Last Updated on January 11, 2022
Gardening is a hobby that many people enjoy and ultimately turn into a healthy habit.
Unfortunately, many apartment dwellers do not have the space to create their own garden at home. Limited outdoor space can make it seem like a wish rather than an opportunity.
Take heart, my apartment-dwelling friend! There are a number of creative ways to have your own apartment garden, with edible plants and flowering plants!
Here are some tips for indoor gardening in an apartment without a balcony. When you don’t have the luxury of that additional outdoor space it can be a little more challenging, but definitely do-able.
These tips will help you grow edible plants indoors including fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits year-round. An indoor apartment garden is pretty easy to create, with simple materials you can find around the house or purchase inexpensively from any store.
With some effort, care, time, and a little bit of love, you can have a successful garden indoors!
By the way, if you click on a link and then make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Why is Growing Our Own Food Good for Us?
It can be expensive to buy healthy produce from the grocery store, and not all produce has the same nutritional value. When you grow your plants at home yourself, you know exactly what is going into the soil and you will have a healthier meal every time! It also teaches children where food comes from when they are young.
Growing your own food at home is also a hobby of sorts, and can help you get away from the stresses of life while tending to your apartment garden . The peacefulness of growing your plants and then harvesting them makes planting your food an excellent stress reliever as well.
What Grows Well With an Apartment Garden?
Vegetables
Do you want to have an indoor vegetable garden?
Lettuce, carrots, radish , tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are all excellent vegetables for growing indoors.
Be sure to cut any of the larger plants back so that they will not take over your small indoor garden. Make sure you only place three or four plants in each container to keep the plants healthy.
Fruits
Fruits that grow well indoors are oranges, strawberries, lemons and grapefruit. Be sure to use organic potting soil for your indoor plants because it will provide the best nutrients for your plants’ roots.
Flowers
Begonias, African Daisies, Geraniums and Coleus are all excellent flowers that grow well in containers. Be sure to use a good quality potting soil that is lightweight and rich in nutrients for a healthy indoor garden.
Aerating and feeding your apartment plants
Compost tea is an excellent way to supplement the soil in your apartment garden. Simply add one tablespoon of compost tea powder to a five-gallon bucket filled with water and stir thoroughly. Let it sit overnight and you’ll have a nutrient-rich tea that can be added to your containers.
Is compost tea powder a new term for you? Compost tea powder is a powdered supplement that can be added to water and used as an organic fertilizer for your indoor garden. It contains all of the benefits of compost without having to buy a compost bin.
Options for Gardening Indoors
There are many different types of gardens you can create with indoor apartment gardening. Try having one in every room so that they can be enjoyed regularly!
· The terrarium is probably the most popular way to garden indoors. They are easy to maintain and do not require much work once they are setup. Use an old jar, bowl or aquarium to create a small ecological system.
· The simple windowsill garden is the heart of any apartment dweller’s kitchen. You can grow basil, thyme, and other herbs that go well in most recipes for this type of indoor garden.
Many plants require little sunlight and will prosper on your windowsill, although if they can receive direct natural light it will be very beneficial for plant growth.
· The kitchen garden is another great indoor planting idea. These types of gardens are very similar to a windowsill herb garden, but you can grow larger plants as well. Tomatoes work very well as they require little sunlight and produce delicious fruits.
· The indoor fruit garden is a wonderful idea for an apartment dweller with access to sunny windows. You can grow your own strawberries by placing them in cups or hanging baskets filled with potting soil and planting the crown of the berry next to the soil line. Placing several strawberry plants around a sunny window will give you a large crop of delicious berries in a few months.
· Container gardens are another great way to grow your own vegetables and fruits even without much space. You can plant the basket with soil and then place it on a windowsill or any other sunny spot in your home, as long as there is enough room for rainwater to drain.
· Hanging gardens, also known as vertical gardens, are another option for a space-limited gardener. There are many ways to accomplish this type of indoor apartment gardening, utilizing the many options available like these:
Gardening in an Apartment without a Balcony:
If you live in an apartment, you will most likely have very little space to plant and grow your food. But this should not stop you from having the best quality vegetables, fruits, and herbs!
Starting your apartment garden with seedlings can be very satisfying.
Some of the better choices for starting with seeds include lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes.
Here are some helpful tips for starting seedlings indoors.
Use Plastic Bottles to Start Seeds
Using plastic bottles is an excellent way to start seeds for your garden because it allows you to have a constant light source until the seedlings need more light. Start by cutting the bottom off of a plastic bottle and then top off with potting soil, seeds and rocks or marbles for extra drainage
Use Egg cartons to Grow your Seeds
Plastic egg cartons make excellent containers for starting small seeds indoors. Fill the cups with dirt and plant your seeds. Water them as needed, but make sure to let some of the water drain out through the bottom holes. Once they are ready for more light, cut small x’s on one side of each cup and transfer carefully to keep all your plants intact!
Use a Lamp to Grow Tomatoes
If you have a lamp, you can use this as a light source for growing tomatoes indoors without a balcony. Fill up egg cartons with dirt and plant your seeds as directed above.
Grow Herbs under a Lamp
Herbs grow extremely well in small spaces, making them perfect for growing indoors without access to a porch or balcony. Fill two egg cartons with dirt and plant your seeds as directed above. Use articifical light with a grow lamp to provide sufficient light for them to grow.
Grow Tomatoes in a Plastic Bottle
Cut the bottom off of a plastic bottle and fill with dirt. Plant your seeds as directed above, but keep in mind because your bottle does not have much depth, you will need to plant smaller plants like lettuce, herbs and small tomatoes.
Water as needed, but be sure to let some of the water drain out through the bottom holes. Once they are ready for more light, cut x’s on one side of each cup and transfer carefully to keep all your plants intact.
General tips
- Decide in advance what you are going to start from seeds – be organized
- Read the directions carefully, as not all seeds are started in the same way
- Be sure to label everything from the get-go
- Keep the temperature in your apartment between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit if possible
- Make sure your containers are clean
Tips for Successful Apartment Gardening
Here are some easy tips on how to be successful with indoor gardening. You can even try these techniques with a large water bottle or recycled plastic container!
· Plants don’t need much light inside our homes, but inadequate lighting will stunt their growth and cut yield drastically. Try using natural sunlight if possible by creating a windowsill garden. If you can’t, there are grow lamps available for purchase that will increase the amount of light your plants get.
· Having a small space to place containers or water bottles in is crucial when growing indoors. It’s important to have free space in whatever room you choose to create an indoor garden so the containers have room to drain properly.
· Using a layer of rocks as the first layer inside your container will help with drainage and prevent soil from going everywhere when you water your plants or herbs.
· Gardens require a lot of love and care, but that’s not a bad thing! Just remember to keep the soil moist, not wet, and give them plenty of light. If you keep these things in mind any plant can flourish inside your home!
· Buy organic seedlings if possible to start your garden. This will reduce your risk of dealing with pests or diseases that could damage or kill your plants.
Everything you need to know about gardening indoors can be found online, just like in this article,so give it a shot. You don’t have to have a green thumb in order to garden indoors. Making the most of your space and learning about indoor growing will give you a wonderful crop of veggies and fruits to enjoy all year long.
Leave a Reply