c/balcony-gardeners

Showerthought: Plastic pots on balconies - good or bad for the earth?

I've been trying to grow veggies on my small balcony, and I keep going back and forth on plastic containers. One side says plastic pots are a MUST for city gardening - they're light, cheap, and won't break when you move them, which is key in tight spots. But the other side hits me with the guilt - all that plastic ends up in landfills, and it just sits there for ages. I tried using old coffee cans and yogurt tubs instead, which felt better for the planet, but they got soggy and fell apart after one season. My tomato plants actually grew bigger in the plastic ones, which makes me think maybe function wins over eco-friendly ideas sometimes. Other gardeners in my building argue we should ALWAYS choose reused stuff to cut waste, even if it means more work. I'm stuck between wanting a thriving garden and doing right by the environment. What's your take - do you use plastic, or do you go the DIY route?

Quit watering on a set schedule last season.

My herbs are way happier with just checking the soil.

My coworker's hanging planter suggestion was a total win for my balcony

She saw my crowded setup and told me to go vertical with some cheap hooks, lmao. Now I'm growing peppers and basil without any floor space issues. How do you all deal with limited balcony room?

I finally accepted that big pots are a waste of space on my tiny balcony.

I used to think bigger pots meant healthier plants, but on my balcony, it just took up all the room. Last summer, I had two large pots for peppers, and they blocked the sun for everything else. Now I use small, stacked planters and get more variety. It's so much better for herbs and lettuces. Why do people push for huge containers when space is tight? I see all these guides saying to use deep pots, but that doesn't work for me. My balcony is only 4 feet wide, and every inch counts. Switching to smaller setups changed my whole garden.

That time my climbing vines reached the neighbor's balcony.

Now I stick to compact plants to keep the peace.

I quit pruning my balcony tomatoes and now they're taking over the railing.

Can we talk about skipping fertilizer for balcony herbs?

I had this EPIPHANY last summer when my basil plants went CRAZY without any extra feed. Everyone says to use plant food, but I found that good soil and sunlight are enough. My herbs tasted stronger and grew fuller than my friend's who used all the fancy stuff. Now I save money and have healthier plants. It just shows that sometimes less is more.

My pepper plants perked up after I tried this kitchen scrap trick.

Adding crushed eggshells to the soil fixed all my blossom rot issues.

My balcony tomatoes did better in coffee cans than fancy pots

I think people waste too much cash on decorative planters for small spaces. I tried growing tomatoes in washed-out coffee cans this season. They soaked up more sun and drained water way faster than my expensive ceramic pots. Now I'm picking ripe tomatoes weeks before my neighbors. Trust me, your plants don't care how pretty their home is.

Hot take: Old takeout containers make perfect seedling starters

In my experience, saving plastic containers from takeout meals is a solid way to reduce waste. I use them to start seeds for my balcony veggies like tomatoes and peppers. Just poke a few holes in the bottom for water to drain out. Your mileage may vary, but I find they last through the whole seedling stage. It saves money on buying new trays and keeps plastic out of the trash. Take this with a grain of salt, but it's helped my garden and my conscience.

Tbh, my balcony basil plant started growing through the railings into the next apartment.

My neighbor asked if I was sharing herbs by airmail.