Small Balcony Garden Ideas For Apartments

You live in an apartment. You have a small balcony. You want to put some plants there. But you do not know how to start. Do not worry. This article is for you. Many people think a small balcony cannot become a garden. That is wrong. A small space can become a very beautiful garden. You just need the right ideas. You do not need a big budget. You do not need expert knowledge. You need some simple steps and a little care.

In this article I will show you how to make a small balcony garden ideas for apartments. These ideas work for a tiny balcony. They work for a narrow balcony. They work for a balcony that gets less sunlight. Let us start.

Transform Your Small Balcony into a Lush Garden Retreat

First look at your balcony properly

Before you buy anything, go to your balcony. Stand there for five minutes. Look at the floor. Look at the walls. Look at the railing. Look up at the roof if there is one. Ask yourself these questions. How much sun comes here? Does the sun come in the morning or evening? Does rain come inside easily? Is the balcony fully open or half closed? Is there a power point for a small light or water fountain?

Write down your answers on a paper. This will help you choose the right plants and things for your balcony.

Measure your balcony space

Take a measuring tape. Measure the length and width of your balcony. Also measure the height of the railing. Measure the space from the floor to the roof if it is covered. Keep these numbers with you when you go to buy plant pots or stands. Many people buy big pots that do not fit. Then they feel sad. Do not let that happen to you.

Choose the right plant pots for small balcony

For a small balcony you cannot use big heavy pots. They take too much space. They are hard to move. They also make the balcony look crowded. Instead use these types of pots. Long narrow pots. These fit near the wall. You can put three to four small plants in one long pot. They save space and look clean. Hanging pots. These hang from the roof or from the railing. They do not take any floor space. You can put money plant or small flowering plants in them. Stackable pots. These pots sit one on top of another. You can grow different plants in each level. They look like a small green tower. Wall mounted pots. These pots attach to the wall. You can make a line of green on your wall. This looks very nice and uses zero floor space. Do not use clay pots if your balcony is small. They are heavy. They break easily. Use plastic pots or fiber pots. They are light. You can move them around when you clean the balcony.

Use the railing for your garden

The railing is a very useful part of your balcony. Most people leave it empty. But you can turn it into a garden. Buy railing planters. These are small pots that hook onto the railing. They hang outside or inside. Put small flowering plants there. Petunia and marigold work very well. If you cannot buy railing planters, do this. Take small plastic bottles. Cut them in half. Make two small holes on the side. Put a rope through the holes. Hang these bottles on the railing. Put soil and seeds in them. This is a zero cost garden idea.

Put plants on different levels

Do not put all plants on the floor. That will make your balcony look messy. Instead use levels. Use a small stool. Put one plant on it. Use a small wooden box. Put another plant on it. Use a broken chair. Put a plant on the seat. This way your eyes see plants at different heights. The balcony looks bigger and more interesting. You can also buy a small three tier plant stand. These stands are cheap. They hold three to four pots. They take very little floor space. Many online shops sell them for five hundred to eight hundred rupees.

Choose plants that grow well in small space

Now comes the most important part. Which plants should you put? Do not put big plants. They will grow large and take over your balcony. Do not put plants that need a lot of sun if your balcony does not get sun.

Here are good plants for a small apartment balcony.

Money plant. This is the easiest plant. It grows in water. It grows in soil. It grows in less light. It grows in good light. It looks beautiful when hanging down from a pot.

Tulsi or holy basil. This plant is good for health. It also keeps insects away. It does not grow very big. Keep it in a medium size pot near the door.

Aloe vera. This plant needs very less water. You can keep it in a small pot. The gel inside the leaves is useful for small cuts and skin.

Spinach and coriander. Yes you can grow vegetables and herbs. Take a long narrow pot. Put coriander seeds. In twenty days you will have fresh green leaves for your food.

Marigold. This flower grows very fast. It gives yellow and orange flowers. It does not need much care. It also looks very happy and bright.

Spider plant. This plant grows long green leaves. It cleans the air inside your flat. It does not die easily. It is a good plant for beginners.

Snake plant. This plant can stay alive even if you forget to water it for many days. It grows straight up. So it does not take much space sideways.

Do not buy all plants at once. Buy two or three first. See how they grow on your balcony. Then buy more.

Take care of water drainage

This is a mistake many people make. They put soil in a pot but forget to make a hole at the bottom. Then when they give water, the water stays inside. The plant roots rot. The plant dies. Always make sure your pot has a hole at the bottom. Keep a small plate under the pot. The extra water will fall into the plate. Then you can throw that water away. If your balcony is above another flat, be careful. Do not let water fall down from your balcony. Your downstairs neighbour will get angry. Keep plates under every pot.

Use a small table or trolley

If your balcony is very small, you cannot put many pots on the floor. So buy a small two feet by one feet table. Put four to five small pots on that table. Now you have a garden on a table. You can also buy a small trolley on wheels. Put pots on the trolley. When you want to sit on the balcony, move the trolley to the side. When you want to clean, move the trolley inside. This is very helpful for very tiny balconies.

