Vertical gardens serve as a perfect alternative to potted plants. These gardens not only boost the aesthetics of your outdoor space but also provide excellent functionality.
Contrary to popular belief, coming up with a vertical garden is relatively simple.
All you need to do is hang several planters on your rail, wall, fence, lattice or trellis, and train your plants to grow downwards.
Even so, vertical gardens only accommodate certain types of plants. So, it is important to know the type of plants you can grow in a vertical garden.
How do you choose plants for your vertical garden?
When selecting plants to grow in your vertical garden, it is best to evaluate the garden’s location. Check whether the location receives sufficient sunlight and warmth.
Also, read the planting instructions indicated on the pack of the seedlings. From there, you’ll know the best type of plants that can survive in your vertical garden.
Remember, plants are different. So, some can withstand harsh conditions compared to others.
Once you choose the plants to grow in your vertical garden, it is advisable to boost the growth of their roots using the Miracle-Gro Potting Mix.
After 30 days, start feeding the plants with nutrients from the Miracle-Gro® Water-Soluble All-Purpose Plant Food. Observe all manufacturers’ instructions during application.
Both fertilizers help your plants to bloom faster. Moreover, they enable you to attain an abundant harvest.
Can I grow edible plants in a vertical garden?
Fortunately, vertical gardens can grow edible plants such as carrot, strawberry and passion fruit. The first categories of edible plants you can grow in your vertical garden usually have shallow roots and grow within a short time.
Such plants do not need large growing spaces. Some of the best edible plants with shallow roots include radishes and common greens like kale and spinach.
Basil, chives and dills also have shallow roots; hence, they are perfect plant options for your garden.
The other classification of edible plants for vertical gardens is those with long roots that can climb up a fence or trellis. Pole beans, sweet potatoes, and vining cucumbers are a few examples.
When growing such plants, note that you will need to use larger pots of about 18 to 24 inches in diameter. Failure to do so would hinder the growth of these plants.
The perfect flowering plants to grow in a vertical garden
When it comes to flowering plants, annuals are the best. These plants bloom faster; thus, they decorate your garden within a short period. Moreover, annual flowers don’t need a lot of soil to grow.
If possible, start by growing high-quality annual flowers. Flowering plants that grow best in a vertical garden fall under two classifications.
The first category of annual flowers thrives in self-watering containers that are large enough to accommodate their size. Some include the morning glory, hyacinth beans, and the black-eyed Susan vine.
The other type includes annual summer flowers like verbena, geranium flowers, and lobelia. Spring annual flowers also fall under this category. They include violas and nasturtiums.
Foliage plants to grow in vertical gardens
Some of the foliage plants you can grow in a vertical garden include sedum, succulents and bromeliads. These plants are highly adaptable and can survive in dry areas.
You can also grow spider plants, caladium and ferns in your vertical garden. However, note that these plants do not do well in dry conditions and need a lot of shade to thrive.
Consider the size of your vertical garden before deciding to grow foliage plants. Then, you’ll know the plant species that can thrive in your garden.
Best Plants for Indoor Vertical Gardening
Did you know that you can create a vertical garden in your indoor living area? Vertical gardens transform your indoor space into a tranquil haven.
Nevertheless, not all plants can survive in enclosed locations. If you plan to bring your vertical garden indoors, below are some of the plants you should consider.
Golden Pothos:
This plant is a popular indoor plant among most homeowners. The golden pothos requires minimal light to grow. Thus, this plant thrive in indoor spaces. You can grow them in your living room area, bathroom space, or kitchen.
Air plants:
Air plants require a lot of moisture. Gardening experts advise placing air plants in your bathroom or kitchen. Here, it is much easier to dip them in water from time to time.
Ferns:
Ferns also make perfect indoor plants. However, they require a lot of indirect light. Therefore, you can place them directly opposite your living room or kitchen window.
Can you grow tomatoes in a vertical garden?
Tomatoes are one of the best plants to grow in your kitchen garden. These plants can take up a lot of space, hence leaving no room for other plants to grow.
Fortunately, you can solve this issue by growing tomatoes in a vertical garden. The process is relatively straightforward.
All you have to do is follow all the appropriate steps and have the right equipment. Let’s look at the detailed steps involved in growing big tomatoes in a vertical garden.
How to grow tomatoes in a vertical garden
Step one: Choosing an appropriate location
The first step is undoubtedly finding a good place where your tomatoes will thrive. When selecting the location, consider what tomatoes need for growth.
Typically, tomatoes need light and warmth. Thus, your area should have the right temperatures and receive sufficient sunlight.
If you plan to grow tomatoes inside, the location you choose should be near a large window and receive enough warmth. Consider using artificial lights like fluorescent lights to boost the growth of your tomatoes.
Step two: Creating a vertical garden
When coming up with a vertical garden, you need a pot/container or bucket. Gardening experts advise using galvanized buckets.
Fill the bucket with good potting soil and place the seedlings or transplants. Hang the bucket on a trellis, balcony, fence, or wall. Ensure that the plants in the bucket face upside down.
This way, they will grow facing downwards. After hanging the galvanized bucket on the wall, consider decorating it with paint or stickers.
Doing this makes the vertical garden more attractive. In turn, you make your outdoor space more appealing. Tomatoes usually require containers that are larger than 8 inches in diameter and height.
Planting tomatoes or carrots in smaller containers will hinder their growth. Also, note that buckets with more soil are heavy. Thus, they require a strong support system.
Different types of vertical gardens
As mentioned earlier, vertical gardens make your outdoor/indoor space more beautiful. Today, there are many styles of vertical gardens you can create. They include:
Pocket garden
If you have limited space, consider creating a pocket garden. Pocket gardens create a focal point in your space. You can plant a pocket garden on a bare wall or any other underutilized space in your yard.
Gutter garden
This is one of the most creative garden styles to try. Gutter gardens are perfect for vertical spaces. All you need to do is recycle your old pieces of gutters and hang them along the fence or balcony rail. Create drainage holes if necessary.
Hanging baskets
Hanging baskets modify your space into a premium haven. Creating a hanging basket requires you to hang multiple planting pots on your wall or garden trellis.
Use different hooks to hang these pots. The aesthetics offered by hanging baskets are indisputably awe-inspiring.
Start your vertical garden today
Vertical gardens offer a wide array of benefits. They allow you to grow edible fruits and create a warm, cozy environment in your backyard.
However, you have to select the right plants for your vertical garden. Some plants do not thrive in vertical gardens while others may need you to have a different garden like a raised garden or just a standard one.
Thus, conduct thorough research on the best plants to grow in your vertical garden. Some of the best plants for a vertical garden include greens, shrubs, and annual flowers.