A little greenery never hurt anyone! It gives a sense of comfort and coziness. If you live in an apartment with no yard, or just have a small space where grass can’t grow, growing vegetables and herbs right at home on the balcony is perfect. Pretty flowers aren't the only things that make for a great garden.
Get crafty with us and create a mini earth-friendly oasis!
Grow vegetables from scraps:
Don’t throw away the waste from your kitchen. Plant it instead!
Cut the stem of an onion, place the lower end in water, and put it on your window sill. After a few weeks, sprouts will appear; you can then transplant them into small pots.
You can also grow your own endless supply of lettuce. The stems of lettuce can grow into new plants if you bury them in moist compost and keep them warm inside a polystyrene box or any similar container. After two weeks, when there are roots on the stems, replant them in larger pots.
Don't throw away potatoes that have gone soft. It can still be used to grow plants for your balcony or terrace. Cut them into slices or sections, place them on a tray or a saucer filled with compost, water thoroughly and place it in a warm spot away from direct sunlight. You can plant it in soil when shoots start sprouting from the sections.
Herb garden:
Fresh herbs from the garden doesn’t have to be a dream anymore. You can easily make your own endless stash!
Basil is a herb that doesn't care if you place it in the sun or shade. As long as the soil is well-drained and moist, you can have fresh pesto all year round. It is especially great for warm summer months!
Chilies on the other hand thrive on sunlight so it's best to position them in a sunny area on your window sill or balcony. Grow it in smaller pots and keep the soil moist. Don't overwater chili plants as it tends to rot faster.
Coriander is a herb that prefers full sun but can also be grown in partial shade. Like most herbs, coriander needs regular watering but make sure the soil is well-drained.
Plastic bottles into planters:
Sometimes you just need to get creative and use what you have at hand. When it's time to spruce up your balcony, don't run out and buy some expensive planters. Instead, use old plastic bottles. Drill a hole at the base of the bottle for drainage, fill it with soil and compost, and there you go! Your zero-waste planter is ready.
If you want to add some oomph to it, simply cover the planters with twine or coat it with your favorite colour.
Reuse water:
Now that you have used kitchen scraps and old plastic bottles to make your mini garden why don't we take this eco-living up a notch by reusing water? Use the wastewater from cleaning and washing for your plants to reduce water usage.
The Better Home's range of all natural home cleaners and eco-friendly cleaning products are made of plant-based enzymes and are free of any harsh chemicals. So, you can use the leftover water for your plants worry-free.
