🌱 How to Start a Terrace Garden from Scratch
In the hustle of city life, having a small green corner at home can bring peace, fresh air, and a sense of satisfaction. A terrace garden not only beautifies your home but also allows you to grow your own vegetables, flowers, and herbs — right above your head!
If you’ve ever wondered “How do I start a terrace garden from scratch?”, this guide will walk you through everything — from setup to plant care — in a simple, step-by-step manner.
🌿 Why Start a Terrace Garden?
Before we dig into the “how,” let’s quickly understand the “why.”
A terrace garden helps you:
- Reduce heat inside the home
- Improve air quality
- Enjoy fresh, chemical-free vegetables
- Relieve stress and boost mental health
- Add aesthetic value to your house
And the best part — you don’t need a lot of space or experience to begin!
🪴 Step 1: Assess Your Terrace Space
Before planting, you need to know your terrace’s condition and capacity.
Check for:
- Waterproofing:
Make sure your terrace has a waterproof layer to prevent leakage. You can use waterproof sheets or cement coatings. - Sunlight Exposure:
Most plants need 4–6 hours of sunlight daily. Observe which areas get full sun and which remain shaded. - Drainage System:
Proper drainage is crucial. Ensure that excess water can flow out easily to prevent root rot. - Weight-Bearing Capacity:
Avoid using very heavy pots. Instead, use lightweight grow bags, which are perfect for terrace gardening.
Pro Tip: Use high-quality Dream Aangan Grow Bags, which are durable, reusable, and easy to move around.
🌸 Step 2: Plan the Layout
Sketch a rough plan of your terrace garden before you start placing pots.
Divide areas for:
- Vegetables and herbs
- Flowering plants
- Decorative plants or small trees
- A seating area or relaxation corner
This helps you maintain balance and makes your terrace look beautiful and organized.
🌿 Step 3: Choose the Right Containers
You can grow plants in a variety of containers depending on the plant type:
- Grow Bags (12×12, 15×15): Perfect for vegetables like tomato, brinjal, chili, or spinach.
- Small Pots: Ideal for herbs like mint, tulsi, or coriander.
- Recycled Containers: Buckets, bottles, and boxes can be reused creatively.
Always ensure your containers have drainage holes at the bottom.
Explore durable grow bags in various sizes on dreamaangan.com/products/ .
🌱 Step 4: Prepare the Premium Nutrient-Rich Potting Mix (Organic Formula)
Ingredients & Ratio (by weight or volume)
| Ingredient | Ratio | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Vermicompost | 40% | Base organic matter — improves soil structure and microbial activity |
| Neem Khali (Neem Cake Powder) | 10% | Natural pesticide + nitrogen source |
| Sarso Khali (Mustard Cake Powder) | 10% | Provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for plant growth |
| Calcium Powder (Marble Dust) | 10% | Balances pH, strengthens cell walls, prevents blossom end rot |
| Rock Phosphate | 10% | Promotes root development and flowering |
| Cocopeat or Garden Soil (optional addition) | 20% | Helps with aeration and moisture retention |
✅ Total = 100% balanced mix
🪴 How to Prepare:
- Take a clean container or tub for mixing.
- Add vermicompost as the base layer (40%).
- Mix in neem khali and sarso khali thoroughly.
- Add rock phosphate and calcium powder, ensuring an even blend.
- If you want a lighter texture, mix in cocopeat or normal soil (up to 20%).
- Blend well — the mix should feel soft, airy, and moist (not sticky).
- Keep it in a shaded area for 3–4 days before using to let it settle and reduce any strong odor from khali.
🌼 Step 5: Choose the Right Plants
Start small and choose easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plants first.
🌱 Best Plants for Terrace Gardening in India
Vegetables:
Tomato, brinjal, okra, spinach, coriander, fenugreek, chili
Flowers:
Marigold, hibiscus, rose, jasmine, petunia
Herbs:
Tulsi, mint, curry leaves, lemongrass
Indoor/Decorative Plants:
Money plant, spider plant, snake plant, areca palm
💡 Tip: Mix flowering and edible plants to make your terrace colorful and productive.
💧 Step 6: Watering and Fertilization
Watering Tips:
- Water early in the morning or late evening.
- Avoid overwatering — always check soil moisture first.
- In summer, water daily; in winter, every 2–3 days may be enough.
🌾 Fertilizing Schedule:
Feed your plants every 15–20 days with organic fertilizers like:
- Mustard Cake (Sarso Khali) – promotes healthy leaf growth
- Neem Khali – natural pest control and nitrogen source
- Seaweed Extract – improves overall plant health and flower blooming. 🪴 All these organic fertilizers are available at DreamAangan.com
☀️ Step 7: Protect Your Plants
Terraces face harsh conditions — strong sun, heavy rain, and winds. Protect your plants with these measures:
- Use shade nets (50%) to filter sunlight.
- Place windbreaks if your terrace is too windy.
- Use mulch (dry leaves, cocopeat, or straw) to retain soil moisture.
- Spray neem oil once a week to prevent pest attacks.
🪴 Step 8: Maintain Your Garden
Gardening is not a one-time job — it’s a routine of love and care.
Here’s what to do regularly:
- Remove dead leaves and weeds.
- Add compost every 15 days.
- Rotate crops after each season.
- Clean pots and check for pest infestations.
Reuse old soil by adding vermicompost or organic fertilizer.
🌺 Bonus: Create a Relaxing Green Space
Apart from plants, add a small chair or bench to enjoy your green retreat. You can decorate with:
- Fairy lights
- Hanging pots
- Bamboo or terracotta décor Your terrace can become your favorite evening spot — peaceful, refreshing, and inspiring.
So take the first step today — grab some grow bags, potting mix, and fertilizers from DreamAangan.com and begin your journey toward a greener home.
