Container Gardening Made Easy: Transforming Your Space into a Green Oasis
Introduction
In today’s post, we’re diving deep into the world of container gardening. In fact, think of this as the guide to starting an oasis of peace in an apartment, townhome, or a limited space!
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning, this post and episode are packed with practical tips and personal experiences to help you cultivate a thriving garden in any space. Let’s explore the joys and challenges of gardening in containers, from the perspective of someone who’s been through it all!
From Small Beginnings to a Flourishing Garden
When I started my first garden, it was at my parents’ home in the backyard. I don’t even remember how old I was. I do know I was obsessed with flowers like snapdragons, lilies, and daylilies.
See, my mom and grandparents were the gardeners in the family so while I helped out from time to time, I didn’t get it. You have to plant this thing, take care of it, and then what?
Fast forward through telling people I couldn’t keep a plant thriving to save my life, getting my first hardy plant (a pothos!), and about a year or two before the pandemic. I would revisit gardening.
I guess it was destiny, huh?
With a few simple herbs on the balcony of a 2-bedroom apartment I shared with a few co-workers, I started to explore gardening again for cooking purposes. Basil was my first choice because it’s easy to grow and a staple in the kitchen.
Like, fresh pesto or fresh basil in my pasta? Sign this foodie up!
When the pandemic came about, and we moved into a 3-bedroom apartment with an L-shaped balcony, my collection expanded to include a variety of plants, each bringing charm and a new set of challenges.
I could tell you how beautiful and healing that space was for me. Or, I could show you through my mom’s YouTube channel, Garden Rulez!
I appear on the channel from time to time to talk about container gardening from the perspective of a renter, but this first video is short and wordless. Cause who wants to be talked to/at all the time?
Gardening Tips for Beginners
If you’re new to container gardening, here are some tips I wish I had known from the start.
First, whether gardening indoors or on a balcony, you want to ensure your plants get enough light and have the right conditions to grow. If you’re unsure where to start, check what hardiness zone you’re in via the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map then head to Gardenia’s Plant Finder. This will allow you to filter by your zone, water, and maintenance needs.
Next, if underwatering or overwatering is the typical reason your plants don’t survive, invest in pots with drainage holes then put a tray beneath them to catch the excess or pots with water reservoirs (self-watering planters). They simplify plant care and are absolute lifesavers, especially with plants that love water like Regal Geraniums in direct sunlight!
Or, you could be like me and just experiment. Call it the science nerd in me, but that’s my favorite method.
Third, for those trying to be zero-waste or reduce their waste, you can create homemade fertilizers in your kitchen!
For instance, eggshells can be turned into calcium powder for veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and spinach. You can find the DIY recipe and more information on Pete & Gerry’s website!
You can also use old coffee grounds or even banana peels if you soak them in water for a nutrient-rich fertilizer like in this article by The Spruce! I definitely just stick banana peels in water and let it sit for about 2 weeks in an old bottle then pour it into the garden. Judge me if you want but I haven’t had an issue yet with the balcony garden!
Gardening Inspiration & Plant Recommendations
If you’re here and don’t really like to fuss with dirt, I suggest getting yourself a hydroponic garden. They usually just need light and water! Most kits even come with everything you need from the seeds to any plant food to instructions.
As for plant recommendations, I have a few:
Pothos: Perfect for beginners. I legitimately have one that I promise you I thought I destroyed every year and it’s still here. They are hardy and can tolerate a range of conditions. Varieties like Golden Pothos are especially resilient.
Herbs: Basil and rosemary are great starters. They thrive in containers and are less temperamental.
Flowers and Veggies: Daylilies, peppers, pole beans, and potatoes are good starter options. Beans like to vine!
Greenery That Shows Up and Shows Out: I recommend monsteras, fiddle leaf fig trees, and hostas!
I do not have the best luck with tomatoes or dill, but I will say my dill did way better in a hydroponic garden and I had a successful harvest with Early Girl Tomatoes in 2023. I’m even trying Sweetie tomatoes from seed this year that I’m sitting next to and they have their first flowers so wish me luck!
Now, if you are trying to get your space set up for your garden oasis, I highly recommend the following purchases:
3-in-1 Moisture Meter: Look, if you don’t want to play the guessing game with your plants, get this meter! It can also detect light and the PH of your soil.
Mini-Greenhouse 4-Tier Growing Rack: If you need organization, this greenhouse has wheels, you don’t have to put the cover on, and it fit perfectly in my storage closet!
Railing Planters with Drainage Holes: Okay, be better than me and actually make sure these will fit before purchasing! They are perfect for my current balcony and the hostas, Zinnias, and poppies love them!
50 Blank Seed Envelopes: If you like to harvest seeds like I do, these are the easiest envelopes to use and organize in a seed binder!
Hanging Propagation Station: This is hanging in my dining room above a bookshelf and I love it!
Plastic Plant Trays: This is great for your pots that have drainage holes, but you don’t want to have water stains on your deck or for it to leak onto the neighbor’s balcony below.
Shepherd Hooks: These are the best solution if you have large grow bags and need to hang lanterns, bird feeders, or hanging baskets.
3-Tier Plant Shelf: I have 2 of these on my balcony, which is covered, and I am obsessed with them. So is Peanut, my cat! Great for maximizing your space.
Seed Envelope Organizer Sheets: Okay, okay, it says it’s for photo albums but y’all know me. If you have a 3-ring binder you’re not using, this plus the seed envelopes you’ve just put in the cart are perfect!
Final Thoughts
Gardening is a journey of learning and growth—not just for the plants, but for us as well. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and remember, it's okay to make mistakes. Each plant has its own needs, and finding what works for your space is part of the fun.
Every gardener has faced the heartbreak of losing a plant. It’s part of the learning process. If a plant doesn’t survive, don’t be discouraged. According to my mom, even experienced gardeners have offed their favorites!
For more in-depth gardening content, check out my mom’s YouTube channel, Garden Rulez.
You can listen to more episodes of Cyd Tells All on Spotify and iHeart.
If you enjoy the gardening content, you can subscribe to my mom’s channel and leave a tip on Ko-fi saying which video was your favorite! She’s also on Instagram, @garden_rulez.
And if Ko-fi isn’t your style or you’re on my blog for other reasons, I also have a membership on Substack where you can access my members-only podcast, The Year of Audacity in the Name of Good. At the time this post was published, we’re about 3 episodes in.
