How to Create an Apartment Garden Oasis

 

How to Create an Apartment Garden Oasis

 

If you live in an apartment or condo, you may think that having a garden is out of reach. But think again, because there are plenty of ways you can create green space in your space—no matter how tiny your home may be. Whether you’re interested in growing houseplants, food, or flowers, apartment living is not a barrier to your budding green thumb. With the right mix of creativity, know-how, and innovative products, a calm and refreshing garden can be yours.

 

Here’s how to get started indoor gardening, and the many ways an apartment garden can benefit your health and well-being.

 

Getting Started on an Apartment Garden

 

The first step in starting any indoor garden or green space is to determine its location. Factors to consider include:

 

• The space you have to work with, which could include anything from a rooftop deck to a balcony to a windowsill. Will your plants sit on the floor, on a tabletop, or hang from a ceiling or awning? Keep in mind that the weight of a container can increase threefold when filled with soil and water, so be sure to choose a location and setup that can accommodate the size and type of plants you prefer. Proximity to a water source may also be a factor.
• Next, you’ll need to assess your sunlight, as this will help you determine which types of plants will flourish in your environment. How many hours of light does your proposed location receive each day? Is the light direct or indirect? If you don’t get much natural light, a grow lamp can act as a substitute.
• Wind and any extreme temperatures—such as freezing cold or scorching heat—should also be taken into consideration.

 

Next, in addition to researching which plants will thrive in your space, you’ll want to think about the type of apartment garden that appeals most to you. Popular ideas include:

 

• Kitchen herb garden (mint, basil, chives, thyme, rosemary)
• Salsa garden (tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro)
• Salad greens garden (spinach, arugula, red leaf lettuce)
• Succulent or cactus garden (very low-maintenance)
• First aid garden (aloe vera for burns, peppermint for nausea, yarrow for minor bleeding)
• Flower garden (geraniums, petunias, begonias)
• Decorative houseplant garden (palms, Ficus, ferns)

 

Finally, you’ll want to purchase the right supplies for your apartment garden. You might have luck finding some of these items at yard sales or second-hand shops. Here are a variety of items you may need:

 

• Quality potting soil
• Containers that suit the size and location of your plants—tubs and pots of all sizes, mason jars, antique vases, or even an old clawfoot bathtub
• Indoor greenhouse cover
• Grow light
• Watering can
• Seedlings (you’ll reap the rewards of your apartment garden faster if you begin with small starter plants from a nursery, as opposed to seeds)
• You might even enjoy the low-maintenance simplicity of a smart garden

 

Benefits of an Apartment Garden

 

Now you know the basic steps to take to start your apartment garden. But do you know the reasons for creating your green space? It turns out there are quite a few benefits to an apartment garden, for you and for your plants, too.

 

Save time and money.

A kitchen herb garden allows you to have fresh herbs at your fingertips whenever you cook. You can grow plenty of the smaller produce you enjoy eating in an apartment garden, saving time and money and adding to a nutritious diet.

 

Keep plants healthier.

The risk to your plants of pest infestation is lowered when you grow them indoors. And if you grow produce, it will be out of reach from animals like rabbits and deer.                                                                                                        

 

Control the environment.

Keeping your plants indoors allows you to control their environment (temperature, humidity, and light exposure). You can extend the growing season for many plants by protecting them in your apartment.

 

Enjoy cleaner air.

Plants help purify the air through the process of photosynthesis, the end result of which is oxygen. Some plants even serve as filters for airborne toxins, dust, and germs (hello, spider plant and English ivy).

 

Greenify your décor.

There’s no denying the fact that living plants make any space more vibrant. Perk up your interior décor with the addition of one or more plants that complement your design scheme.

 

Boost your feel-good factor.

The ritual and responsibility of caring for another living thing helps you get out of your own head and can even alleviate depression. Gardening is a great way to take a break from the stresses of daily life. Use your time gardening as a mindful reset and refresher.

 

While you’re busy taking care of your apartment garden and making sure that your plants get adequate sunlight, nourishment, and water, don’t forget that you’re a living, growing thing, too! Just like your plants, your body needs plenty of TLC—so why not water yourself and your garden at the same time? Avana® bottles can help with that. Fill your bottle with fresh, cool water (or any other drink that you please) and sip regularly as you water, prune, and care for the greenery in your home. Then sit back, relax, breathe in some of that extra-oxygenated air—and sip some more!

 

We want to see pics of your apartment garden! Share them in the comments below or tag us when you post them on your social channels.