How to Grow a Green Thumb
Wonder no more, use these tips and ideas to create your own green wall
Vertical gardens can be that breath of fresh air or the calming oasis amidst the dreary concrete jungle that surrounds us. If installation, space constraints, maintenance, or just the overall planning dissuades you from creating your green garden, start small with your own DIY green wall project. Here are easy ways to go about it.
This project requires a bit more work. Recycle old rusted pipes to grow rows of vegetables and herbs in your home. Host them in partial shade and drill small holes to drain excess water from it. Just look at it; your effort will be so worth it.
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
Remember the empty wooden soda crates? They are great containers to create vertical gardens for succulents and other xeriscape plants. Remember to dress the crate up in layers of felt or any other permeable material that will retain enough water and nutrients for plants to thrive on. It’s no less than the other good art on your walls!
Consider investing in 10-pocket wall hanging planter bags which are easily available online. Fill them up with soil and fertilisers and plant flowering plants of your choice. These bags often have a separate section to pour in water and allows excess water to evaporate or drain while absorbing only enough water for plants to ‘drink’ from.
Bring in the creepers
Interestingly, creepers and climbers can create the illusion of vertical gardens without the need for any pots. All you need are pebble holders that can be suspended freely and allow climbers to intertwine and grow along the length and breadth of your balcony or windows.
Interestingly, creepers and climbers can create the illusion of vertical gardens without the need for any pots. All you need are pebble holders that can be suspended freely and allow climbers to intertwine and grow along the length and breadth of your balcony or windows.
Mark-up a herb wall
Use mason jars and carefully clamp them on the wooden frame few centimetres apart. Tilt them at 45º and fill them up with soil and kitchen herbs of your choice, such as coriander (Coriandrum sativum), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Chalk the names of the herbs on the wooden board. And voila, you have your own herb garden. Install it in the kitchen where there is ample sunlight.
Use mason jars and carefully clamp them on the wooden frame few centimetres apart. Tilt them at 45º and fill them up with soil and kitchen herbs of your choice, such as coriander (Coriandrum sativum), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Chalk the names of the herbs on the wooden board. And voila, you have your own herb garden. Install it in the kitchen where there is ample sunlight.
Important
Choose the right soil. And do your homework on the science of growing plants. Potting soil, with perlite are best for perennial plants. For vegetable, herbs and annuals, good quality peat or coconut fibre-based potting soil is the best.
Tip: If you are working through a complex arrangement, consider consulting with an expert in matters of irrigation, such as installing an automatic drip irrigation system.
8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen Gardeners
Choose the right soil. And do your homework on the science of growing plants. Potting soil, with perlite are best for perennial plants. For vegetable, herbs and annuals, good quality peat or coconut fibre-based potting soil is the best.
Tip: If you are working through a complex arrangement, consider consulting with an expert in matters of irrigation, such as installing an automatic drip irrigation system.
8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen Gardeners
Moss walls I love
These are great biophilic designs. They are low on maintenance and are tactile. Green Lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata) walls are perfect for Indian climatic conditions, but do ensure that you do not expose them to high humidity and harsh sunlight.
These are great biophilic designs. They are low on maintenance and are tactile. Green Lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata) walls are perfect for Indian climatic conditions, but do ensure that you do not expose them to high humidity and harsh sunlight.
Read more on vertical gardens
8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen Gardeners
6 Must-Haves for a New Kitchen Gardener
Tell us: Go ahead and create your own green wall or stackable planters. Share your pictures and ideas in the Comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
8 Challenges for First-Time Kitchen Gardeners
6 Must-Haves for a New Kitchen Gardener
Tell us: Go ahead and create your own green wall or stackable planters. Share your pictures and ideas in the Comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
The purpose of vertical gardens is to maximise space. Now what better way to achieve that than to do away with all the planters on the window sill and the cluttered balcony, and arranging them on the wall? In the picture here, the unused CD boxes are pinned on the walls while planters are carefully placed in it.
Utilise old cans, holders and containers and frame them on the walls as you adorn them with smaller plants like cacti, perennial blossoms and herbs.