How to Garden in an Apartment
Do you have a green thumb? Do you love living in a home covered in greenery? Some of us do, some of us do not and that is perfectly OK! Gardening can take time, patience, and a little bit of skill, but even if you are starting from the very beginning, we have some quick tips and tricks to turn your thumb and home green! Do actual plants scare you? Gardening doesnt have to be just plant babies; It can be fresh fruits and vegetables, or even a Zen garden space where you relax at the end of a long day. Stay tuned for all things gardening in your home and there will surely be something for you!
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Back to the Basics of Apartment Gardening
As we all know, pretty much every plant needs one of the following to survive: water, sunlight, soil, and a little bit of love! These “ingredients” for a successful house plant can be found cheaply and mostly free! Balconies and patios offer a great space for optimal sun, and you can purchase inexpensive soil from your local home improvement stores. If you are intimidated by growing or simply keeping a plant alive, we recommend growing fresh herbs or watering plants to start such as potted flowers.Let’s start with some easy produce options. Our recommendations for some of the easiest produce are below and will be sure to have you feeling like a homegrown chef and hopefully excited to learn more!
1. We Love a Good Salad
Some of the easiest greens to grow are salad greens. Think of anything green that you can throw in a salad, and you’ve got your next green thumb already lined up. Salad greens such as lettuce, spinach, and arugula are all relatively fast-growing, shallow-rooted plants. This means they are not fussy about their growing conditions, so these are great greens to grow inside as well as outside. As long as they are receiving plenty of water, they are good to go, and you should be making your own homegrown salad in no time!2. Fresh Herbs
Do you love to cook? Herbs are fantastic to have on hand to enhance your cooking and flavor! Why spend money on expensive herbs (especially if they are organic) when you can grow your own fresh herbs at home? It is super easy to buy herb packets, plant them in soil, and throw them in a pot (even a paper cup)! If you want, you can even purchase them already planted in soil, ready to grow, and to be taken care of. In no time you can have fresh herbs like mint, chives, cilantro, basil, and much more! Do you feel like a pro planter yet?.jpg)
3. Peppers Galore
The list goes on for the kinds of peppers you can easily grow at home! Bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and banana peppers to name a few. These are all pretty universal peppers and will enhance your cooking and some make a great snack! These kinds of peppers will need to be grown in larger pots on your balcony or patio. While you can try to grow them inside, they do need more room and more light in order to reach their full potential – and tasty crunch!4. Fresh Fruits
Strawberries and blueberries are two of the easiest, low-maintenance fruits you can grow. However, you must plant and grow them in sunlight. Whether you use natural sunlight during the Summer months or use a sun lamp in the winter months indoors, in your apartment. These fruits can be grown in garden beds or containers for easy convenience.5. Green is the New Black
Plants can offer us the perfect décor and can turn our apartment spaces into magical spaces. You can fill your home with green and pizzazz with plants that are faux or real. Do you want minimal work for the benefit of a beautiful space? Let us recommend succulents! These cuties are the way to go. You can get them in many sizes, shapes, and looks to fill your space and create the ultimate “on trend”, and beautiful space. Spruce them up even more by grabbing a few different pots with different colors and patterns.6. Boost Your Own Mood
Plants, flowers, and other sources of green things are said to be serotonin boosters! Not only will having something beautiful in your home to look at boosting your mood but having something to take care of will also get you out of maybe those “winter blues” and get you in the sunshine space!7. Spruce up Your Patio/Balcony
Let’s not forget the outside of your home! You can easily make your patio/balcony into a green wonderland with a few easy steps. Grab some real or faux plants, an outdoor material rug, and a chair and you have got yourself an outside oasis to enjoy the appropriate seasonal weather! If you are feeling up for the challenge, hang some flower beds.jpg)
8. Zen Out
When flowers, plants, or growing your own produce does not seem to be striking a chord with you, we encourage you to create a relaxed, Zen Garden right in your own home. What exactly is a Zen Garden? It usually is a place adorned with sand, water, and other calming features that aid in helping you relax. A great way to build your own apartment-friendly Zen Garden is by changing into comfortable clothes, gathering large oversized pillows, and turning on calming music. Take a few minutes out of your busy day to recharge, rethink, and regroup right in your own home.Make Your Apartment Garden at River Oaks Apartments!
At River Oaks, you'll find spacious 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments with lots of natural lighting. Each apartment comes with a patio/balcony that is perfect for a small garden. Tour our Kentwood, MI apartments today and learn more about how to make your dream apartment a reality.
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About the Author
Kaleigh Teunessen is a Resident Relations Specialist at Monarch Investment and Management. She oversees upwards of 40 unique communities in the Midwest region and has worked in the multifamily industry for 4 years. Her dedication to service and excellence is the ultimate key to her success. Outside of resident relations, Kaleigh enjoys the outdoors, cooking, a good glass of wine, and being a wife and mother.