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Balcony Garden Design in India – A Full Guide

Introduction: Hello gardeners we are back with great information on balcony garden design in India. A balcony garden is a beautiful and relaxing place to spend your time. You can grow herbs, vegetables, creepers, shrubs, and even dwarf trees. Flowering plants, as well as unique foliage plants, are also added to the beauty of the balcony garden. What are we waiting for? Let’s jump into Balcony Garden Design Ideas and Tips in India.

A step-by-step guide to balcony garden design in India

Balcony gardens give substantial private and public benefits. A homeowner with a balcony garden must anticipate a reduction of noise, improved views, reduction of city pollutants, improved air quality, and fresh herbs for cooking.

With plant and container choices, you can either create a relatively low-maintenance, easy balcony garden or you can do a full-on farm. It depends on your balcony space, light and exposure, and the amount of time, energy, and/or money you want to spend.

A Guide for Balcony Garden in India.
A Guide for Balcony Garden in India.

Balcony Gardening in India for beginners

Plants are essential things you’ll want to have to decorate a small balcony. Hang potted plants behind the railings and on the walls on the balcony.

Avoid using too much floor space on the balcony, do not overcrowd it. Instead, devise ways to utilize vertical space to double up space. It’s the best space-savvy solution that’ll allow you to have more plants in a limited space.

You should not miss the Growing Indoor Shrubs.

East-facing balcony receives almost 6 hours of sun, often between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the major advantage of having such a balcony is that you can save your plants from the harsh afternoon sun.

A west-facing balcony garden is quite similar to a south-facing balcony and here the sun shines at its peak for about 6 to 8 hours except for tender shade-loving plants, you can plant almost anything.

Get your light right

Before you buy any plant, take the time to learn how many hours of sun per day your balcony receives. Pay attention to indirect light as well and that is, no trees or walls blocking large portions of the sky. Even a north-facing balcony can be a happy home for several plants if there is enough indirect light. For full sun, some of the suitable plants are Grasses, succulents, morning glory vines, strawberries, lettuce, lavender, oregano, sage, mint, and basil. For lots of shade, some of the suitable plants are Coleus, English ivy, most types of Ferns, Fuschia, peace lilies, and begonias.

Check your planters

Make sure the pots or containers you plan to use are compatible with the growth habits of your plants. Make sure the containers have adequate drainage as well.

Orientation of balcony garden

The direction a balcony garden faces is very important because it provides a basis for assumptions regarding light conditions and informs appropriate plant choices. The direction the balcony faces is a determining factor in the quantity and quality of light obtainable for plant growth. North-facing balconies are unlikely to receive direct sunlight for any significant phase of time. South-facing balconies should obtain direct sunlight for a good portion of the day provided there are no other obstructions such as adjacent buildings in the way. The east-facing balcony will receive morning light that is less intense than a west-facing balcony facing the full strength of the afternoon sun.

Orientation of Balcony for Gardening.
Orientation of Balcony for Gardening.

Maximize your balcony space

Be careful not to clutter the balcony garden to the point where you have no space to enjoy it. A few hooks for gardening equipment can look great and save space and, rather than dedicated balcony furniture, take a chair from inside when you want to sit in your garden. If the balcony lacks floor space, consider window boxes, hanging baskets, plant stands, climbing plants, trellises, and wall gardens.

Give the plants a good drink

If you are in a windy area your plants will require more watering, most likely once per day in the summer. Terra cotta pots also need more frequent watering than plastic or fiberglass.

Small apartment balcony garden ideas and design in India

Vertical garden – For tiny apartment balcony garden ideas, consider installing a vertical garden to save space on the balcony. Fixing a vertical garden system with drip irrigation makes this a low-maintenance option for a balcony garden.

Pergola – In a larger balcony, a pergola is an excellent solution for providing a cozy seating area in the shade. Surrounding the area with potted plants or balcony planters generates a charming green space for relaxation or entertaining.

Small flower pots – For a small balcony, instead of large planters that take up a lot of space, using tiny pots helps to produce more species.

Adding layers to the garden – Growing several plants of varying heights can bring an interesting look to a balcony garden, making it almost appear like a garden in the backyard.

Vase planters – Instead of terracotta pots or wooden balcony planters, placing shrubs, vegetable plants, or flowering plants in tall vase-like planters adds a sophisticated and modern look to the balcony.

You may also like Hydroponic Greenhouse Farming.

Plant partition in a balcony garden – In a large balcony, one of the best ways to partition the area to separate the seating from the rest of the elements is to create a partition using tall plants or a trellis with a climber or vine growing on it.

Create a vegetable garden on the balcony

Vegetables that don’t take a lot of space to grow then they are perfect for growing on the balcony. Tomatoes and peppers are without a doubt the first ones you want to consider as they are the easiest to grow.

It is entirely possible to develop a small vegetable garden on your balcony. Of course, you cannot feed your family, but you can still have your own organic and delicious harvest. A few edibles like tomatoes, peppers, chilies, eggplants, and many green leafy vegetables grow well.

