Gardening Ideas for Apartment Dwellers
For those who live in an apartment or another small space and love gardening, it can be difficult to find the room that you need to grow your plants. Even if you are fortunate enough to have your own balcony or a small outdoor area, there could still be complications with how much sunlight your plants are getting. If you can relate to the above, take a look at some of the tips below on how to garden in an apartment.
1. Make Your Garden Portable
Almost anything can be used as a pot to grow your plants in. You can use an empty toolbox, a tall CD storage case, a teapot, and even a clear makeup bag. If you have unused storage containers around your house, think about using them to start a portable garden. This will make it easier to move your plants around and to save space inside of your living area. Keep in mind, however, that some plants may need to be transplanted from these smaller objects into larger pots. Stick to plants that will remain small or that you can keep small.
2. Consider Settling for a Zen Garden
Although it’s not technically a garden, it is still a good alternative for those who don’t have enough space or the ability to garden. Zen gardens can be extremely small or relatively large, depending on your preferences, and there is absolutely no upkeep. Also, having a zen garden will help you to cultivate mindfulness and lower stress. For those who may be unsatisfied with the lack of plants in the zen garden, you can use low-maintenance plants that require little water in the garden to bring some life to it.
3. Growing Vertically
If you have a small balcony, you can use hanging pots or pots that can be installed into the wall to help you get the most out of your space. If you don’t want to install anything into the wall or if you don’t have enough room for pots, you can use other vertical objects such as hanging shoe racks to achieve the same effect. If you choose to use another vertical object that isn’t a pot intended for wall use, be mindful of how much weight you are putting into that object to keep your plants from falling off of the wall.
4. Garden in an Unused Room
If you don’t have enough room outside and you don’t have enough sunlight inside to be able to garden, consider using an unused room for your gardening. If you have a garage or a guest bedroom with enough space, you can turn it into your own outdoor area. All you will need is some boxes, soil, water, and special grow lights. However, this idea will only work if the area that you’re gardening in has a tile or linoleum surface. Otherwise, the water that drains from the plants will create problems for your floor.
You don’t have to sacrifice your joy for gardening because you live in a small space. Instead, think of it as a challenge to find new and improved ways of gardening that will allow you try new things. Remember, if there’s a will, there’s a way.