When it comes to apartment living we’re all loving being in the thick of it, grabbing our morning coffee and strolling around the corner to work. With our cities becoming denser, our spaces are becoming smaller but that shouldn’t prevent anyone from having lush homes, balconies and courtyards! Let’s face it, our mental vision of a ‘garden’ has a different definition in our current urban environment. Lush green lawns and acres of rolling foliage are a dream of the past. Instead we should be considering how we nurture greenery in our heavily man-made urban space.
Gardening indoors and in small spaces is not that difficult. With some simple steps and a lot of love you’ll be breathing in fresh air and admiring each leaf unfurl before your eyes. If you remember the fundamentals of water, light and nutrition; your plants will thrive easily and be the most impactful addition to your apartment. When choosing plants always think how much light it will need and how frequently will I need to water and feed them. Keep on top of caring for your plants and over time it will become second nature.
Those new to gardening should start with easy and low maintenance plants. Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show Plant Cultivator, Jason Chongue highly recommends Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis), Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum Aureum), Fruit Salad Plant (Monstera Deliciosa) and African Milk Tree (Euphorbia Trigona). This selection of plants will cater for a vast array of interior looks and require consistent but a low level of care.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Peace Lilies are hardy and almost impossible to kill. With a large array of cultivars, they provide lush clumps of foliage suited to a range of natural lighting conditions.
Typically, water these once every week in the warmer months and once a fortnight in the cooler months.
Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis)
These clumps of green needle-like foliage are great for growing in smaller vessels and planters. Water Rhipsalis once a fortnight in the warmer months and once every 2-3 weeks in the cooler months.
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
This versatile houseplant is not only great for first time indoor gardeners but also makes the perfect plant for small spaces. Allow these vines to climb up a trellis or let them cascade off shelves. Water Devil’s Ivy once every week in the warmer months and once a fortnight in the cooler months.
Fruit Salad Plant (Monstera deliciosa)
If you remember a time when indoor plants were in every home and shop, then the Fruit Salad Plant will bring back memories. Not only are they easy to care for but also can be easily propagated from cuttings. Your Fruit Salad Plant will typically require watering once a week in the warmer months and once a fortnight in the cooler months.
African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona)
If you are after a structural plant, the African Milk Tree will bring character to any apartment. They are suited to bright sunlight and require minimal watering. As the African Milk Tree stores water in its foliage you can get away with minimal watering. Water once a every 2 weeks in the warmer months and once a month in the cooler months.
Having plants in your apartment will inspire you to see our city in a different light. You’ll yearn to see plants overflowing from every surface! It’s important to remember gardening is all about building up your skill set and confidence. The best way to do this is to experiment and learn from your community. Growing up I gained so much knowledge by reading books, visiting garden shows and exploring the city to hear and see how I could garden.