Planning to start your apartment gardening journey? Check out our apartment gardening tips to grow a lush jungalow!
Even if you live in a tiny apartment or you don’t get enough light during the day, you could still start your apartment gardening journey with the right plants and, of course, with a bit of guidance. It’s best to start with low-maintenance plants or with plants that are suitable for beginners. Start your plant journey with these easy apartment gardening tips!
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How to Grow Plants in Apartments
There are several factors you need to consider before bringing home a plant. Factors, such as sunlight. What type of light does your apartment have? Watering needs of plants. Are you forgetful, always busy, or attentive to your plant’s needs? Humidity and temperature of your home. Do you have pets or kids? How big or small is your apartment? Will that Monstera you’re dying to buy fit and grow well in your space?
Humidity: Humidity is important for your plants to thrive. If you have a small apartment or cramped apartment, it’s best to provide some extra humidity, like misting your plants regularly or placing them on a pebble tray.
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Soil: Most apartment gardening involves containers, which means you can’t use ordinary garden soil. For apartment gardening or container gardening, it’s best to use a well-draining potting mix since it’s light and fluffy. It will help keep your plant’s roots healthy and efficiently circulate air.
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Sunlight: Of course, sunlight is one of the apartment gardening tips that you should take into consideration. While it’s true that some plants can survive in low light, most houseplants need at least bright, indirect sunlight to grow well. If your place doesn’t get the right amount of light for your chosen plants, you can opt for grow lights as an alternative.
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Water: Houseplants get thirsty, and you need to water them from time to time. As a beginner, always remember this rule of thumb: water your plants only when the soil is dry. This rule applies to most houseplants, but it’s best if you could research your plant’s watering needs to avoid overwatering or underwatering.
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Weight: It’s also important to consider the weight of your plant since plants become heavier once they’re watered. Some landlords don’t allow plants for this particular reason because some apartment floors might not be able to withstand the weight for a long time.
Wind: If you have a balcony, you might be excited to place your plants on your balcony space. However, before you get too giddy about starting a balcony garden, check wind’s strength in your place since strong wind can knock out pots, which can cause accidents. Provide a wind block and make sure that your pots are heavy enough.
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Best Plant Choices for Apartments
Once you’ve fully checked your place, you can grow any type of plant that’s, of course, suitable for your apartment’s size and environmental condition. As we have mentioned, it’s best to start with easy-to-care plants and low-maintenance plants. Here are some plants that you could bring home to your apartment:
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Aloe Vera: It’s one of the easiest houseplants to grow because it’s low-maintenance and can handle a little neglect. Aloe Vera prefers bright light for at least six to eight hours every morning. Water your Aloe Vera plant only when the soil is completely dry.
Philodendron: One of the easiest houseplants to grow, especially for people with a really bad black thumb. Philodendron plants grow best in medium light and bright, indirect sunlight. Water when the top 50% of the soil is completely dry.
Snake Plant: One of the easiest houseplants to care of, and it’s also the hardest to kill. Snake plants will thrive in either very bright light or low-light areas of your home. Water when the soil is almost completely dry.
Spider Plant: Considered as one of the easiest houseplants to grow and most adaptable. Also, they are safe for cats and dogs. Spider plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight. However, they can also thrive in areas with a mix of fluorescent and natural light. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Allow the top inch of the soil to dry before watering.
ZZ Plant: Perfect for the forgetful plant owner. It’s a tough houseplant that basically thrives off of neglect. ZZ plants prefer bright, indirect light. However, it can tolerate low-light conditions or bright, fluorescent light. Water when the soil is dry.
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Apartment Gardening Tips
Now that you’ve made a list of plants that you want to add to your apartment, here are apartment gardening tips to make sure your plants will thrive well.
Feeding: Feed your plants according to their growing season or according to their needs. Most houseplants need fertilizer during the spring and summer seasons. It’s important to follow the recommended fertilizer portion to avoid fertilizer burn, which could eventually kill your plant.
Pests: Pests have a way of finding your plants, no matter where you place them. Check your plant if it has speckling or spots on the leaves as this can be a sign of damage from diseases or pests. Check the leaves underneath or on stems as pests tend to hide in these areas.
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Common Problems: Part of your plant journey is figuring out and solving common plant problems, such as drooping leaves or yellowish leaves. Don’t worry because some of these common problems can be easily fixed with the proper amount of sunlight and watering.
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Starting your plant journey can be exciting but also overwhelming. Use these apartment gardening tips to guide you, so you could avoid the common apartment gardening mistakes and help your plants live longer.
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Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
Whatever houseplant you choose to transform your home into a lively oasis, you’ll definitely need a stylish planter to display your plant baby in. No matter what your style, there’s an Omysa planter that will be perfect with your garden and home’s décor. From ceramics to fiberstone, check out Omysa’s Shop and add it to your cart!
