What You Need to Get Started

Space: Once you have decided to have a balcony garden, you can do so in as little a space as possible. Try and make maximum use of all the available space. At the same time bear in mind the fact that you should be able to maneuver between you containers to give each plant their due attention. You can use the vertical space for hanging pots for spillers and hanging plants. You can use the walls of the balcony too to nail in containers that are specifically created for it. You can construct ladder like railings in your balcony to place more containers. For tough climbers, you can also build support structures with bamboo sticks. 

What is important to note here is that you should make allowance for drainage. You don’t want your plants water logged. This means container gardening involves quite a bit of water spillage. While, almost all commercially available containers do come with plates that hold drainage, you should be prepared for the floor getting wet. Allow space to mop away the water. Also make sure that you don’t displace the pots too often. 

Sunlight: While it is impossible for a balcony garden or an apartment garden to get a whole day of sunlight, you are sure to get at least 5 to 6 hour of it every day and sometimes even more. There are some plants, especially ornamental plants with foliage that require good sunlight – Pothos, Agave, Cypress Vine are some of them. There are some other plants like Coleus and Asters that are quite happy with dappled sunlight or shade. Position your containers to meet the requirements of each plant. 

Containers: Plan your balcony garden and the plot placements before you decide to buy the pots. The four most important things to bear in mind while you make your container purchases are:

1. The containers should be such that it is large enough to support plants when they have reached their optimum growth level.
2. They should have good drainage facilities like pores and holes.
3. They should be able to hold the soil mix without spilling
4. The material of the container should be hardy enough to hold the soil, the grown plant with all its roots and foliage.  
   

Large Containers:

You will need larger pots for plants that thrive well for years. The best examples of these plants are foliage plants like Vines and Climbers and other large foliage plants like Umbrella Palms. If you planning to plant bulbs of Gladioli or Dahlia, it is wise to use large containers with enough depth. Planting up to 5 bulbs in each of these containers placed no less than 6 inches apart will give them enough space to grow and bloom very well.

Medium Sized Containers: 

You would need these for small foliage plants like Golden Sage, Ferns, Fox Tails and Hostas. Such containers are also ideally suited for growing flowering plants like Petunia, Asters, Zinnia, Marigold and Phlox. Once the flowers area in full bloom, you can use these potted plants for indoor decor too.

Small Containers: Plants like Ghost Plant, Jade Plant and succulent plants like Cacti that don’t have a bushy growth can be grown in small containers. 

Hanging Basket Containers: They too come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Such containers can be used for hanging and spilling plants like Portulacas, Table Roses, Spider Ivy and many hanging Ferns.

 

Potting Media: A good potting media consists of a mixture of compost, soil or sand and, moss peat or coco peat. For all plants to grow and thrive happily, it is absolutely necessary for them to get the right nutrition and this is why you should pay a good deal of attention to getting the potting media right and mixing them in the right proportion. 

Fertilizers: The all-purpose fertilizers that are sold in markets or plant nurseries have the 10-10-10 combination of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium). Nitrogen helps in the growth of stem and leaves and Phosphorus aids in the development of a healthy and strong root system. Potassium helps the plant withstand adverse weather conditions and helps the plants in resisting diseases.