In the busy life of the city, just when I was starting to forget about my dirty and trashy balcony over time, I was captivated by the lush green balcony of one of my Instagram followers, which compelled me to transform the unused balcony into a small garden. If you want, you can add a touch of nature to your concrete palace by adding plants to your balcony, which will make you feel like sitting in the forest and drinking a relaxing coffee in the morning.
Many plant lovers plant trees on their balconies simply to enhance their beauty, but they may not know that while they enhance the beauty of the balcony, they also provide fresh air, improve your mood, and connect you to the weather outside without you even realizing it.
In this guide, I will share some creative tips and personal experiences that will help you add and care for Indoor Plants on Your Balcony without much experience.
Why Indoor Plants are Good for Balcony ?
By adding plants to the balcony, we not only enhance the beauty but also purify the air around us and the magical beauty of plants refreshes our mind when we feel mentally tired due to working for long hours. Although we often neglect our balconies in the busy Urban Living , We can liven up our balconies by adding low-maintenance plants like peace lilies, snake plants, and spider plants.
Moreover, by growing nutritious vegetables and herbs on the balcony, we can almost completely reduce our daily nutritional needs, which will save us from adulterated food in the market and will also be very economical.
If you are truly looking for a green and vibrant place to relax, then planting greenery on your balcony may be the only way to help you create personal peace and a close relationship with nature.
Understanding Your Balcony Environment.
Although the size of each balcony varies depending on the size of each home, you must still review the balcony’s lighting, weather temperature, and pest infestation before adding plants.
In this case, if you can choose the right plant for the right environment, the plant will remain healthy throughout the year with very little care. Let’s discuss some specific guidelines for balcony environmental assessment :
1. Types of Sunlight.
Please try to understand how much sunlight your balcony receives each day.
- Direct Sunlight : Snake plants, Crotons and Herbs will do well if your balcony gets 4-6 hours of sunlight. You can also add any tropical plants you like.
- Indirect Sunlight : And if you have morning sun and late afternoon sun entering your balcony, plants like Peace lily, ZZ plant, and Parlor Palm will perform very well. Especially since this type of temperature is suitable for almost all types of plants.
- Low Sunlight : On the other hand, if your balcony faces north or is always shaded, plants like Parlor palm, Cast iron plant and Peace lily will perform well for a certain period of time.
2. Ensure Temperature and Climate.
As the seasons change, so do changes in temperature and climate, which can have an adverse effect on your plants. So keep an eye on your local weather and make changes to your plant care as the seasons change, which will help your plants survive various diseases and stay healthy for a long time.
3. Select the Right Drainage and Flooring.
The most important part of balcony gardening is choosing the right drainage system and making sure that the floor does not get damaged by dirt and debris accumulating on it for a long time. To avoid this problem, you can set the tubs on a stand or place saucers under the tubs so that cleaning the floor is easier and faster for you.
🌱 Choose the Right Plants for Your Balcony.
First of all, If you can choose the right plants for your balcony, then the selected plants will be able to survive for a long time, regardless of the size and orientation of your balcony. Therefore, It is very important to determine the surrounding temperature, weather, and sunlight pattern before selecting plants for the balcony. Here is a discussion of some specific plants depending on the weather :
☀️️ For Full Sunlight Balcony .
There are some balconies that receive sunlight for most of the day, and those that can withstand the intense sunlight should be added to these balconies :
- Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) – These tall trees can survive in environments without strong light and humidity.
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum) – They can retain their bright green color in sunny weather and the delicious leaves can be used as an herb.
- Golden Barrel Cactus – Prickly cactus plants prefer direct sunlight and don’t need much water unless the soil is completely dry.
🌤️ For Partial Sunlight Balcony.
The majority of plants selected for indoors perform best in partial shade rather than direct sunlight :
- Prayer Plant – Leaves burn in direct sunlight, but survive for a long time in indirect light.
- Bromeliads – Although the plant is about 2 feet tall, it is much less maintenance-intensive and thrives best in indirect light.
- Money Tree – It requires very little maintenance in an indirect light environment and grows tall in a short time.
🌥️ For Shady Balcony.
There are many plants that can survive in shady places for a long time, but occasional exposure to the sun is essential for any plant to survive healthily :
- Hosta (Hosta spp.) – Although they live long under forest trees, they also survive long with less care in shady places.
- Torenia spp – In partial sun to shade, abundant flowers bloom in the summer season, beautifying the entire area.
- Caladium – Although these plants grow more in winter, they grow quickly in shady and humid climates.
Decor Your Balcony Like a Small Garden.
Since you, like me, want to spend your tiredness and leisure time in a comfortable and pleasant environment, it is not enough to just add a plant pot to your balcony, but also to set it according to the space and size of the plants. Even if your balcony looks small, tropical, or cluttered, decorating it with some sophisticated decorations can make it look even more beautiful. Let’s discuss beautiful decorating tips :
1. Select Cozy Corners .
To make your favorite plants look more beautiful, you can set them on a stand, wooden table, or box. You can place a comfortable chair or sofa in the corner of the balcony that seems to be surrounded by the most greenery, which can make your moment of joy even more amazing. Moreover, you can also surprise yourself by lighting candles from time to time.
2. Choose Vertical Space.
Since most balconies in the city are small in nature, placing balcony gardens vertically on wooden shelves or ladders will make the balcony look more inviting and aesthetically designed.
3. Set of creative decoration elements .
To quickly cheer up your tired and anxious mind, you can use colorful cushions on your balcony, poufs on the floor, and colorful rugs that can cool your eyes.
Easy-Care-Step-for Balcony Plants.
Even though we are busy with our daily activities most of the day, sometimes we need to find some free time to take care of our dream garden, which will keep your balcony environment clean and fresh. Here is a brief discussion on plant care :
- Watering – You must be very careful about watering your plants, as excess water can cause the plant to rot or die prematurely.
- Collected Right Soil – Since your favorite plant will survive in the soil for a long time, you should always seek the help of a trusted and knowledgeable person to collect the soil.
- Continue Seasonal Care – Above all, you need to change your plant care routine with the changing seasons, which is very important for your plants to survive pest-free.
Eventually, You may have to go through a lot of trouble and wait to turn your unused balcony into a center of relaxation, but a certain period of tireless work on your part can take you to your dream environment. So don’t get discouraged and move forward by following the guidelines I have shared. Moreover, If you want, you can contact me personally.