Hanging Gardens a la Malaysia

Thinking of going for a bit of green in your apartment? Better yet, up the feel-good factor with a water garden right in your balcony or in a corner nook in your living room. But first, take stock of the 3P’s - the plusses, posers and pointers - on having an “oasis on high”.

“Even as more and more residential buildings are reaching for the sky, apartment dwellers are learning how to make the most out of their abodes and turning underused space such as the balcony into customized personal retreats,” says YJ Low, landscape designer of Nature Decor. “And the benefits are all too obvious.”

Terra Garden, is another landscape company who stands by the philosophy that making the most of the outdoors can add infinite pleasure to urban living, even for high-rise apartment dwellers.

“With space going at a premium and with more and more Malaysians taking to the skies in their choice of real estate, apartment dwellers are staking out their own patch of greenery right in their “backyard” – the balcony – and bringing a whole new dimension to high-rise living,” concedes Desmond Ho of Terra Garden.

The Plusses

More usable square footage is created, adding greater value to the real estate price of the property.

Absorb some of noise from the outside world and in the case of a water garden, the sound of moving water can create a special allure.

Enhance the views from the indoors.

Plants help filter out the dust and smog from entering the apartment.

Plants provide dappled shade, which aids in cooling the temperature in the apartment.

Introduce colour, charm and character to the urban skyline.

Container-cultivated herbs and vegetables can be double the nutrition and flavor when harvested right from your own balcony garden.

The Posers

• How do you plan to use the balcony garden and how much time do you foresee yourself spending there? Is it intended to be an open tropical nook bathed in a splash of colour or a well-screened space to provide privacy from adjacent high-rise buildings?
• Which direction is the balcony facing and whether it is recessed and shielded from the sun and wind or exposed to the elements?
• What are the building regulations and limitations as stipulated in the agreement or rental contracts? Are there any rules governing the type of plants and containers that can be used regarding the height and weight? Or can anything be attached to the walls of the balcony or the railings?
• How will the plants be watered? Is there any available faucet in the balcony or can a lightweight hose be connected to the bathroom or kitchen tap? What about the drainage? Is the floor sloped with a drain?

The Pointers

Plants

The amount of sunlight the balcony receives will determine the choice of plants. Flowering plants, herbs and vegetable generally require lots of sunlight and are ideal for a sunny spot but opt for shade-loving trailing plants such as ferns or evergreens if the balcony receives little sunlight. Bonsai will feel right at home in the balcony garden as will dwarf varieties of shrubs, hibiscus being one. Vines are ideal for a shady nook if trained up a trellis.

Containers

Weight and drainage are crucial factors to consider. Plastic containers are ideal as they are lightweight, come in myriad of shapes and sizes and are made to look like real terracotta. Wood and fibreglass are also popular alternatives. Preferably, place saucers below the containers and have them emptied after watering so that plants will not wallow in water. To reduce weight of soil and ensure proper drainage especially in large containers, use lightweight potting mix. Ensure that all balcony pots and planters are securely attached to avoid potential accidents; setting pots on railings are an absolute no-no! Mount pots to balcony walls rather than to railings so as to minimise the load on the balcony.

That balcony gardens are short on space is a given but the design principles are just as relevant as in a grounded garden.

Design

• A clever way to get around growing a variety of plants in a long narrow space is by using a combination of containers and plant sizes to create a three-tier effect. Tall upright plants are placed at the back against the wall or a trellis or as a centrepiece in the planter box but lush, medium-height plants are weaved into the composition. Trailing, feathery foliage plants are planted at the edges so that they cascade over the sides of the container and soften the edges.
• Group interesting foliage plants together using flowers as accents. Repeat these plant groupings in different parts of the balcony.
• Create focal points using ornamental shrubs, plants with showy flowers, striking variegated foliage plants or those with interesting textures.
• Install a trellis for a vertical planting of climbers as this is an effective way to get around limited space and to introduce a riot of greenery and privacy. Hanging baskets of trailing ferns or flowering vines are also examples of using vertical space which add instant impact to the scene.
• Enrich the balcony garden with pots of fragrant plants that will not only make for a seductive seating area but infuse the indoors with their perfume when carried in by the breeze.

No-Fuss Water Gardens

Few things can match the calming sound of flowing water, the ethereal beauty of aquatic foliage as it is caressed by the breeze, and the feeling of being in sync with nature. “The water garden is an invaluable stress-reliever as it is capable of amazing restorative effects on body, soul and mind.” asserts Low. “The addition of a water fountain right in the balcony or in a shaded corner of the living-room can add visual flair and is especially suitable for the balcony as it is water-wise with the water re-circulating through a submersible pump.”

Nature Décor installs water features in a variety of stunning designs and sizes, and which have been molded to simulate the look of real stone or metal. “Fashioned from lightweight and durable synthetic materials such as fiberglass or resin, they are incredibly easy to set up or dismantle and can be moved on a whim. They are also low-maintenance as a biological filtering system skims the surface and prevents the filter from clogging,” continues Low.

Indoor water features not only provide focal points to draw the family or friends to the balcony or the living-room but also humidify the air and mask the cacophony of noises outside the apartment.

Is it any wonder then that given the various benefits, the water feature is seeing an explosion? As more homeowners are exposed to the water feature, many are discovering that having a water garden particularly in the balcony doesn’t require a lot of time or money,” Low happily concludes.