Moving into a new apartment can be a hectic tiring experience. I know because I recently moved from a rural farm to an urban apartment. There can be lots to think about including how to design your space.
Where to place your plants so they receive what they need is important. . Many people want to have gardens within their apartments for many different reasons, such as aesthetic quality, health benefits, and cooking ingredients.
That being said, most people don’t know where to begin when it comes to starting an apartment garden.
If that’s the case, fret not! We’ve gathered our best apartment gardening tips for beginners here. So, let’s dive in!
How Can You Make Your Apartment Garden Work? 5 Tips For Beginners. Plus a Bonus Tip!
If you’ve always dreamed of having an indoor garden, it’s time to start. While you can grow anything you like in your space, most people begin with some easy-to-grow plants such as succulents and herbs.
So, what do you need to know before starting your apartment garden? Let’s find out.
A decorative pot and a sunny location make this cactus a happy plant. Photo by author.
1. Plant Placement and Design Should Be Strategic
One of the first mistakes I made when starting my apartment garden was not thinking about the floor plan and design. Your plant placement needs to be strategic so that all your plants get the most light and space. However, you also need to choose plants that will thrive in your apartment.
Examine each window in your home at different times of the day to see what kind of light that room receives. What furniture do you have near the windows? You may need to alter your furniture plan so that you can have more prime space for plants.
For herbs, utilize the space provided by your kitchen window to keep them. This way, the plants won’t occupy much space and will also be within easy reach while cooking.
If you have a room in your new apartment that doesn’t receive much light, place some indoor plants such as weeping figs and money plants in that room to utilize that space.
Place your vegetable plants, succulents, and cacti in the windows that receive a full day of sunlight.
2. Sunlight
The amount of sunlight you receive will vary based on your geographic location and the cardinal direction your windows face. My advice to all beginner apartment gardeners is to always scope out your apartment’s sunlight supply before rushing into buying the plants. After all, you don’t want to be saddled with plants you don’t have a growth plan for.
When purchasing plants you may see the terms direct sunlight, diffused sun, and shade. It’s important to know what type of light your plant desires. What do these terms mean as far as plant placement in your home?
Direct or Bright Light
You may have a south or southwest-facing window that has sunlight shining in most of the day. This direct light is the strongest and good for plants such as cactus, sun-loving flowers, citrus, and many vegetables.
Depending on the season you will average about six to eight hours per day.
Indirect Light
An east-facing window like mine typically has indirect light. This light is not as strong. My East facing windows have the sun shining in about two hours a day.
In addition, you may create an indirect light situation if you have a sheer curtain over a bright light window.
Houseplants that thrive with indirect light include palms, ferns, pothos, and African violets.
Low Light or Shade
A north-facing window or a section of the room away from a window would qualify as low light or shade. Do a test. With your house lights off, see if you can read the print of a magazine or book.
Most plants are not going to thrive inside under these conditions. At this point, you may consider artificial light.
3. Plant Lights
If your apartment has areas of low light you may want to consider grow lights for those areas. If you are growing plants you want to produce they may need supplemental light as well.
These lights provide you with ample light exactly as your plants need. Choose ones with LED lights and they won’t consume much energy either.
Plant lights are also convenient because they allow you to use a timer to make sure the plant gets the amount of light they need. In addition, many have both red and blue light, with the former promoting flowering and the latter promoting foliage growth.
Grow lights will enable you to place your plant wherever you want because you don’t need to worry about the windows. Also, I use grow lights to supplement my growing areas.
This is my grow light set up for my citrus, herbs, and some houseplants. They receive indirect light from an east-facing window and supplemental light from this grow light I purchased on Amazon.
4. Watering
Another thing you need to stay on top of is watering your plants. When you have so many plants in one place, it’s easy to forget if you’ve watered them or not. However, there are two ways you can combat this.
Firstly, create a watering schedule and stick to it. Making a schedule will help you keep track of which plants are yet to be watered and you can schedule in accordance with the plant’s needs.
In addition, a watering schedule ensures that no plant is being underwatered or overwatered. I tend to overwater so a reminder of when I last watered is helpful.
You should always check a particular plant’s moisture level by sticking a finger or chopstick in the soil and judging its water levels.
Keep in mind that plants steadily growing in pots cause the soil to dry out much faster than in outdoor gardens.
5. Temperature and Humidity
The temperature of a typical home is good for your plants. Most plants thrive in temperatures between 58 degrees and 86 degrees Fareinheight. Some plants prefer it a bit cooler at night.
It’s wise not to place your plants directly in front of air-conditioning or heating units.
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. Most plant experts recommend around 50% humidity which is fairly normal in a home.
If you live in a dry area such as the southwest your indoor humidity may be in the 20% range which is not good for houseplants. Low humidity causes water to evaporate from the plant resulting in wilting.
Some plants enjoy being misted or even a brief shower to hydrate them.
Check out my tour of my new apartment!
If you are looking for environmentally-friendly products made from natural ingredients shop at one of my favorite stores, The Zero Waste Outlet.
Bonus Tip: Think Vertical
One way in which apartment gardeners can maximize their space is by trying their hand at vertical gardening. You’ll first need to check with your landlord, though, as many apartment building owners do not allow tenants to install anything directly into the walls.
However, you can use a pegboard to hang small, chic planters on your apartment walls. Add in some varieties with hanging vines to accentuate the dramatic effect.
Purchase an open-style shelving unit and mix plants with books, or other decors.
Since most apartments have standard white walls, you can buy brightly colored pots to offset your bare walls.
You can also make some macrame wall planters in which to hang your plants. These DIY planters look very stylish and are very inexpensive too!
Take Away
Apartment gardening is a challenging yet enjoyable hobby. Decorating your new apartment with plants in glossy pots and chic planters is every apartment owner’s dream. If you follow these five tips, you can make your dream of apartment gardening a reality!
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to go plant shopping!
Author, Ame Vanorio, is the director of Fox Run Environmental Education Center. Ame recently moved from a rural farm to an urban apartment. Join her as she documents this new adventure!