Garden
Small Balcony garden ideas No One Told you!
Most moms blogging journey starts with “when I had a baby”. I started similarly, but by then, my baby was almost two years old. I actually find more relation with my gardening activities and writing life ,than with anything else.
Staring at green plants is my second favorite habit.It’s also good for my eyes . The health effect of gardening is a favorite research topic.This found it’s way into my book on Gardening ,Writing,Walking -the three musketeers who help me.
Traveling to any of my aunts or uncles homes as a child meant, I could watch trees and people. All of which made me ask my mother innumerable questions and my nonstop chatters. When my mother refused to give a satisfactory answer(instead, she grew tired), I started making up stories about those trees and people.
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Plants and nature have a way of bringing out the writer in us. Or maybe it was the solitude of bringing up a tiny human in a new town. Having few people to talk to daily socially (not professionally) meant I had more brain space for making up my own stories. Work was overpowering physically, but mentally I needed a hobby, which gave me a challenge. I am a big fan of brain challenges, where I have to go out of my comfort zone to learn something, make something preferably ending in profitable results.
But gardening I do just for fun. So today I will share a few small Balcony ideas to get you started.
1)Microgren or sprout garden:start in a cup.
2)Only ornamental plants like purple hearts,aloevera,Areca palm ,Chinese banyan.All are easy to grow.
3 .Easy flower balcony garden:Bougainvillea, roses,all year.Chrysanthemums ,petunia,pansy in winters.
4.Small vegetable garden ,spinach ,red amaranth,lettuce,pumpkin greens,mustard greens
5.Get any plant which is suitable for your locality.Take care of that plant.Then buy another.Start slow.
That last part makes the explanations easier and so much more worth it. Time, after all, is limited and can not be stretched. We already tried that.
But I digress.
Through the environment talks of Cause a chatter, I will talk about gardening as a reason for joy, mental health, and productivity. But environment and nature as a whole are crucial for human survival.
Remember, we are a part of nature. Anything which you do to harm nature affects you to. Directly or indirectly.
I will tell you about my journey with gardening on my balcony, windowsill and experiment with growing greens, microgreens, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. How I almost bought a mango garden and then wrote my second Krishna Mishra mystery about it. I will tell you about the India-made version of a portable system of growing food at home anywhere in India. This one will take some time though, the product is still in beta????
I will share my balcony seasons of how we plan to transform my husband’s childhood home and garden why I am a fan of growing a forest.
Human beings and all things nature are part of each other.
We cannot talk about preservation without talking about pollution and population.
Why it’s important we talk about our home environment and Mother Earth as a whole:
We cannot create if we can’t save. We cannot complain if we don’t do our part to make things better. It starts with you and me. We can make a difference.
I am a forest nymph who became a Doctor-writer. So when I tell you nature heals, you know I have felt it. There’s nothing more potent than your dose of daily green, both outside and inside. If I talk about nature and the environment, you know, you will get all the right details.
You can start now, with what you have wherever you are.
While I write my next post on the topic, I thought of sharing my reason for starting this journey.I am also sharing a few of my previous posts from my Home, garden, and environment.
Man-made a mistake, forgetting he was part of nature.
Cutting down an arm to make space for a leg makes little sense. There have to be better ways, that are what I plan to find out.
A writer and gardener for seven years now and a practicing doctor for thirteen. I know I am happier because of my environment.
Health, after all, is multidimensional. I remember that in all my decisions.
My posts about balcony gardening
Growing vegetables in your Balcony garden
About environmental pollution
My Balcony Garden Video playlist
This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter’ and link it back to our website (https://www.
theblogchatter.com/causeachatter
Sharing is good Karma!
Balcony gardening September 2020 update
Something about green plants make me happy .That’s why I try to take pictures and short videos of these beauties.If you have seen my garden videos before, you will recognize some of these from videos before.
But there something new.I have actually tried to take shots from the outer part of the balcony ,using a selfie stick and my husband ,in that order.
The Ticomas are the yellows and oranges. Bougainvillea is a riot of colors. My Alamunda is the creeper with waxy green leaves. The white star-shaped Tagar or crepe jasmine is the prettiest. The bright red Musanda and the other greens will make you smile.
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Its raining on and off now ,with pleasant mornings and cool nights.The flowers seem to be having a merry time.My pumpkin greens are growing nicely and the pineapple top I am experimenting with is looking good too.Will know about that only later .
About the Glass jar terrarium experiment,I am happy to report ,it has survived and will soon share pictures from month two .
Now this home is a rental.I wonder what I will do when we move.I plan to carry them all with me.I seem to be becoming a plant person,day by day.Its not always flowers,but green happy leaves make me instantly happy.The worries melt away and I feel better.
When I share green plant stories,it helps me too.I dont know how exactly, but it does.Is there anything like that happening with you?