Almost any vegetable plant you can think of to grow in a backyard garden will also thrive in a balcony vegetable garden under the right conditions, including;

  • Tomatoes
  • Eggplant
  • Peppers
  • Green onions
  • Radishes
  • Beans

Pots for Growing Vegetables on the Balcony – Before purchasing pots for a vegetable balcony garden, you must consider whether you want to grow vegetables for ornamental or usability purposes. If usability is important for you then simply select containers, propagation trays, and plastic window boxes in which many plants can grow together. If you care for the looks of the balcony vegetable garden then choose colorful pots, decorative barrels and urns, and modern designer containers.

You can grow pepper, eggplant, peas, and cherry tomatoes in a 2 to 4-gallon size container. Large containers can be mainly used for tall tomato varieties and beans. Seedlings of vegetable plants can be grown in a seed tray or small container to save space, later they want to be transplanted in bigger containers.

Soil for planting balcony vegetable garden

Vegetables grown in pots need loose, well-drained, fertile, and nutritious soil. You can buy a ready-made potting mix for this or if you want to prepare it by yourself. You will want the compost, garden soil, gravel, and perlite.

Also, mix slow-release organic fertilizer and hydrogel crystals. Hydrogel crystals absorb excess water in plants and keep it for later supply to plant roots directly. This type of water-absorbing crystal is very useful for container gardening as they save both time and water.

If possible, do soil testing at home to identify the pH level of the soil. Generally, vegetables grow slightly acidic to neutral soil or pH level 6-7. Once you find out the soil type (alkaline or acidic) you can amend it according to the plant you’re growing.

Preparing Seedlings

Vegetable seeds can be sown on a seed tray on the balcony. After the germination process, transplant them when the top two real leaves have grown. Some of the vegetables that do not transplant well are better sow them in separate pots.

Vegetables like gourds or melons, cucumbers and squash do not tolerate transplanting and damage in roots, therefore plant them only once at the right location.

Seeding must be planted at the right depth. Tomatoes can be planted deeper, until the first leaves; these stimulate adventitious roots and thus strengthen the plant. Lettuce planted too deep cannot develop heads and celery also planted too deeply develops not correct the root.

Feed with one tablespoon Epsom salt mixed in 1 gallon of water after planting to avoid transplanting shock.

Care for balcony vegetable garden

Once you plant vegetables on the balcony, you want to care for them. It is essential to water plants the right way. You should not set any schedule for watering your vegetable plants; only water them when they need it. Watering the vegetable plants at night causes fungal diseases and attracts the pest, so it is best to water your plants in the morning.

Care for Balcony  Vegetable Garden.
Care for Balcony Vegetable Garden.

When the vegetables adapt to the climate of the balcony the requirement left is to water and fertilize. Generally, you should fertilize your vegetable plants every month or so with organic fertilizer. To save plants from pests, grow plants that deter pests. In the case of pest or disease, use organic pesticide or create it yourself.

In case you miss the Growing Jasmine Hydroponically.

Balcony garden ideas and design in India for growing herbs

Herbs are brilliant plants for growing on balconies. Not only can you enjoy fresh, aromatic pickings, but most herbs remain relatively very small, so are well-suited to containers. For sunny balconies, try growing plants like thyme, sage, rosemary, and chives.

Herbs tend to like full or partial sunlight (at least four hours), so consider positioning them on the sunniest part of the balcony. You could keep them inside by a window and leave the balcony for the plants that require bigger pots and a little bit more space.

Herb plants do not require special treatment apart from regular watering. If you own a small balcony, put a few pots in it and grow herb plants.

In the sun – Balconies that obtain a lot of direct light are the perfect place to grow sun-loving herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, and sage.

In the shade – If your balcony is a permanent shade zone, don’t worry you can still grow plenty of fresh herbs. Try plants like dill, mint, chives, and parsley. Some of these options will also work in full sun, but definitely won’t be stunted in the shade.

The best herbs for a balcony garden can be given below;

You can produce practically any herb you want to grow. However, it mainly depends on sunlight, space, and weather.

Fortunately, most known and also popular herbs are well suited for an herb garden on the balcony. Some of the annual herbs are basil, fennel, dill, cilantro, marjoram, parsley, chive, and perennials such as oregano, lavender, sage, thyme, mint, and rosemary grow well. You can grow some exotic herbs like betel leaf plant, curry plant, and fenugreek on your balcony.

Pots for growing herbsPots for a balcony herb garden must be according to the space available. Choose large wooden planters, chests, and crates, these are cheap and wide and you can grow a lot of herb plants with similar requirements together in them and this greatly simplifies subsequent care.

Herbs can be grown in small pots, best are clay pots as they are more natural. Plastic pots can be used too for the flexibility of their uses, they’re light and you can move and hang them any place easily. Whereas, ceramic planters also look pretty. Mostly it all depends on whatever resources you have and the size of the balcony.

Watering herb plants

The sun and wind dry out pots quickly, so a balcony garden wants more frequent watering than a regular garden. Especially the balconies facing south are best for growing herb plants. Although, herb plants are tolerant of temporary shortages and excess of water in the soil. But herbs growing in pots are sensitive to dry and waterlogged soil and to remit this, do regular watering. Select pots of large openings from the bottom, through which excess water can drain freely.

