Balcony gardening guides

Short, practical guides for growing in pots, each checked against university extension services and other authoritative sources cited on the page.

• Pots and drainageChoosing pot sizes and materials, why every pot needs a hole, why gravel does not help, and a volume calculator.
• Potting mixWhy garden soil fails in pots, what coir, perlite, vermiculite and compost each do, and published example recipes.
• Seeds or saplings?Which plants to sow directly, which to raise or buy as seedlings, which to grow from cuttings, and how to check a nursery plant.
• Composting basicsGreens, browns, water and air; what to leave out; worm bins for flats; and how to tell compost is ready.
• Pests, the IPM wayIntegrated pest management for balconies: check often, remove by hand or water, and spray only when needed.
• Care calendarWatering and jobs for summer, monsoon and winter.