Take it from us: with a few clever tricks, you can tame even the wildest petunia on your balcony, or flavor your home-baked pizza with your own home-grown basil! We are going to show you how to get the most out of your greens in your apartment.
In fact, an apartment will become a real home if you manage to get that specific plus that makes the place truly yours. At Faltco, the unique style and most of the cool additional features have been made by our professional interior designers, but you also have room to get creative. A palm here, a flower there, some fresh spices – you can fill the rooms with a few plants to make it lively. The only thing is that the flowers have to be kept alive, which can sometimes seem like a difficult challange, moreover, there are so many apartments for rent in Budapest with balconies, terraces and loggias that it’s understandable if you don’t know where to start. We collected a couple of master tips to make your home jungle project a success.
CIA phase
Sure, it all starts with gathering intelligence! Head to a gardening or larger florist, get the most likable shop assistant, and ask as many questions as you can. With the following questions, you can easily narrow down the range of possible plants and learn the instructions for their care:
- My balcony is like this or that, sunny or not so much, what plants do you suggest?
- I’m not a great botanist – what are the none high maintenance options?
- I have a dog, a cat, a rabbit – aren’t any of these plants poisonous?
- All right, I like that. How much should they be watered? How often should they be fed? Is there anything else I need to know about them?
- Should I plant them at home? If so, what kind of potting soil should I use?
Take notes of everything, and if, based on the answers you receive, you think cohabitation can work, don’t hesitate, take them with you! From now on, you “just” have to follow the rules of the game, and there shouldn’t be too much trouble.
Army phase
Yes, real military training… In the first weeks, you need to get to know each other – as thoroughly as in action movies about elite squads. The goal is to become a team!
The first few steps you need to take are: if you bought an orchid, put it in a west- or north-facing window, not in direct sunlight. Did you choose lavender, hibiscus, leander or cartilage rose? Put them into the sunlight, they love the heat! Bakopa, fuchsia, geranium require frequent watering, so set on your phone a few reminders to keep them from drying out (if we’re already here, also set a reminder for 1-2 nutrient solutions a month, and be careful not to add houseplants nutrients to balcony flowers , and vice versa)! If herbs came home with you, plant them in special flower soil that day!
Of course, in the first days there may be some mistakes – a missed watering, an unlucky placement will be no problem, just try to learn from them. Your plants will appreciate the care! However, remember, they are also in training: if you did everything for them, you paid attention to everything, but one of them still kicks the bucket with its roots, don’t be afraid to throw them out. They have to put something into the team effort too!
Bff phase
After a month or two, with a few difficulties behind you, once you get to know each other, the happy ending should come. With proper care, your plants will be with you for a long time (except for the annual flowers, they don’t care if autumn comes anyway) and you’ll see how much joy they give you. If you can already pay attention to pests and specific diseases, then maybe the next level shall come, the time of cultivation. Just think of your friends’ faces when they learn that they’re eating your home-grown chili peppers or cocktail tomatoes at a summer balcony party!