This is a paid partnership between Responsival and The Rebel Chick, but all opinions are my own.
As you all probably know by now, I have become...well, let's say that I became mildly obsessed with houseplants in 2019. There are so many ways to incorporate houseplants and gardens into your life, regardless of what type of home you live in. Even if you are in a tiny apartment, you can always figure out How to Start a Balcony Garden! After about two full years, I now have (at least count) 50+ plants literally all over my house, as well as some on the patio, hanging in the trees...I even have a plant in my shower!
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How to Start a Balcony Garden
As easily as I found my way into the world of houseplants, the idea of starting a garden (like many of my friends did during the really strict stages of quarantine) has seemed such a daunting task. For instance, balcony gardens are a really popular thing right now due to the COVID19 pandemic and so many people being stuck indoors for the last year. Remember those times the grocery stores ran out of certain foods? A bunch of my friends began raising chickens and planting gardens!
A balcony garden is exactly what it sounds like, it is a garden that you set up on a balcony. This is perfect for apartment dwellers who want to try their hand at urban gardening, or simply want to bring a little nature to their space. Of course, balconies require container gardening, like a Garden Tower®! This allows you to make the most of any space you have by essentially stacking your plants in as small of a space as possible without actually overcrowding them.
You can plant seedlings, or full sized plants in your containers. I personally prefer to buy small plants or cuttings and watch them grow - because I am a bit impatient and usually lose interest when I try to grow anything from seed! You can buy seeds to start your balcony garden online, or small plants - you can even buy small herbs from your local grocery store if they sell them, and plant them!
What if I don't know anything about plants?
You can find the easiest way to buy plants online and lots of tips about indoor and outdoor plant care online! There are also tons of plant groups on Facebook, covering everything from plant identification to specialized exotic plant care to which sticky traps to use to fight fungus gnats.
What kind of plants should I plant in a balcony garden?
There are SO MANY varieties of plants that are well-suited for a balcony garden, but you need to first take into account your climate and the amount of sunlight your balcony has during the day. Some plants thrive in full sunlight (think cacti) and some with wither and die in full, direct sunlight.
For instance, I live in South Florida, which is a subtropical climate. I have lots of beautiful tropical plants both inside and outside my home. I would strong recommend vining plants like a Golden Pothos for a balcony garden, as they are easy to care for and give a big impact with their beautiful, trailing vines!
You can easily grow these types of tropical plants outside in your balcony garden and use a garden trellis for them to climb!
How to Find your Hardiness Zone
A map of hardiness zones shows the average low temperatures of your region as well as the average annual winter temperatures. The USDA maintains an online hardiness map, searchable by zip code, that divides the country into 13 zones based on average annual minimum temperature.
Before you start your balcony garden, find your hardiness zone, and familiarize yourself with the fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs that thrive in it. This will make it much easier for you because you will be selecting plants that already work with your climate.
Do you plan on starting a balcony garden this year? Do you already have one? I would love to hear all about it, please leave me a comment with your best tips!
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