Do you like sharing stories which help?Let me know in the comments below.
Sharing is good Karma!
Memories of the Balcony Garden (Photo Blog)
Once upon a time in September of 2014 I got my first plant.I had three small balconies.It didn’t take me long to fill them up.
I loved looking at my green friends .But in 2014 I didn’t know they would save my life .
Yes in 2020 Corona times thanks to the Dragon’s unfair habits we are still far away from the normal.
Travels and nature walks are still far way off.Its a walk around my balcony that’s keeping me happy and feeling good.
There are many reasons to thank the green plants for.Oxygen and our life is right there at the top.But a close second is their ability to promote wellbeing.Whenever I feel demotivated a walk around the balcony garden,watering plants and staring at them instantly makes me feel better.
Effect of Gardening on health from the book How to Walk ,write and Garden your way to a healthy life
Listen to my podcast about writing walking and gardening
The question remains why do humans cut them down?
Humans are innovative. Why can’t we build around our plants?
Bougainville and Alamunda from the South balcony.Picture taken from the bedroom window
The South Balcony from the inside
The eastern balcony with hanging plants
The balcony next to the kitchen
A few questions I will answer for my readers
The most sturdy flowering perennial plant for a small balcony garden
I will give you three
Alamunda,Bougainvillea, Ticoma
The most beautiful hanging plants to grow
Easiest vegetable to start growing in plenty in a balcony garden?
Pumpkin greens
A lovely fragrant plant in your balcony garden.
The Holy Basil
What kind of planters ?
Lightweight.Recycle,upcycle and don’t overwhelm yourself.
Sharing is good Karma!
How to create a secret garden at Home using the Miyawaki method?
How do you create your secret garden? How do you create a green corner even in a rental?
Growing up, we had a backyard. Our apartment was right in the middle of South Kolkata, and we were blessed to have a little place to roam free. The problem was waterlogging. This made having a proper garden difficult. The backyard was also entirely cement bound. But we had a big Jackfruit tree, which was so tall that I was sure that the Faraway tree must have been a distant cousin.
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The tree and its golden spiky fruits are part of many childhood memories. But I digress. This post is to give you some ideas to create your own secret garden or mini jungle. wherever you live.
Did you know just like humans plants like socializing? They like being close to companion plants. Do you know when planted together they enhance each other’s growth? This is the basis of co-planting. It’s also one aspect of the Miyawaki method. Not planting similar plants together and finding plants that will grow in that region. Green plants give oxygen, even when they don’t give colorful flowers or delicious fruits .they improve your overall wellness in multiple ways.
Read this: Effect of Gardening on wellness
For example, Cucumbers don’t grow well with aromatic plants. Potatoes need to far away from other plants. Cucumbers, cilantro, and tomatoes don’t grow well together.
Cucumbers and lettuce grow well together.Beans and carrots too.
It’s mostly the veggies that can cause a lot of problems when planted together.
So in 2013, when we moved into this rental on the first floor of an apartment, t three little balcony on three sides were a pleasure. But they were empty, and the view everywhere was forlorn. It was a nice neighborhood, but I like looking at the greenery and that as missing on the streets.
Thats, when I read the book, Love the home you have by Melissa Michaels .that was quickly my stepping stone to finding harmony and grace even living in a rental.
So what was my goal? What did I do?
First up
I talked to the local nursery owner. He guided me about the plants that were shade-loving,indoor-outdoor, and those who needed full sunlight.
This helped me choose better.
I bought Bougainvillea, red, magenta, Tacoma yellow and orange, and alamunda yellow and Tagar(Crape Jasmine). Musanada, Mandevilla, rose are also part of the flower banquet. These flowering plants are not sensitive, can grow in hot dry or hot humid conditions. Where I live that happens alternately. They are also perennials. So you can watch them grow and flower year after year.
Tulsi(Holi Basil), Areca palm, Chinese Banyan, Variegated plants, Mother in laws tongue(Sansevieria) are for the green cover. I also have a Chikoo tree which fruits every year, and the monkeys eat the fruits before I can. But it gives me the satisfaction of having a fruit tree on my balcony.
Over the years, I have added Pumpkin creepers, a baby mango, green chilies, and lemons in various stages.
In the Lockdown, the green pumpkin shoots were in my collection for the bowl of green mixed veggies.
That was the plants.
What about potting medium and nutrition?
Then you need cocopeat, potting soil: bone meal, blood meal according to the soil your region has.It would help if you also had trays to protect the floors and the rails in your rental or home.
After that, you need to get going with the hard work and let then grow.
Remember to be easy on yourself, and the plants .you need them to have air circulation, sunlight, water, company, and conversation.
Always group your plants, That way they grow better .Group sun-loving plants close to the sunniest part of the balcony and shade-loving ones next to them.
