Working from home can have significant drawbacks, such as mental fatigue and anxiety. Engaging in some creative activities, such as ‘gardening,’ is a good approach to overcome these problems.
With most people living in apartments, terraces and balconies can be a perfect place for it. Here are some ideas and tips to help you create the ideal terrace garden.
The Layout
The layout is the first and foremost step when creating a terrace garden. One can either cover the entire surface with soil or use planters to grow plants. Setting up a mini garden in earthen or cement pots is possible; but, if you want to cultivate your own vegetables on your terrace, using grow bags or installing grow stations is a preferable option.
Although the terrace area should receive adequate sunlight, a shed is required to protect the plants from direct heat throughout the summer.
Choose your plants carefully
In the terrace garden, we can grow a variety of plants, ranging from organic fruits and vegetables to herbs, shrubs, and flowers, depending on the available area.
As the pandemic has re-emphasized the importance of health and wellness, one can also consider growing immunity booster plants like Aloe Vera, Giloy, and Tulsi. In addition, growing natural air purifiers like-Sansevieri — Green and Variegated; Money Plant, Areca Palm, Spyder Pant, Jamia, and White Pathos is also a popular choice of home gardeners.
Soil Preparation
The soil should be rich and contain the proper levels of moisture and nutrients in general. Planters benefit from fresh soil from any farm with the correct amount of organic manure and vermicompost.
Organic manure or aged manures are the greatest methods to prepare the soil for gardening because they provide practically every nutrient to the plant. To avoid infestation of pests some amount of organic pesticides can be mixed in the soil.
For home gardening, soil mixes are available online or in nurseries. COCO peat is also a very popular choice for home gardeners as it helps in water retention, aeration for roots, and protects the plant from soil fungus. Mix it with soil or cover it with a 1-inch layer of coco peat to keep moisture in the pot or planter.
Watering
Some plants need a lot of water, whereas others need less. Hence, it is important to monitor the requirement of water frequently. It also depends upon the season.
During the summer, water the plants 1-2 times each day, and perhaps every other day during the winter. During the rainy season, the watering interval may vary depending on the frequency of showers. Check the topsoil if it has dried, it is time to rewater. It is essential to understand the requirement for different plants as over watering may lead to root decay.
Further, weeds disrupt the growth of plants. Getting rid of weeds regularly is a good idea. This can be done once a week or once every two weeks. We can also use compost or any other organic manure from time to time for the healthy growth of plants.
Related: Don’t lose your cool. Try these tips to stay calm even in the most stressful situations
