Apr 21, 2025

How to start your first balcony garden in 10 simple steps

Aakanksha Sharma

Start your garden

Starting a home garden can be one of the most special, but also a pretty stressful experience in life. While the beautiful flowers and blooms will delight you, the digging, the soil mix, the water needs, and more can be troublesome. So here are 10 steps and tips to keep in mind.

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Location and sunlight

The first thing you need to check for is if you have the right location and ample sunlight. Average plants that flower need at least 5 hours of sunlight a day, so make sure your balcony gets enough sunlight daily.

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Choose the type of garden

There isn’t just one type of garden, and you need to decide the type you want. Do you want a flower garden, or a vertical garden, or a fruit garden, or a herb garden, etc. Before you start buying soils, pots, and fertilisers, decide what you want.

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The garden layout

Once the type is decided, make a rough sketch of the layout you would like. For example, on one side, you can grow herbs and veggies together, and some leafy plants and flowers can also be grown together.

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The right soil

Every plant needs a specific soil composition, and if you want a healthy garden, it is best to adhere to it. But as a rough idea, be ready with a mix of garden soil, cocopeat, and organic compost. some neem cakes, and a bit of perlite for most plants.

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Choosing the plants

Once you have decided the type of garden you want, it is time to pick up the seeds. If this is your first experience with gardening, go for herbs like Dhaniya and Mint, or flowers like Aparajita and Marigold.

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Plant the seeds

Another point to remember for the garden is that plants and seeds should be planted at the right time. Some plants thrive in winter, others in summer, so research well.

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Watering needs

If you have planted cuttings, it is best to water them every day or once every two days for the initial few weeks. If you live in a place where direct sunlight will hit the plant for about 4-6 hours, water the plants early in the morning.

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Sprinkling vs watering

Another factor to remember is the sprinkling vs watering debate. It is important to water the plants, but not the leaves, as it can lead to decay. But, make sure to sprinkle the leaves with water every day to maintain freshness.

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Are fertilisers important?

The use of fertiliser depends on the plant you sow and what type of feeding it needs. Some flowers will need extra nutrition to bloom, while succulents grow and thrive without it.

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The first flowers or herbs

A healthy garden will not grow overnight, not even in a week. So be patient and research the variety of seeds you have sown and how long it takes to grow.

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Thanks For Reading!

Next: 9 fastest growing succulents for the balcony garden