There are many wonderful benefits of living in an apartment. It’s affordable, close to public transportation, and there is always a security guard on duty! But the one thing that most people don’t like about apartments? The lack of space. This blog post will give you some tips and tricks for gardening in your apartment so you can have fresh flowers or herbs steps away from your front door!
Table of Contents
1. Start with a plan
If you’re an apartment gardening newbie, the best thing you can do is sit down and plan out your garden before getting started. This will give you a clear idea of what plants grow well in containers, save on water, and which gardening tools are necessary for this type of project.
2. Find out about the space available and how much sun it gets
Ask your landlord for permission to garden on the grounds, or check out local gardening laws. You’ll also need to figure out if you’ll have enough space and access to sunlight for your plants of choice. This will help narrow down what types of flowers and herbs thrive in containers best.
The way sunlight and plants interact is constantly changing. A gardener’s job includes adjusting to how light levels change with the seasons and caring for each type of plant in different ways according to its needs. For example, see how your leaves change over time. If they start to yellow, that means sunlight is getting less intense, and it’s time to give your plants a temporary break in the shade.
Direct sun for shade-loving plants will result in leaves that become burnt, while too little sun for sun lovers results in pale green or yellow foliage.
3. Choose plants that will work in your space
Choose your plants and herbs based on the space you have available. You’ll need to learn about what kinds of plants work best in containers, how big they grow, their needs for sunlight or shade versus other factors like soil type (potting mix).
It is important to choose the right plant combinations so that another will take its place without a lot of fuss as one dies off.
This is called succession planting, and it will help you be more productive with your gardening space year-round.
There can be many things to consider when starting an apartment garden, especially if you are new. Start small and choose the first plants carefully based on the ease of care that you like to have in your space.
Plants like petunias, ageratum, and impatiens work well in containers because they’re perennials that will come back year after year with little to no fuss on your end. They also grow quickly, so you can even get a jump-start on succession planting by keeping them indoors for the winter if need to.
A great way to add a little bit of green without taking up too much space is by planting some ground covers. Of course, take care not to plant anything that will spread and invade your neighbors’ yards, but many plants like creeping thyme or phlox are perfect for the job.
If you live in an apartment with enough light, you can grow vegetables and herbs as well. Leafy greens like spinach, chard, lettuce, or kale are a great place to start since they only need moderate light and won’t take up too much space in your kitchen windowsill. Basil is also perfect for beginners because it has the right amount of sun exposure, doesn’t take up too much room, and you can take care of it quickly.
Once you’re ready, try experimenting with more advanced crops like tomatoes or peppers, which will take a lot of sun and space in both pots on the windowsill.
You can grow other plants indoors, too- make sure they don’t produce any fruit that might rot from lack of sunlight.
4. Choose containers that are easy to maintain and move around
If you’re starting and don’t want to spend a lot of money on pots, consider using old containers like clay flowerpots or even baking pans. If they have drainage holes in the bottom, that’s what matters! However, for more advanced gardeners who might be growing plants with fruit that needs lots of sun exposure, choosing large containers is the way to go.
Make sure that your containers have drainage holes in the bottom so you can easily water them. If not, use a pot with some rocks or marbles at the bottom.
Your containers must be easy to move around because you’ll need to change the soil often and to change their positions to follow the sunlight.
5. Plant in groups of 3 or more so you can harvest simultaneously and have variety in your garden.
To simplify your apartment gardening, plant in groups of three or more. This will allow you to harvest at the same time and ensure variety in your garden.
6. Add compost and organic fertilizers to the soil to make it more fertile and improve drainage.
Starting with a healthy plant is key in the world of gardening. By adding compost to your soil, you will be providing your plants with all the nutrients they need before watering them and growing further in time!
If you’re looking for a way to make your plants grow faster, use organic fertilizers. You can find them at most garden centers or online suppliers, and they will help your plants develop strength so that they can better withstand the sometimes harsh conditions of apartment gardening.
The process is simple: sprinkle some around the potting soil and water well.
7. Support your indoor plants when needed
There are many ways to support your plants in an apartment garden. After all, space is limited, and you don’t want them toppling over because they’re on a shelf that’s too high or have grown roots that can be seen through the pot!
One of the more common solutions would be placing a stake next to larger pots to maintain the plant structure. However, as an alternative, you can also find bamboo sticks like this one from Amazon.
Some plants also will need a cage to help keep them upright and support any developing stems.
This is great for plants like tomatoes, which are pretty heavy. You can use metal wire or bamboo to create a cage around the plant with one long piece of either material going up through the center, so you have two supports on each side (kind of like an “X”). This will provide more stability as the plant grows.
While you may find it challenging to grow a full-sized tomato plant indoors, many people can successfully grow cherry tomatoes or other small plants that can be grown from seeds or cuttings in their apartment because of the controlled environment they provide!
8. Consider your time
Start a garden that requires as little time and effort as possible with just one pot or even an empty corner of your kitchen counter. Tomatoes and squash plants need a lot of time to grow, but they will produce more than one crop throughout their life. Other vegetables like lettuce or radishes may only take two months to mature before you can harvest them for salad!
Lettuce is an excellent choice if you want fresh greens in your salads every day. Radishes are an excellent choice for ground cover in between other plants that need to be spaced apart.
If you have a little more time, try growing tomatoes or cucumbers because their vines climb up and over the sides of containers! One way to maximize your space inside is by using vertical gardening methods like this one.
9. Provide enough humidity for your plants
When the air is dry, it can be challenging for plants to grow because they need moisture. If you live in an area with dry climates like Arizona or California, you may want to invest in a humidifier that does not emit any pollutants into your home.
If your humidity levels are low and cannot be increased through other methods, then you need to provide a water source to your plants. You may want to consider using containers like this to hold enough water and distribute it slowly so the soil stays moist longer.
10. Harvest vegetables and flowers for cooking and decorating
It’s a great sensation when you cook using your garden produce.
Vegetables are the main ingredient in so many recipes and usually a large portion of your budget! Flowers make an excellent addition to salads or other dishes as they can be used for color and decoration.
11. Go vertical with your garden
Vertical gardening is all the rage these days. It’s a great way to use any awkward corners of space you have, and it maximizes what you can grow inside! Try planting peas or beans up against outside walls – they’ll climb about as high as the reach will allow them! Tomatoes make for fabulous vines.
12. There are many benefits to planting your garden
Planting your garden can be a very rewarding experience. It’s worth doing it just for the great feeling you’ll get when you eat vegetables from your backyard. You’re also supporting local growers, which is important!
Planting your garden Has also many health benefits. For example, some plants can purify the air and remove toxins inside your apartment. Others can improve your mood and even help you with sleeping.