Make your own compost

Do not throw away vegetable peels from your kitchen. You can turn them into free fertilizer for your balcony garden. Take a big plastic bucket. Make four small holes on the sides for air. Put some soil at the bottom. Put your vegetable peels. Cover them with more soil. Spray a little water. Close the lid. Open the lid every two days and mix the contents. After forty five days you will have black rich soil. This soil is very good for your plants. You do not need to buy expensive fertilizer from the shop.

Add some light for evening time

A garden looks even better in the evening if you add some light. Do not buy big lights. Buy a string of small yellow lights. Hang them on your railing or wall. small balcony garden ideas for apartments. These lights cost very little money. They run on battery or electricity. They make your small balcony feel like a special place. If you cannot buy lights, do this. Take an old glass bottle. Wash it clean. Put a small candle inside. Light it in the evening. Keep it on a plate. That is your garden lamp.

Keep insects away naturally

Small balcony gardens can bring small insects. Do not use poison sprays. They are bad for your plants and bad for your health. Instead do these things. Keep a pot of tulsi near your door. Tulsi keeps mosquitoes away. Keep small pieces of neem leaves in your pots. Neem stops white insects and small flies. Spray water mixed with a little soap on the leaves once a week. If you see ants, put turmeric powder near the pots. Ants do not like turmeric.

Use mirrors to make balcony look bigger

This is a very smart idea. Put a small mirror on the wall of your balcony. When you look at the garden, the mirror shows more plants. It feels like the garden has doubled. This trick works very well for very small spaces. Do not put a big mirror. Put a medium size round mirror. Keep it at plant level. The green color from the plants will reflect in the mirror.

Sit in your balcony garden

A garden is not just for looking. It is for sitting. So keep a small place to sit. If your balcony is very small, use a floor cushion. If you have a little more space, use a small plastic chair. Do not use big sofas or heavy furniture. They do not fit. Sit in your balcony garden for ten minutes every morning. Drink your tea there. Read a small book there. This habit will make you feel fresh and calm.

Change plant positions every fifteen days

Plants grow towards the sun. If you keep a pot in the same position for a long time, the plant will bend to one side. That looks bad. So every fifteen days, turn your pots around. If a plant is not getting enough sun, move it to a different spot. If a plant is getting too much sun, move it to a shade. Watching your plants and moving them is part of garden care.

Do not put too many plants at once

Many people get excited. They buy twenty pots in one day. They put them on the balcony. Then they feel tired. They do not water them properly. The plants die. Then they feel bad. Start slow. Buy three pots. Take care of them for one month. If you can keep them alive, buy three more. A small healthy garden is better than a big dead garden.

Water at the right time

The best time to water plants is early morning before eight o clock. The second best time is evening after five o clock. Do not water in the afternoon. The sun is too strong. The water gets hot. The plant roots get hurt. Give only as much water as the plant needs. Put your finger in the soil. If the soil feels wet, do not give water. If the soil feels dry, give water. This simple finger test works for all plants.

Clean your balcony garden once a week

Take all pots out once a week. Sweep the floor. Wipe the walls. Clean the plates under the pots. Cut any yellow or dry leaves from the plants. This cleaning takes only ten minutes. But it keeps your garden healthy and beautiful.

Talk to your plants

This may sound funny but it works. Talk to your plants. Say good morning to them. Say good night. When you talk, you breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants need carbon dioxide to grow. Also when you talk to them you will remember to look at them every day. You will notice if a plant is sick or dry.

You do not have to talk loudly. A soft whisper is fine.

A small list of things you need to start

Here is a simple list. Do not buy everything at once. Buy step by step.

Two medium size pots with holes
One long narrow pot
One bag of normal garden soil
One small bag of sand or small stones for drainage
Three plants of your choice
One small plate for each pot
One one litre water bottle for watering

That is all. You do not need expensive tools. You do not need special soil. You do not need a big budget.

Sample plan for a two feet by four feet balcony

Let me give you an example. Your balcony is two feet wide and four feet long. This is a very small balcony. But you can still make a garden. Put one long narrow pot near the left wall. Grow coriander and spinach there. Put two hanging pots on the railing. Grow money plant there. Put one small stool near the right wall. Keep one pot of tulsi on the stool. Put one small mirror on the wall. Keep one floor cushion to sit. Now you have a garden. You have green leaves. You have flowers. You have a place to sit. This is your small balcony garden.

Conclusion

Do not wait for the perfect time. Do not wait for a bigger balcony. Do not wait for more money. Start today with whatever you have. Take one empty bottle. Put some soil. Put one seed. Give some water. Keep it on your balcony. That is the start of your garden. In two weeks you will see a small green leaf coming out. That feeling is very good. That feeling will make you want to grow more. Your small balcony garden is not just about plants. It is about making a small peaceful place for yourself in a big crowded city. It is about watching things grow. It is about feeling proud that you made something green and alive.