Blooming balconies

A garden needn’t be a large green stretch with flowerbeds and big trees. A garden can also be mini sized — especially for those of us who live in apartments. Make your your balcony your very own green corner.  

As author Frances Hodgson Burnett said in his book The Secret Garden — “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” Experts tell us how to create and maintain a balcony garden.

Choose the right plants
In the beginning, buy two-three annual flowering plants and a few perennials. Perennials that are native and most suitable to your climate are the best first buys, states Harpreet Ahluwalia, founder and principal designer, Earthly Creations. She adds, “To have a year-round blooming flower garden on the balcony, choose plants that bloom at different times of the year. Buy annuals for every season and remove them once their blooming period ends. Keep perennials that bloom in a different period. A rose is all time favourite, though it requires maintenance.”

A spade-shaped vertical planter by TheDecorKart.

Vertical Gardens
Optimal utilisation of space is very critical in a small space, so using wall-mounted planters are best, explains Yohan De Nazareth, founder, Xanadu Organic Gardens.  “A vertical garden can go just about anywhere — indoors or outdoors. Let the type of sun exposure the plants need determine where you place the garden. Also, a little garden helps improve air quality. Research has revealed that plants improve both indoor and outdoor air quality by removing harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and absorbing pollutants. Houses have been found to have consistently poorer air quality indoors than out, even with external pollution.”

Natasha Kalra, founder and creative director, TheDecorKart adds, “Walls can be used as efficient space managers by using wall planters. Make a statement by combining multiple wall planters in a step-and-repeat pattern to create a beautiful vertical decor or simply hang them individually. Use of petite, highly durable planters which can be easily moved is recommended.”

A balcony arrangement by My Sunny Balcony.

Accessories
“Add your signature touch to the garden,” suggests Natasha, adding, “You can use quirky and unique design elements to add to the charm. Elements like a map shaped planter that exhibits the inner traveller in you, or the wall hanging shovel to display the innate gardening spirit of yours — while efficiently managing space also enhance a visual statement.”

Containers and soil
When choosing containers, in addition to considering appearance, also take into account their material and drainage, points out Yohan. “Pots made of porous material, such as terracotta, offer better drainage than plastic pots, which don’t allow any water to escape the soil. Drainage holes are also a good idea in order to help guard against root rot and over-watering. Putting saucers under drainage holes prevents water from running onto your patio and spilling on the floor,” he explains.

Harpreet adds, “Ensure that you buy potting soil that’s particularly suited to the plants you will be growing. An all-purpose mix will be sufficient for most plants, but note that succulents and other specialty plants will need a different mix. Start your plants off right and they will thank you with healthy foliage and blooms.”

A truck planter by Xanadu Organic Gardens.

Water resource
Yohan shares, “A good garden is dependent on easy availability of water resources. One could install automatic irrigating systems. You can also have a professional help in setting up the proper system and ensure that plants are healthy and do not require constant attention.”