How the sun falls on your balcony in different parts of the day is essential. But plants according to the sunlight you receive. They may not always be flowering, but they will make your indoor air oxygen-enriched air. The lowered indoor air pollutant levels and their shiny green, happy leaves will improve your wellness quotient.
The Miyawaki method of reforestation talks about growing native plants. Thats true for indoor secrets gardens and mini jungles too. Thats why it’s essential that while starting, you don’t start with the exotic plants, orchids, expensive high maintenance plants.
For me, Areca palms have always been high maintenance.
Bougainvillea and Ticoma are actually full-sized trees. But they are hardy plants and grow wonderfully well. I have them on both my south-facing and east facing balcony. The balconies get sunlight only one face, .so the branches all grow outwards, creating a green canopy. It’s visually calming.
What kind of pots should you start with?
For this, I suggest planting in eco-friendly pottery made of terracotta. You will support local and reduce plastic waste .Especially for growing edibles, I use only terracotta. You can have outer ornamental ceramic, metal planters for the decor element when you bring them into your living spaces.
I also like drinking tea and reading sitting on the balcony. I love spend time staring at the green canopy . It’s very calming.
But before you start on any creepers or crawlers, you will have to check with your landlord.
So how does this help me?
In the Lockdown, I realized one crucial thing. You need green nature to survive. I participated in three blogging challenges and published two books between April 2020 and August 2020. That’s was possible because of my family and my green friends. If you want true wellness, with a healthy lifestyle, you will need nature around to improve the wellness quotient.
We love visiting cafes with garden seating. If you are in Kolkata, you must visit Roasterie in Hindustan Park.
Next Sunday, I will talk about the easy DIY Terrarium I made with my daughter. If you haven’t activated the web notification, please do that. So that you don’t miss it.
By the way, remember I reviewed Pindfresh? I enjoyed the green lettuce fresh while the hydroponic solution lasted.
I have to restock on the hydroponic solution, and during Lockdown, that was a problem. I have thus invested now in another Made in India grow your own garden initiative. I Will share more about that in the months to come once I actually get it.
I even wrote a book about how gardening is in my toolbox for complete wellness. Then a few days back I read this article. It talks about how converting home spaces into a food garden has multiple benefits in COVID times. The health and psychological effect is immense. It also has economic and effects on productivity.
Careful plant selection is crucial.
Whats growing in your garden?Let me know in the comments below.
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Online class Gardening with Kids and Storytelling
Today’s online class is on Gardening with Kids and Storytelling.
Last year my daughter joined a new school.Not only did the school have exceptional board results,I also liked how much greenery was there all around.A big field ,a small garden for smaller kids,plus plants all around and beautiful green canopy.
The teachers ensured the children had opportunities for structured and unstructured playtime.Thats why, when this Corona virus problem, makes home school the new normal,I take time to give her an extra dose of nature.
Sharing a story I told her about my pumpkin seed .Share it with your child if she likes to garden.
The story of the Pumpkin seed
Once upon a time there was a little seed .It was full of hope. It was lovely yellowish orange with a ridged border and full of love .But it wanted to be a tree.
Hearing this ,the little seeds next to it said ,
“No no you can’t be a tree ,you are meant to be a creeper and a pumpkin.”
“Huh pumpkin ?What’s that ?”the little seed cried.
When mother earth heard the displeasure in the little seeds voice ,she smiled and gave her a kiss.
“My dear little pumpkin to be ,do you know how much loved and waited you are ?Do you know humans love you from the day you are born .They appreciate your leaves stems ,flowers ,seeds and of course , the pumpkin. Every part of it is full of goodness.”
“But mother I want to be a big tree and help support you against storms and rains and give shade to humans and shelter to birds ,bees ,squirrels,” whispered pumpkin-to-be.
Mother earth smiled again.
“Dear pumpkin-to-be ,your intense desire to help and serve has made you so special. You will help humans just by being .you can grow as big as you want ,but your creeping and climbing stems will be soft and delicious and not woody and straight .But that’s what makes you unique. Your delicious orange flowers and the pumpkin will make children eat more veggies. You are special just the way you are .You don’t need to be like anyone elsw.Wherever you are ,in whatever you do ,if you help and serve and not harm you are doing God’s work .It doesn’t matter if we are all different .
Everyone is unique and has a special quality.”
The pumpkin-to-be smiled, and quickly sprouted a tender green shoot.
The End
Now I tell my daughter stories about birds,bees,seeds,fairies.magic and growing up.She ends up telling me she is having a lot of fun being a child,but she is not sure there is magic.
That’s my job as a mother, is to help her realize that being alive is magic.Life is Magical.You just need to see the tiny sparkle and feel your heart skip a beat when the magic happens .
Do you believe life is magical?
Writing this for the #CauseAchatter Blogchatter campaign where K am promoting the cause of Quality online education for all children.
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