Apartment Gardening

All ridicule aside, apartment gardening is becoming ever more popular amongst city dwellers of every age and income bracket.

An herb garden is only one of many options you can choose from if you want to spruce up your apartment with plants. Lucky Bamboo is an excellent choice for gardening novices, as it doesn't need a lot of light and allegedly has the added bonus of bringing good luck to those nearby. Ivy is also a good choice as it grows best in shaded environments and works well in hanging baskets and pots. Herbs require a bit more attention, as their exposure to the sun needs to be regulated; also make sure they are well irrigated and keep them trim to prevent them becoming congested in their containers as they grow.

For the more motivated among us, a vegetable garden is the path to take. These can be as simple or sophisticated as you like, depending on the available space you have. For the beginner or the small apartment owner, vegetables like chilli and eggplant can flourish really well in small containers as long as they are watered regularly and have proper drainage.

Having a balcony gives you a lot more to work with, as you can grow plants that require a bit more room and support such as tomatoes and beans.

So all is not lost for the inner-city apartment dweller with green fingers. With negligible effort and a bit of persistence, you'll be serving salads and meals brimming with home-grown ingredients in no time at all, or tending to your superbly fuss-free ivy.

And maybe reaping the benefits of the Lucky Bamboo.

Whatever you choose to do, the decision to maintain an apartment garden is one you won't regret. Just being around plants and flowers gives one a sense of nature and in a small apartment, within the urban hustle and bustle of the city, this would have to be a reward indeed.

The need for us all to do what we can to assist our planet makes apartment gardening even more appealing. Each vegetable or herb we grow saves on fossil fuels, reduces the need for the use of pesticides, saves water and is just something we should all have a go at. One person may not make much of a difference, but a whole lot of persons can make a whole lot of difference.

So leap in and at least try to do a little investigating into propagation or growing in your apartment.

The planet will thank you for it!