Starting a Small Garden on Your Balcony - The Mental Health Benefits of Growing Plants
About a 3 min read.
The Science of Horticultural Therapy
It has long been known from experience that gardening is good for mental health, and in recent years scientific evidence has been accumulating. A Dutch study reported that cortisol (the stress hormone) dropped significantly after 30 minutes of gardening, and the effect was greater than after 30 minutes of reading.
The act of touching soil itself also has benefits. Research has shown that a bacterium found in soil called Mycobacterium vaccae promotes the secretion of serotonin. The feeling that "getting your hands in the dirt makes you feel better" has a biochemical basis.
Four Ways to Start in a Small Space
1. Start with Herbs
Basil, mint, rosemary, parsley. Herbs grow in small pots, and a sunny windowsill is all you need. Because you can use the herbs you grow in cooking, the cycle of "grow, harvest, eat" generates a sense of accomplishment. Basil can be harvested about four weeks after sowing, making it ideal for a beginner's first success.
2. Succulents and Cacti
These plants require infrequent watering and are easy to manage even for busy people. Many varieties need watering only about once a week, which reduces the anxiety of "what if I let it die." They also come in a wide variety of appearances, so simply lining up small pots doubles as interior decor. (Books on gardening basics can help you learn the fundamentals)
3. Hydroponics
This method grows plants using only water, without soil. Pea shoots and sprouts can be grown in a single cup on your kitchen counter. Pea shoots can be re-harvested in 7 to 10 days just by soaking the roots in water, which also saves on grocery costs. It is also suitable for people who are bothered by soil mess or who dislike insects.
4. Balcony Vegetable Garden
With planters, you can grow vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, radishes, and leaf lettuce. Cherry tomatoes can be harvested about two months after planting seedlings, and a single plant can produce dozens of fruits. The experience of eating vegetables you grew yourself brings a satisfaction entirely different from buying them at the supermarket. (Books on home vegetable gardening are also a helpful reference)
Tips for Keeping It Going
Don't Aim for Perfection
Plants sometimes wither. That is not failure; it is learning. "This plant needed more sunlight." "I overwatered it." The experience of losing a plant becomes the knowledge to grow the next one better.
Enjoy Observing
If you make a habit of observing your plants every morning, you will start noticing small changes. A new leaf has appeared, a bud has formed, a flower has bloomed. This awareness of small changes is mindfulness practice in itself. Plants do not adjust their growth to suit human schedules. Matching your own pace to their slow rhythm becomes a source of healing for the hurried modern person.
Summary
Gardening does not require a large yard. You can start with a single herb on your windowsill. Touching the soil, watching growth, and harvesting. This entire process reliably restores a mind worn out by the digital world.