Living in an apartment has some advantages, and one is you don’t have to have a garden to worry about. Conversely, you may want to have a garden but don’t have the space. Here are some tips for those who live in apartments or live with maybe just a tiny outdoor garden.

For a balcony, your first problem might be weight, so try to keep things light - there are some really good ‘fake’ terracotta or granite pots available – they will be lighter, and moving or changing their position will be easier if they weigh less, especially once the soil and plants are added. You don’t want your balcony possibly collapsing onto those below you – a catastrophe for both parties!

Balcony Planting

On a small balcony you can still grow a few plants, and they will look good from both an outsider’s viewpoint looking up and you looking out, and might give you a bit of privacy screening too. The beauty of plants on a balcony is that the area is pretty small, and makes things simple for watering, pruning or tidying up.

Small Garden Planting

The sun direction may influence what you plant. Some plants will scorch in too much direct sun, but surprisingly, dwarf trees might be an option. A small lemon or orange tree in a pot might be an unlikely choice, but as these fruits do so well in Portugal, it might be something you could consider.

These will stay fairly small, and would provide some shade for other plants grown at a lower level. The fruit may not be edible as they will be bitter, but will bring to colour to your space. They won’t need much pruning either, just some citrus plant fertilizer now and again. Water frequently, but not so much that the soil becomes soggy.

Plants for Colour

There are loads of plants that do well in pots or in a small space – annuals always give a splash of colour, as do bulbs, and the beauty of the latter is that once they have finished blooming, you can dig them up and save them somewhere cool and dry to re-use for next year. When replanting, a bit of nourishment by way of a high potassium feed (tomato food) will promote good growth. Bulbs planted in rectangular troughs ‘end to end’ I always think look pretty spectacular.

My old favourites, succulents and cacti, will always do well on balconies and small spaces, won’t mind direct sun, and are ideal as they are slow-growing and easy to maintain. The downside is some aren’t great for flowers, but they tend to be ‘low growers’, so if you have pets or children sharing your outside space, the spiky ones should be avoided.

Climbing plants are another option, and bougainvillea comes in many colours that will last for months, and even in pots would provide vertical interest if grown against a trellis. Jasmine is another to consider, and they have the added bonus of a lovely fragrance, but this needs a rich well drained soil, and will need pruning. The dead shoots will need pinching out, and you should cut away dead leaves and flowers - just don’t prune more than one-third of the plant at any one time.

Herbs can be grown on a balcony or in a small garden, and I have seen pots on a vertical frame, which would increase your selection upwards without compromising your space. Too many herbs? You can cut and freeze most, or dry them and keep in sealed bags or containers until you need them.

One for Superstitions

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), aka Mother-in-Law's Tongue, is a popular choice for those who want a low-maintenance plant that is almost impossible to kill. It’s controversial plant for indoors – those who follow Feng Shui recommend it be avoided as it can generate discordant and negative energy, but by a main entryway will help block bad energy from entering your home. They are incredibly hardy, and can withstand low light if your space is shady, infrequent watering, and even neglect!

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan