July 26, 2023 Drishti Bisht

Ideas for a Small Balcony Garden in a city apartment

Have you ever imagined yourself in a small garden, surrounded by brilliant flowers and butterflies?

We've all had similar ideas at some point in our lives. A balcony garden could be the ideal pastime to bring this story to life. With living spaces shrinking, everyone needs gardening ideas for planting low-maintenance and space-efficient balcony greens. Imagine waking up in the morning to freshly blooming flowers. Isn't that right?

Traditional gardening may not be appropriate for all residences. A balcony is an addition to any flat, especially in cities. Balconies are locations where we can relax after a long day at work. Only on balconies can city inhabitants typically afford to have a garden. A well-designed balcony garden can become the most fascinating corner of one's residence.

Nowadays, most individuals prefer to design a balcony garden packed with appealing houseplants. Balcony gardens with railing baskets or an inventive vertical garden with many pots, hanging flower pots, herbs, and other additions, have grown in popularity in the past few years. Several urban and suburban areas in India have gorgeous balconies and terrace gardens.

People who share a gardener's viewpoint might experiment with various design concepts to beautify the décor.

Here are some of the most stylish little balcony garden ideas for your apartment that are both aesthetically pleasing and provide a terrific place to relax!

Vertical Gardening

The possibilities for open balcony garden ideas are endless. Vertical or wall gardening is one such balcony garden design option for novices. Setting up a vertical garden can be an approach to the space constraint you may encounter when establishing a balcony garden.

Your monotonous, barren walls can be covered with several plants to maximise space and boost the visual value of your balcony garden. You might set up some hanging balcony plants beside old scrap wood, shelves, or simple hooks to enjoy those quiet, serene nights on your balcony. It might be a visual pleasure for your visitors and neighbours.

When it comes to beautifying your vertical garden, you can choose from a variety of blooming and foliage plants. Here are a few plant ideas:

Garnish with greenery

Fill your balcony with enough foliage. Bring in both flowering and non-flowering plants. Plant luscious green plants in planters that you hang on the walls of your balcony garden.

You can select from the following:

Ladder Style

You'll be astonished to learn that a ladder-style shelf system is ideal for giving your balcony garden a lush and green appearance.

Here are a few plant suggestions:

A herb garden

Herbs are ideal for balcony gardens. Amass a diverse array of herb plants. Incorporate herb plants into your balcony garden to create a pleasant smell.

Here are a few plant suggestions:

Thyme
Peppermint
Tulsi
Rosemary
Basil

A relaxing seat surrounded by nature

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has shown connecting with nature is critical. A trendy balcony garden is ideal for this connection. Make a comfortable seat for leisure activities on your balcony. You can sit here and enjoy the fresh air while surrounded by nature. Choose decorative plants for a modern or distinctive balcony garden with numerous plants. To complement the natural concept, use a wooden seat.

A plant wall on the balcony

Another vertical garden concept for your little balcony garden is to create a living wall. A growing wall will give your landscape charm and foliage without taking up any floor area. Tall-living plants with shallow roots can be grown in a green wall; for the best look, utilise tall, viny plants like ferns and ivy. However, don't limit your creativity to only these plants.

Plants to hang for a modest garden

Make a statement wall with a hanging garden on your balcony. This style is ideal for a small balcony area with limited lengths. Use your imagination when putting up plants. A few flowering plants will give a decorative touch.

This trendy balcony garden provides the balcony with a lovely and stylish appearance. Hang plants with cascading foliage, such as Golden Pathos and English Ivy.

The hanging plants from ChhajedGarden are diverse. Check out our variety of hanging plants.

A little table and cafe chairs

Make your balcony seem stylish and exotic. Get some cafe seats and a trendy table for your balcony garden to create a new atmosphere in this corner of your residence.

Candles or sconce lighting

Decorate the wall with sconce light fittings. They are exquisite and lend a dated or old vibe to the room. The light from these lamps is- above and around. You can also use a set of trendy candles to both beautify and illuminate the space.

A Zen garden

A Zen garden is predominantly Japanese in inspiration and focuses on tranquilly and design. Bamboo is an excellent choice for your apartment balcony garden.

If you have enough space, you can also beautify with rock arrangements and raised beds. If not, incorporate planters of varying heights to add interest and privacy.

Your own Vegetable Garden

It is a more interactive endeavour, similar to a herb garden. Grow vegetables on your balcony; you'd be surprised what you can fit in such a small space. To maximise space, combine climbing plants with bushy plants. Growing veggies on your balcony is surprisingly simple and can be a fun way to involve your children.

What are the best containers for a balcony garden?

A balcony container garden can be anything that can retain soil and has sufficient drainage. Depending on your preferences, the style can range from fancy to frivolous, but the container should be functional and serve its purpose.
Container weight, durability, weather resistance, ease of watering, and affordability are all aspects to consider.
Plastic and fibreglass plant containers are great for balcony gardens since they are lighter than terracotta or ceramic pots and are available in varying shapes and sizes. However, on windy balconies, they can easily be blown over unless securely anchored.

Know your limitations

There may be other constraints that limit what and where you can plant. Keep following things in mind:

Weight:

Weight limitations and laws regulating what you can hang from balcony railings and walls may apply. Know how much weight your balcony can safely support if attached to your home.
Strong winds, typical in the balcony and rooftop gardens high above the earth, can quickly dry the soil, shred flower petals, and knock over tall potted plants.

Heat:

Reflected sunlight from windows can increase the temperature of a balcony garden and scorch sensitive plants. Even the basic design of your balcony (concrete or wood) will influence how much heat it retains.
If surrounded by towering buildings or sheltered by an overhang, many urban balconies enjoy a lot of shade. You can often get around this problem by planting sun-loving plants along the boundary.

Choose the correct plants for your balcony garden:

Plants for low balconies:

As sunlight is limited in a balcony garden on a lower floor, shade plants are best. In addition to ferns and orchids, Peperonia, succulents, and African violets will do nicely.

Plants for windy balconies:

If a balcony is in an area with severe gusts, the plant should be able to endure the conditions. As a result, it's best to avoid plants with thin, easily broken stems. Succulents, crotons, and cactus are among the best balcony plant species.

Enclosed balconies:

Air circulation can affect plant growth on covered balconies. Indoor plants, on the other hand, not only grow in such conditions but also filter the air. Plants for enclosed balcony gardens include spider plants, English ivy, aloe vera, and azalea.

Are you finding ways to spruce up your balcony garden?

A green-filled balcony garden might be a perfect spot to unwind at home. Include DIY planters, appealing furniture designs, and other elements in your balcony garden ideas for tiny spaces. We have compiled a selection of unique little balcony garden ideas for your home. Check out our plant collection and garden decor accessory alternatives to make this simple.