Downsizing from a large garden to a plant-filled balcony | Garden Inspiration | Gardening Australia

Tammy revisits horticulturist and garden writer Steve Falcioni in his new garden, where he’s been challenged to downsize his huge collection of potted plants. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
But first, she catches up with him at his community garden plot, where vegies dominate but there are still some flowers “because I can’t help myself”.
At home, it’s all flowers.
In 2019 we visited Steve’s extraordinary rooftop oasis packed with hundreds of potted plants of every type. His new garden is also on a rooftop but much smaller - only 6m by 4m. While some plants have had to go (“Which was really, really hard,” he says), the new garden is just as packed with colour, form and texture.
There are fruit trees, flowering shrubs, small trees, succulents and cacti, lush tropical climbers, roses, carnivorous plants and more.
He’s had to get used to different light levels, as it’s sunnier, but a lot windier too, which has been challenging and hard on the plants; a few plants didn’t make the transition.
Steve has created a sense of depth using layers. All around the edges of the space are rectangular troughs, with the back ones slightly higher, but the plant cover is so thick you can’t see these. Hiding the pots helps with the illusion of depth but also helps insulate the plants’ roots from the hot afternoon sun.
Steve thinks the extra humidity from the massed planting also helps create a milder microclimate.
Tillandsias have really thrived here, as have Bromeliads, succulents, and bulbs.
As an organic gardener, Steve focuses on making the soil as healthy as it can be to help the plants survive.
A smaller south-facing balcony offers some time out from the sun if plants are struggling.
Filmed on Dharug Country in Belmore, NSW
Featured plants:
Air plant (Tillandsia cv)
Bromeliad (Goudaea ospinae var. gruberi)
Bromeliad (Dyckia sp.)
Stalked bulbine lily (Bulbine frutescens)
Always check species before planting; they may be environmental weeds in your area.
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[@Kinnibari]

So nice to have some small gardens featured

[@hazelem1266]

I hoard pots and pans. I can’t walk past a place selling pots without breaking into a cold sweat and having palpitations. I had 53 pots. Two years ago we moved and tried to downsize. My word, it was so hard and painful because so many were gifts from loved ones in different parts of the world. Also coupled with my serial pot hoarding nature. I got rid of 15 but bought another 4. It is not easy.

[@neens1369]

Yes the garden looks happy😁

[@Pachinko1]

So beautiful! Look at the sunset too!

[@gardentours]

That's an amazing garden with a great view 🌱🌸👍🏼

[@mevh6601]

Just amazing! I love that it's set up and growing so lush that the pots are invisible. This is inspiring!

[@terracegardeningislamabad7814]

Unbelievably beautiful garden and a nice view ❤❤❤

[@dovinhgarden05]

Tuyệt vời❤❤❤

[@longyang888]

Too many pot plants in balcony may over stress the balcony and building structure. Many poorly built balcony don't even have proper support columns at each corner. It is a safety hazard when put on too much additional weights , like pot plants. One needs to consult your strata for safety precaution.

[@moniquemannaert3468]

200 kg/m2 should be max, so count your pot, soil, growing plant and water! Use composite pots to reduce weight; a worth it investment. Multiple plants in one larger pot is more stable and easier to set up and support. Drill holes on the side, not in the base, to create a water reservoir. Use horticultural or pizza oven insulating gritt to reduce weight. Mix 1/4 organic compost through organic soil mix to retain water longer, reducing using water overall. A drip line is handy in windy spots. Protect in winter. Use fruit trees with small rootstock and have a few simultaneously in bloom: cross pollination gives better results, pear, apple and plum do really well. Mix herbs and veggies with perennials and (bi)annuals for full display and wildlife. Have a large shallow dish with fresh water to attract birds. They help with aphids. Have colourful pots designed to go over the railing with bulbs, herbs and evergreens. I built a pergola, giving me clean strawberries and herbs in hanging baskets, verticals for courgettes, roses, etc. and a hammock and klamboe amongst lanterns. Use a recycled colourful scaffolding net with bamboo cane's for lightweight frame to create shelter and windbreaker overhead with tie wraps during heat spells. Have yet to build a little pond with solar fountain. I hope to sleep in the hammock during hot spells as I live in a city. Just go for it and have fun..! 🌿👒🐦

[@alexiscolby9415]

Yes you have raised some great points…still I don’t think it should stop anyone from enjoying gardening due to limited space but people do need to be mindful if no precautions when considering a garden. Planning to the letter for space and don’t just make a huge garden fill every space but just start small and build from there continuously editing the space. I like to have seating and a small table and an area for my small dogs to frolick. So for me, even though the dream of urban gardening is the start towards off grid small farm holding - I’m concerned about weight and volume and strata etc t I live in an apartment as well it has x4 balconies (2 upstairs in each room and x2 downstairs in lounge on either side). I was elated wen first moved in as had plans to make balcony gardens but then as I was planning my gardens I because anxious about the max. weight and so for now I have only a few plants I can add a few more but I’ll be sticking with mini varieties (mini capsicum cherry tomatoes) and dwarf fruit plants and only 1 or 2 per balcony. I don’t want to weigh the balcony’s down.

[@longyang888]

@@alexiscolby9415 Another issue is the wind intensity on the high rise unit balcony. Many tall plants may not be suitable from my experience.

[@mdalhazali2633]

i am working in the Genders