The Basics Of Planting Your Plants On An Apartment Balcony
Vegetables and plants on apartment balconies have been a part of apartment living since time immemorial. They were initially grown as a source of food and as a decorative element on balconies. It is only recently that apartment gardens have started becoming more popular. However, apartment gardening is quite different from traditional outdoor garden planning. Since apartment gardening is just like any other form of gardening-the need for space, planning and motivation are still needed, but the main difference is the lack of plants on balconies.
Vegetable gardening on apartment balconies is also suitable for apartment living because it is not much different from the way it is done in conventional outdoor garden planning. Young people who are not into growing large plants can use small apartment plants as alternatives to flowers, trees and shrubs. In small apartment living areas, plants on apartment balcony can save water, as plants on balconies do not require a lot of watering. However, in areas where there often is not enough rain falling on the apartment balcony, putting the small plants on the terrace surface would minimize the water content of the surrounding air and therefore would help the plants survive.
Using plants on apartment balconies is also a great way to add color to an apartment. Although plants cannot give you any sort of natural decoration, using plants can make your apartment appear more attractive. Apart from providing shade to the apartment, plants on apartment surfaces can also accentuate the colors of the walls and the furnishings in the apartment. This is especially so if the plants are used in contrasting colors such as red and green. Even if you do not choose plants that have strong colors, using plants with similar hues and textures can greatly enhance the look of your apartment. If you want to use plants on apartment balcony for decorative purposes, you must be careful to choose plants that will not grow taller than your balcony’s peak.
Before planting, you should be sure of the size of the plants you are going to use in the apartment. If you have the funds, you could hire a landscape designer to assist you in planning and planting your apartment plants. If you do not have this luxury, then it would still be best to plan your plants on apartment balconies carefully and accordingly. You need to take into consideration factors such as the amount of sunlight the plants will receive, the frequency of watering, and the root structure of the plants. For instance, if you have plants on balconies which receive direct sunlight during the day, it would be better to choose plants that do not grow much higher than their roots.
It is also important for you to select plants that will not grow taller than the height of your apartment ceilings. You can plant small plants on the sides and along the edges of your apartment balconies. However, if you want to avoid using too many plants on your balcony, it would still be better for you to choose larger plants instead of small plants. Bear in mind that growing plants that cannot reach the top portion of your apartment ceilings will only make your apartment look smaller.
Most apartment balconies are limited to three feet of space for growing plants. Therefore, if you choose plants that grow taller than three feet, it will only create a very tall illusion. There are also plants which do not grow very high but need less sunlight to grow properly.
Do not buy plants that are extremely beautiful but require a lot of water and have poor root structure. It is also important for you to ensure that your plants will not attract unwanted guests who could damage them. Check the roots of the plants prior to planting them on the apartment balcony. You need to make sure that the roots of your selected plants will not grow underground and will not be damaged by extreme cold or heat.
If you are planning to put up plants on your apartment balcony, it is best if you choose hardy plants. This way, they will not be easily destroyed by bugs or pests. Hardy plants are those which will survive even the slightest temperature change. In addition, hardy plants can also tolerate minor pests and temperature fluctuations. Keep in mind that your apartment building’s management will most likely ask you to take precautionary measures such as eliminating potential pests inside your apartment by using chemicals.