6 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Balcony Garden
Avoid these six gardening blunders and be the proud owner of a blossoming patch
Many city dwellers who live in high-rises and apartments use their balcony to fulfil their desire for a garden. No matter how big or small the verandah, a beautiful patch of potted plants and flowers is possible. But as with anything in life, you need to invest time and care into looking after your plants, too. Here we have listed out the big (but commonly made) mistakes that could hamper your balcony garden from blooming. Happy gardening!
Expert advice: Suman Mathur of the All India Kitchen Garden Association
Expert advice: Suman Mathur of the All India Kitchen Garden Association
Tip: Place plants of different sizes strategically to create a good visual of the balcony garden. Do not overcrowd plants; it will hamper their growth as they won’t get enough sunlight and water.
2. Picking the wrong plants
- Choosing the wrong plants can ruin your garden. Every plant has specific requirements in terms of sunlight and water, and also some plants have blooming seasons, hence it is important that you select the right plants that suit your balcony’s and region’s conditions.
- The location of your balcony is also a deciding factor. A south-facing balcony receives maximum light (both in intensity and duration) while a north-facing balcony receives the least amount of light. The amount of light east- and west-facing balconies get lies somewhere in between. So, again, doing some research before you decide on the plants that you want to bring into your garden is essential.
- The plants you choose should fit in the balcony space when they are fully grown in size. Keep this in mind when you are planting them as seedlings.
- Mathur says, “Pick annuals, biennials and perennials so that you have greenery all year round. If you are a new gardener, do not go for plants that require too much looking after.”
3. Over- or under-watering
Both over- and under-watering are harmful for your plants. Stop watering your plants when you see water coming out of the planter’s drainage hole. Excess water near the roots can rot them.
On the other hand, if plants don’t get enough water they will dry out and die. Do the knuckle test to find out if the soil is dry – stick your finger in the soil down to your second knuckle; if the soil feels dry at that depth then your plants are in need of watering.
Tip: During summer, you need to water most plants twice – in the early mornings and in the evenings.
Both over- and under-watering are harmful for your plants. Stop watering your plants when you see water coming out of the planter’s drainage hole. Excess water near the roots can rot them.
On the other hand, if plants don’t get enough water they will dry out and die. Do the knuckle test to find out if the soil is dry – stick your finger in the soil down to your second knuckle; if the soil feels dry at that depth then your plants are in need of watering.
Tip: During summer, you need to water most plants twice – in the early mornings and in the evenings.
4. Choosing the wrong pots
The two things to keep in mind while buying pots are proper drainage and the right size.
Mathur says that a good drainage system is vital for a balcony garden. Stagnant water under the pot or over-watering can rot the plant.
When you buy plants find out about the size they will get to when they are fully grown. This should help decide the size of the pots you need to buy. If you see roots coming out of the pots, that means your plant needs a bigger container. The roots of the plant will not get enough nutrients and water in a smaller pot and this will have adverse effect on the plant’s growth.
Find out the must-haves for a new kitchen gardener
The two things to keep in mind while buying pots are proper drainage and the right size.
Mathur says that a good drainage system is vital for a balcony garden. Stagnant water under the pot or over-watering can rot the plant.
When you buy plants find out about the size they will get to when they are fully grown. This should help decide the size of the pots you need to buy. If you see roots coming out of the pots, that means your plant needs a bigger container. The roots of the plant will not get enough nutrients and water in a smaller pot and this will have adverse effect on the plant’s growth.
Find out the must-haves for a new kitchen gardener
5. Skipping on fertilisers
Water and sunlight are the essentials but your balcony garden needs supplementary nutrients and nourishment too. And that is exactly what fertilisers are for; you can buy fertilisers specially meant for container plants or you can go for compost. The latter is organic and also eco-friendly.
Mix a handful of fertiliser in the soil every fortnight to keep your plants healthy. Regular use of fertilisers is necessary for potted plants as they get used up quickly and regular watering washes them out, too.
Water and sunlight are the essentials but your balcony garden needs supplementary nutrients and nourishment too. And that is exactly what fertilisers are for; you can buy fertilisers specially meant for container plants or you can go for compost. The latter is organic and also eco-friendly.
Mix a handful of fertiliser in the soil every fortnight to keep your plants healthy. Regular use of fertilisers is necessary for potted plants as they get used up quickly and regular watering washes them out, too.
6. Not keeping a lookout for pests/weeds
“You need to constantly take care of your plants. Do regular maintenance by removing weeds and dead leaves regularly,” Mathur says. Weeds, if not removed immediately, will rob your plant of nutrients. Check your plants regularly and remove the weeds gently. Make sure you pluck their roots out. You also need to inspect your plants regularly for insect and caterpillar infestation.
Read more:
How to Grow a Blooming Balcony Garden
5 Ways to Live Large on a Small Balcony
Tell us:
How do you keep your balcony garden blooming? Share your pictures in the Comments section below.
“You need to constantly take care of your plants. Do regular maintenance by removing weeds and dead leaves regularly,” Mathur says. Weeds, if not removed immediately, will rob your plant of nutrients. Check your plants regularly and remove the weeds gently. Make sure you pluck their roots out. You also need to inspect your plants regularly for insect and caterpillar infestation.
Read more:
How to Grow a Blooming Balcony Garden
5 Ways to Live Large on a Small Balcony
Tell us:
How do you keep your balcony garden blooming? Share your pictures in the Comments section below.
Starting a garden without proper planning is one of the biggest mistakes one tends to make. Just like a garden on the ground, your balcony garden also needs to have a certain physical flow and aesthetics. “Plan in advance; make a simple blueprint of the garden. Figure out basics, like where you will place the pots, how many pots you can accommodate on the floor, if you want creepers on the railings, about adding hanging pots and what kind of garden accessories you want to add to the setup,” the All India Kitchen Garden Association’s Suman Mathur says.
Zero in on the design that works for you. “Think about how visually appealing you want the garden to look from the inside of your house as well as how will it look to those from afar,” Mathur suggests.