Fertilizing herb plants

Potted plants require more fertilization than those that grow on grounds but one benefit is that you don’t need to fertilize frequently as you do in a regular garden. Use slow-release natural fertilizers in a balcony herb garden, spread them once or twice a year and plants will get enough nutrition gradually. In addition to that, the use of organic matter, manure, and compost is recommended to introduce helpful microorganisms and micro-nutrients into soil.

Balcony garden ideas for growing fruits

Many fruits, including apples, cherries, and strawberries, are ideal for growing on balconies.  Consider how much weight a balcony can support and err on the side of caution. If in doubt select lighter plastic pots over heavier terracotta or stone alternatives. Position the heaviest pots or containers closer to load-bearing walls or over supporting joists.

You may also consider How to Build a Greenhouse.

The higher up the balcony, the windier it’s likely to be. Not all fruit plants thrive in exposed, windy conditions, so choose accordingly. Windbreaks like netting or reed screens are effective at filtering the wind and will also create an attractive backdrop.

Calculate the amount of sun your balcony gets

If your balcony gets 6 or more hours of sun (referred to as the full sun), you’re in luck and you’ll be able to grow quite a variety of fruit plants. And 3 to 6 hours qualify as partial sun and 1.5 to four hours is considered partial shade. Anything less than 3 hours is considered full shade. If the sunlight isn’t direct and it’s coming through plant leaves or it’s obstructed in some other similar way, it’s filtered light.

Like any garden, it’s essential to consider how much direct sunshine the balcony gets. It is easy to overestimate this, therefore take the time to record exactly where sunlight falls and at what time of day.

Water regularly

Conversely, be on hand to water regularly in hot, dry weather conditions. The combination of sun and wind can dry out pots or containers with alarming speed. If you haven’t the time to water, then install a drip irrigation system.

Planting your fruits

Always arrange your pots before you pour the soil. They are much lighter and easier to move that way. Pour in your organic potting soil and then mix in a little organic fertilizer. Plant your seeds or seedlings as far down in the soil as recommended. Add more soil around the base of the seedlings if necessary, once all the fruit plants are in place. Add water until the soil is wet, but not completely saturated, and be sure to keep the water off the plant leaves as the plants grow.

Fruit varieties to consider while designing your balcony garden in India

Some of the fruit varieties suitable for the balcony garden are Apples, Citrus, Lemon, Strawberries, Pomegranate, Fig, Nectarines, Peaches, Guava, Pineapple, Oranges, and Citruses.

Tips for balcony garden design ideas in India

  • When you are planting in containers on your balcony gardens, you want to make sure to use synthetic soils and these are best suited for container plants. Synthetic soils are made of wood chips, peat moss, sawdust, vermiculite, perlite, or any other kind of synthetic planting media.
  • You can fill the bottom of the pot or container with coarse gravel before putting the soil in. This will improve drainage for plants. Make sure once your plants are out in balcony gardens that you do not forget to water them and this happens more often than not.
  • Watering plants one time a day is necessary and more would be too much. If the balcony has direct sunlight and no roof, you will not have to water on the days it rains. Any plant that is easy to transplant is great for container growing. However, you can germinate seeds indoors as you would if you were going to plant them in the backyard, and then transplant them to your containers on your balcony garden when they are ready.
  • Balcony gardening will yield a great number of plants so long as your plants get plenty of moisture and sunlight. Be sure to harvest your plants when they are at their peak of ripeness. This will give you the best-tasting vegetables, fruits, and herbs from your balcony garden.

That’s all folks about Balcony Garden Design Ideas, Tips in India.

You may be interested in Farmyard Manure Preparation Methods.

Conclusion

If you live in the following cities/states of India and plan to grow plants on the balcony, this article might be helpful.

Mumbai/BombayKolkataBengaluruJaipur
Chennai/MadrasHyderabadSecunderabadPune
AhmedabadSuratAgraLucknow
VaranasiKochiNew DelhiChandigarh
BhopalVisakhapatnamNagpurMadurai
IndoreAmritsarKanpurPatna
NashikVadodaraThiruvananthapuramDehradun
Vijayawada/GunturWarangalKarimnagarCoimbatore
RaipurUdaipurMeerutLudhiana
JamshedpurJabalpurGuwahatiGwalior
DhanbadFaridabadRajkotSrinagar
MangaluruAurangabadKotaSolapur
AsansolGandhinagarTiruchirappalliSalem
TirunelveliVelloreTiruppurUttara Kannada
ChitradurgaThaneCuttackKannur
JodhpurRanchiMysore/MysureBhubaneswar
Andhra PradeshKarnatakaHaryanaSikkim
Arunachal PradeshKeralaHimachal PradeshTamil Nadu
AssamMadhya PradeshJharkhandTelangana
BiharMaharashtraNagalandTripura
ChhattisgarhManipurOdishaUttar Pradesh
GoaMeghalayaPunjabUttarakhand
GujaratMizoramRajasthanWest Bengal

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