Inner city living has many perks. Being close to all the offerings of a city there is always somewhere to go. An exhibition to visit, shops to explore, cafe chilling and fine dining. But one thing that can be missing for city dwellers within their own homes (especially if residing in a unit or apartment) is a ‘little bit of green’: a patch of grass, a garden, something in a pot to care for.
Apartment living doesn’t naturally lend itself to a fully-fledged gardening hobby. However, cultivating a connection to the earth under such living arrangements isn’t as hard as it might seem and it can be achieved with little to no expense. Whether you have a balcony, a sunny windowsill or just a bookshelf, it is possible to grow something.
How to grow something on a budget
Buying pot plants from florists, hardware stores and nurseries can set you back several hundreds of dollars, however there are ways to cultivate your very own balcony garden pretty much for free. The trick is choosing plants easy to cultivate from cuttings or which easily reproduce, such as succulents. Even if you have a south facing balcony (meaning virtually no sun all year round) or no outdoor area at all, everyone can be successful with succulents. And the best thing? All you need to start is one single succulent plant or cutting.
How to grow succulents
The first trick is to get your initial plant. You can buy them relatively cheaply from a nursery, but you also may have friends or family who have a few aloe vera plants or succulents growing in their garden or balcony. Ask if you can help yourself to a cutting first, and using clean sharp scissors cut off a small branch at an angle. Ideally you want to go for mature but still quite new looking growth. If it’s a tiny little succulent with little fleshy petals (rosettes) break off a few of the green petal-like leaves. You’ll find the fleshy leaves of succulents break off very easily, and if the conditions are right, they too will take root and grow into an established plant. Within no time you’ll have lots of sweet little plants to enjoy or share.
Succulents can survive hot sun and limited water, but they also seem quite happy indoors and in shady areas too, which makes them a good plant to start with if you’re new to planting. They are incredibly hardy and are one of the few plant varieties that can survive a sporadic (or non-existent) watering regime.
Once you’ve acquired your succulent cuttings leave them for a few days to dry out. You will need a few pots and some potting mix ideally (but you might also be able to get some dirt from a family or friend’s neighbour if they are willing to donate it). Succulents prefer a dry sandy soil so try to find a potting mix specific for succulents. As succulents don’t like being too wet, I place some gravel, sand or a few rocks in the bottom of each pot to allow for water drainage. Then cover the gravel with soil, use the end of a spoon or a paddle pop stick make a little hole in the middle and pop your succulent in. Give it a splash of a water and leave it for a week or so for it to do its thing.
Other green plants which can be easily divided or can grow from cuttings include:
- Pilea (Pilea peperomioides)
- Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Parlour Palms (Chamaedorea elegans)
These are best for indoor growing as they prefer a shady spot.
The following flowering plants also can grow from cuttings:
- Geranium
- Daisy
- Gardenia
- Jasmine
- Rose
- Lavender
Flowering plants usually need full sun, good drainage and regular watering. They also benefit from and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies so best kept outdoors. Cut off any large leaves, flowers or buds to encourage growth before you plant it and research the growing conditions needed for that particular plant.
These herbs will grow from cuttings, giving you bursts of flavour for cooking and delightful aromas for your olfactory pleasure:
- Lemon verbena
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Sage
It might be worth investing in a bottle of seaweed fertiliser to give your cuttings a nutrient-dense start to life, but it's not essential, especially if you only plan on growing succulents and other very hardy plants.
If you’re ok to ask for a sprig or a twig from time to time from family and friends, you can eventually build up an impressive collection of plants, bringing some greenery into your life and your home. The great thing about growing plants from cuttings is that if you want to extend your foliage family, you can simply take more cuttings for your existing plants and keep the cycle going for free.
No matter where you live, you can go green in the tiniest of spaces. Whether you decide to cultivate a couple of cacti on your doorstop, or go fully feral with foliage, growing and looking after plants has a myriad of benefits. From boosting mood and reducing depression to attracting birds and pollinators to your neighbourhood as well as improving air quality and giving you potential access to fresh home grown produce, going green is good.
Alison Gallagher is a freelance writer, resourcefulness expert and small business owner. She has been featured in various publications including Stellar Magazine, Australian Health and Fitness Magazine, and Cleo Magazine. Alison is particularly passionate about sharing practical tips on how to live simply, sustainably and seasonally.
