For apartment gardening for beginners, preparation is always the key to success. As with any other type of gardening, the first thing one should do is make sure that the location is well ventilated. Next, one should look into using mulch on the location; this is because mulch helps to trap in moisture. The final step, one needs to consider is that of using the correct soil. With respect to soil, it should be slightly acidic in nature to provide the plants with the correct nutrients needed to grow.
Most apartment dwellers find the concept of apartment gardening very practical as it does not require a lot of upkeep. The main reason apartment gardens are so popular is that most people opt to live in such locations that are close to the city. The lack of time to spend on the plants’ care can be well met with an apartment garden. This is mainly because low maintenance gardens do not demand regular watering or fertilization. In fact, one will only need to water the plants and keep a check on the insects that tend to ruin one’s garden.
One thing that apartment gardens must have is a proper fire escape. This will ensure that should there be a fire in the apartment, residents will be able to evacuate the building before the fire reaches its deadly level. It is also important that apartment gardens have a sun dial. By having this feature, apartment dwellers will be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor, even if they have to spend the early part of the day in the balcony sipping on a cold beer.
It is advisable for apartment gardeners to plant trees. This is because these plants require minimal care. They are also easier to maintain. However, it is vital that apartment garden owners take utmost care when choosing plants. The tips below will aid in this:
Full sun is the best fertilizer. It is advisable to plant vegetables or fruits that are known for their tolerance towards full sun. The six hours of full sun per day is what these plants need. Vegetables like cauliflower and beans will grow well in a location that has direct sunlight every day. On the other hand, some flowers will only grow well if they are planted in an apartment where they get indirect sunlight during the morning hours.
Some apartment plants that are recommended for apartment gardening for beginners are herbs. Herbs such as basil, sage, chives and oregano are easy to maintain. These plants can survive without much attention while still maintaining a lovely aroma. Some apartment dwellers find it hard to resist the temptation of cooking with these indoor plants in the kitchen.
Air quality is another important factor that apartment dwellers should take into consideration. If air quality is poor inside the apartment, the plants will not thrive. The plants will only produce small green leaves that do not attract much attention. To prevent this, planting air-quality planters indoors will improve the indoor environment and ensure that the garden is attractive to apartment dwellers.
Finally, another apartment gardening tip is to place plants where they can receive ample amount of natural sunlight. Direct sunlight can improve plant growth and speed up germination. In order to enjoy good growing conditions, the plants must be placed in the southern direction. Indoor plants can be placed in a window facing the South.
Watering the garden is also an important factor to consider. Although container gardens require frequent watering, you can water them less as compared to conventional outdoor gardens. However, constant watering is still required, just not as frequent.
Container gardening provides apartment garden planting opportunities for homeowners who want to grow their own vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers but cannot afford to buy commercial seeds or soil. Although some apartment gardening methods require more frequent watering, they are not as time-consuming as those done outdoors. When the weather becomes cold, you can simply transfer your containers indoors to provide your plants with artificial warmth. In summer, however, you can move your container garden to a south or west facing part of the building to get more sunlight. Continuous harvesting of green leaves from these delicate plants also gives you the advantage of collecting fresh leaves for making tea, jams and other cooking ingredients.
Vegetables, herbs and flowers grown in this manner are very easy to maintain and grow well. Some plants even make use of the existing foliage to help filter the air. You can make use of netting or cages to contain seedlings to prevent too much sunlight or shade from hitting the plants. If you have the budget, using plants that do not need replanting every year makes better economic sense. In fact, you can save a lot by doing this.