out onto the ground. This design works equally well for flowers or herbs.

The Hanging Garden

Garden balconies do not need a large footprint to be effective. When creating a balcony garden in a narrow space, hanging pots and baskets are the main components to grow plants. This allows many plants to grow in often neglected overhead space. Attaching planters to the balcony railing is another brilliant idea as it doesn’t need additional space. A succession of mini hanging baskets on the balcony can provide the perfect starter option for those who are just beginning to explore their gardening abilities. Also, the idea of using hanging baskets is perfect for a balcony garden, this way you can use the vertical space of your small garden.

Zen garden

This is an excellent method to create a Zen garden in the limited space of the balcony. In this, a lawn has been added by using artificial grass, which looks as good as real grass. Moreover, you can select some colorful plants for the balcony to add a pop of color.

Ways to Achieve a Beautiful a Small Apartment Balcony Garden

You can easily get started on a small apartment balcony garden with these awesome ideas.

Plant partition in a balcony garden

In a large balcony, one of the best methods to partition the area to separate the seating from the rest of the elements. It is to create a partition using tall plants or a trellis with a climber or vine growing on it.

Balcony with Railing Planter Box

Grow seasonal blooms or ornamental plants in your rail balcony garden planters. They will add a nice pop of color to the balcony without making it look too crowded. Railing planters are the ideal choice when gardening in small areas like a balcony. When you pick the right planter boxes for your railing flower pots, you can enjoy beautiful flowers and edible herbs, fruits, and veggies easily and affordably. What a wonderful idea to drape the outer wall of the balcony with colorful flowers using a railing planter box.

Deck-Style Balcony Garden

In this, turn your balcony into a miniature deck. Use wooden planks or deck tiles and also add faux grass and pebbles to draw eyes.

Plant Them in the Right Position

Many plants do well in light, partial shade, or full sun. This means that your garden should face south-west, south-east or south. Planting in a shady space is not recommended because they become weak as they try to pull to the sun.

Watering your plants

Pots dry out quickly so a balcony garden must be regularly watered. When buying the right pot to grow plants, choose the ones with large openings from the bottom. These pots drain water freely and easily.

Terra Cotta Balcony Herb Garden

Grow herbs like dill, rosemary, and basil well in terra cotta planters. Clay planters look attractive and are porous, which means that you don’t have to worry about overwatering your herb plants.

Tips for Small Apartment Balcony Garden

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Tips for Small Apartment Balcony Garden
Tips for Small Apartment Balcony Garden (Pic credit: pixabay)
  • Plants grown on balconies require more care than those growing on the ground. You must fertilize and water them regularly.
  • Watering must be done in the morning and according to the plants’ watering requirement.
  • In the balcony garden, grow sun-loving plants in the planters installed on the windows and railings.
  • Plant the seeds as per the required depth, which facilitates their early development.
  • Use Gloves – Gardening gloves are gloves worn for the protection of hands when doing garden work.
  • Cover the weeds – Carefully cover weeds with black plastic, tarpaulin, or other material for at least 15 days. This way these pesky plants don’t receive sunlight and die off without any hassle.
  • Use well-drained pot – Use a well-drained container to ensure healthy plant growth, a pot with good drainage save plants from root rot, fungus, and other diseases.
  • Companion Planting – Promote companion planting in your balcony garden; learn which plant you can grow with another one. For example, growing basil near to tomato plant enhances its taste and keeps both healthy.
  • Make your Compost – Don’t throw away the peelings of vegetables and fruits you eat. Some fruits like Bananas, Peaches, and Pomegranate are high in potassium and become a good organic fertilizer when used as compost.
  • Use Organic and Slow-release Fertilizer – For applying organic fertilizer supports the ecosystem and provides healthier crops than chemical fertilizers. Slow-release fertilizers provide slow and steady nutrition to plant, which is very important for their healthy and constant growth.
  • Pruning and Deadheading – Pruning makes a plant bushier and controllable; prune the plant to give it a shape or when it seems lanky. On the other hand, deadheading is the secret of getting more blooms in the garden. For example, pull every spent flower from plants such as petunias and pansies, this encourages blooming and the plant gets plenty of flowers.

Balcony Container Gardening Ideas

Container gardens are another great method to save space on your balcony. It is best to use fancy plastic, terra cotta, and wooden planters. Container gardening allows you to cultivate edibles in limited space and there are several plants that you can grow on your balcony garden. Below are some container gardening ideas;

Multi-Colored Metal Buckets

Turn up the heat in your garden with colorful metal buckets. These planters will look well even in winters when your plants turn bare. The suitable plants are dahlias, lavenders, roses, and pansies as they are easy-to-care-for and vibrant on the balcony.

Hanging Clay Pots

For a striking visual element, hang terra cotta pots from the ceiling of your apartment balcony. Create a chain of pots if you want most of your vertical space. This way, balcony space will not shrink further. Also, you’ll be able to enjoy the bright seasonal blooms.

Pots for Growing Plants on the Balcony

  • A pot should have enough holes in the bottom to allow sufficient drainage of water. Freestanding pots and planters like ceramics, clay are stable and protect plants from falling over, but the containers mounted or fixed on the windows and railings must be of lightweight material like plastic.
  • If you have a small balcony, use the high, narrow pots that acquire less space, and also don’t forget vertical gardening.
  • If you’re growing vegetables particularly the greens, use long and wide window boxes like planters, you can also use crates.
  • Easy container vegetables for the balcony are Beans, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumber, Peppers and Chilies, Carrots, Radishes, Peas, Eggplants, and Beets.

Apartment Balcony Gardening Problems

  • Improper watering is the main reason for the sudden plant dying. If you forgot to water the plant for a few days, the roots may dry up. However, the opposite is more likely, as too much water is to blame for dying container plants.
  • When you design an apartment balcony garden, you need to think about the challenges of the altitude and direction the balcony faces. Also, you need to consider the weather your plants will have to put up with and how you are going to make sure your plants get the water they need to flourish.
  • If you find water issues aren’t to blame for sudden plant death, look closely for signs of insects. Some common pests are difficult to spot. For example, spider mites are too tiny to see with the bare eye, but you can notice the fine webbing they leave on the leaves.
  • Other Reasons a balcony garden plant is turning brown are Too much (or too little) sunlight, Fungal diseases, Over-fertilizing, and Lack of humidity.

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