Even if you live in an apartment block, you can still grow a few plants and create a small corner of greenery in your home. In addition to classic houseplants or certain aromatic herbs, fruits, and vegetables can also thrive in an apartment garden.
Even if you live in an apartment block, you can still grow a few plants and create a small corner of greenery in your home. In addition to classic houseplants or certain aromatic herbs, fruits, and vegetables can also thrive in an apartment garden.
How to grow plants in the apartment
Although some plants are easier to care for and grow than others, they all have certain needs. Here’s what you need to know how to grow plants in the apartment
- Light: Most plants that make fruit and flowers need a lot of sunlight. Not exactly an easy thing to accomplish in an apartment, especially in a city where tall buildings can block the sun for part of the day. Balconies and rooftops are the best places for direct light. If you’re gardening on a windowsill, you can choose plants that need less light (like lettuce and herbs) or you can buy grow lights that mimic sunlight.
- Soil: Plants depend on soil for water, air, and nutrients. Since the garden in the apartment will have pots, you will not be able to use the classic garden soil. If you used garden soil, it would become very compact in the pot and block air and water from reaching the plant. That is why universal soil is more suitable for flowers and plants because it is aerated enough to allow air and water to reach the roots of the plants. And somehow it’s also sterile, so you won’t have to worry about bringing pests or diseases into the apartment.
- Water: Potted plants need a lot of water, sometimes even several times a day. So when you make your garden in the apartment, choose a place that is close to the water source. Hauling water bottles between your little garden and the sink can be tiring, especially if you have several plants that need frequent watering. If you have a larger apartment, you can even buy a hose to attach to the sink faucet. It’s handy when you need it, and then you can easily fold it up and store it when you’re done.
- Humidity: If you’re growing your plants on a windowsill indoors, extra humidity may be needed, especially during the heat. To provide moisture to the plants, spray them with water or place them next to a tray of water.
- Air: If your plants will be exposed to direct wind, such as on a roof or in an open balcony, you may need additional protection. Strong winds can tear leaves and even topple pots. You can mount a railing or protective screens. Or make sure the pots are wide and heavy enough to anchor the plants as well as possible.
- Weight: Pots filled with soil are generally heavy, but when they are also wet, their weight can triple. Make sure the apartment garden can support this weight. Window pots must be properly secured to the window sill. If you are gardening on a balcony or roof, talk to management or the owner about weight restrictions.
The best choices for how to grow plants in the apartment
You can grow almost any plant in pots, up to a point. An adult apple is obviously out of the question, but there are other species that can fit on the corner of the balcony. Think about what you like to eat and then choose the type of plants for your apartment garden. You can start with seeds because you have more options and they are also cheaper. If you want to make your garden faster, you need to get seedlings.
Aromatic plants: Although most herbs grow well in pots, they will not grow as large and robust as they would when grown outside in the garden. And you may need to replace your plants if you harvest frequently. But it’s great to have fresh herbs on hand when you’re cooking. The most popular choices for the apartment garden are mint, chives, parsley, lavender, basil, and thyme.
Salads: Lettuce, spinach, and arugula are plants that grow quickly and do not make large roots. And they’re not too picky either, as long as they get enough water. Tomatoes. Tomato plants can grow quite large, but they also do well in pots. It would be best to put them in containers/pots that are at least 75 centimeters in diameter. But you can also find smaller varieties that you can put in hanging planters.
Meyer lemons. Dwarf citrus fruits are some of the easiest fruits to grow in pots. Meyer lemons do well indoors if they get six to eight hours of light daily, along with humidity. Put something under the pot to protect your floors, as the lemon releases sticky sap.
Strawberries. A pot of strawberries by the window looks both good and delicious. Strawberry plants need at least six hours of sun a day and well-drained (but not waterlogged) soil to produce the best fruit.
here you can find grow fruit indoors kit
Tips for taking care of the garden in the apartment
There are some things that you will have to deal with regularly in the apartment garden, such as:
Watering: By far the most important thing in gardening is watering. Even if your garden is exposed to rain (in the case of an open balcony or roof), that water probably won’t be enough. Potting soil dries out quickly, especially during plant growth. Test the soil by inserting your finger two to four inches into the pot. If the soil feels dry, you need to water that plant.
Food: You will need to feed your plants regularly according to their growth needs. A water-soluble fertilizer is the easiest method. However, check if the soil has already had fertilizer added to it, as this will save you from having to add a new dose for a while. You can also use it as fertilizer and compost, which you can make even in your apartment.
Pests: Pests and diseases can invade plants no matter where you grow them. Inspect the plants each time you water or care for them. If you notice signs of pests or disease, such as discolored leaves or holes, move the plant away from the rest of the pots until the problem is corrected.
