Are you considering starting a garden, but living in a condo has you concerned about whether or not it’s possible? Gardening in a condo can be tricky, but it is possible and it’s such a healthy hobby to take up! You may need to get a little more creative with space–think tiered gardens and hanging plants–but it can be done.
Before you start planting, however, there are a few things you should know. Here are some pros and cons of condo gardening to help you make the best decision for your home.
Pros of Condo Gardening
Gardening provides plenty of enjoyment and relaxation to many people who aren’t afraid to get their hands a little dirty. If you live in a condo, that doesn’t mean you can’t take up gardening as a hobby. In fact, there are several benefits to condo gardening. Here are just a few of those benefits:
Gardening Boosts Your Mood and Overall Health
Gardening can be a form of light exercise, which has been shown to improve mental health and overall well-being. One study found that just 30 minutes of moderate-intensity gardening per week can significantly reduce the risk of depression. Also, the plants will purify the air and really freshen up your living space!
Additionally, time spent in nature has been linked with increased levels of happiness and decreased levels of stress. So, if you’re looking for a way to boost your mood, some time spent gardening may be just what the doctor ordered.
You Can Grow Fresh, Nutritious Food
For a little touch of rural in a more urban setting, gardening gives you the opportunity to grow your own food. This means that you can enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs without having to make a trip to the grocery store. Even with just a few pots set out on the balcony, you’d be surprised at how much produce you can harvest!
When you grow your own food, you know exactly what’s going into it. This means you can avoid any fertilizers or pesticides that you want to stay away from and grow truly organic produce.
What’s more, growing your own food can also save you money in the long run. If you’re buying fresh produce from the grocery store, it can be expensive, especially if you’re buying organic. Depending on the size of your garden, by growing your own food you can cut down on your grocery bill each month.
You Can Enjoy Beautiful Flowers and Plants
Not interested in growing fruits and vegetables? That’s okay! You can still enjoy the many benefits of a garden by growing beautiful flowers and plants.
Not only will this give you something pretty to look at, but it can also boost your mood and purify the air in your home. Some flowers and plants can also help to keep pests like mosquitoes and flies away, making your outdoor space more enjoyable.
It Can Be a Fun Activity
Gardening can be a fun activity to do alone or with family and friends. If you have kids, it can be a great way to teach them about where food comes from and how to take care of plants. Gardening can also be a social activity if you join a community garden or start one of your own.
Cons of Condo Gardening
As with any hobby, you can expect a few cons to condo gardening. Working a garden in a condo can be a little more complex, especially if you’re working with limited space. Here are a few cons of condo gardening:
You May Not Have Enough Space
One of the biggest drawbacks of condo gardening is that you may not have enough space to do it effectively and HOA restrictions. If you live in a small condo, you may only have a tiny balcony or patio to work with. This can make it difficult to grow more than a few small plants.
If you have no access to outdoor space, you can always consider taking your garden indoors. However, this presents its own set of challenges, such as finding the right location and making sure your plants get enough light.
You May Not Have the Right Conditions
Another potential downside of condo gardening is that you may not have the ideal conditions for growing plants. For example, if your condo doesn’t get much sunlight, it may be difficult to grow anything other than shade-loving plants.
Additionally, condos can be quite noisy, which can stress out sensitive plants. If you want to garden successfully in a condo, you may need to get creative and find ways to work around these challenges.
You May Not Have the Time
Let’s face it: life can be busy. If you have a full-time job and/or a family to take care of, you may not have a lot of time to dedicate to gardening. While it is possible to garden in a condo with a busy schedule, it may be more difficult to do so than if you had more free time.
Gardening can be extremely rewarding–you get some light exercise, fresh produce, gorgeous flowers–and no one should be deprived of the opportunity to get their thumbs a little green. Just because you live in a condo, that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t take up gardening as a hobby! However, before you start planting, be sure you have the right design and enough space–even if that means growing up instead of out–and that you’re ready to commit to taking care of your plants. If you’re ready to make that commitment, get ready for a mood-boosting, relaxing hobby that may end in some delicious results!