Category: Fertilizers

Balcony gardening isn’t a fad, it has become a mainstream habit for many Indians in 2025. From apartment terraces in Mumbai to small verandahs in smaller towns, people are turning tiny outdoor spaces into food, flower and herb gardens. If you’ve wondered why so many friends, neighbours or influencers suddenly have green balconies, this post explains the big reasons and gives a simple, realistic starter plan you can use this weekend.

What’s actually changing

People are gardening because it’s practical (fresh herbs and veggies), affordable (small-scale inputs), calming (mental health), and social (you see it on reels and WhatsApp groups). Policy nudges and local programmes are also making gardening easier in some cities. Together, those forces pushed balcony gardening from “cute hobby” to “everyday thing” in 2025.

6 reasons balcony gardening took off in India 

1) The post-pandemic habit stuck

During COVID people discovered how satisfying and practical growing even a few greens could be. Studies and reviews show home-gardening activity rose during the pandemic and many people kept gardening afterward. For many, it began as food security and became a lasting hobby.

2) Health, wellness and the calming effect of plants

Gardening reduces stress and gives a daily ‘win’, a short, proven mental-health benefit that fits busy urban lifestyle. That’s a strong pull for young professionals and families alike. Plus, people like fresh herbs for cooking.

3) Social media & short videos made it look easy and beautiful

Instagram and short-form video platforms turned tiny balcony makeovers into shareable content. Vertical gardens, smart planters and trending micro-greens are everywhere and people copy what they see. That visual momentum spreads fast.

4) Low-cost products and small packs made it doable

Small packs of seeds, potting mixes and starter kits (sold on marketplaces) mean you don’t need a big investment. Retail + e-commerce (including Amazon listings) made buying the right starter items simple and affordable. Biosar offers small trial packs on Amazon that are perfect for beginners.

5) City policy & local programs nudging green roofs and rooftops

Some city and state programmes are actively promoting rooftop and urban gardening (training, demo kits, free workshops), which helps normalise and support the hobby. These government initiatives remove friction for many newcomers.

6) Food prices, supply concerns and tiny acts of self-sufficiency

Rising food prices and interest in knowing what’s in your food make growing even a few herbs or salad greens attractive, you eat better and spend a little less on the things you use every day.

Who’s doing it and why it matters for Biosar  

• Young professionals & families : For fresh herbs, a calming hobby, and a nice balcony backdrop for photos.

• Retirees & hobbyists: More time and interest in flowers, ornamentals and seasonal veggies.

• Students / single-person households : Micro-greens and herbs for low-effort food.

• Small restaurants / cafés : Grow high-freshness herbs on-site.

For Biosar, this is a great audience: Hobby gardeners want small packs (starter kits, potting mixes, micronutrients and pest-control for potted plants). We sell starter packs on Amazon and provide WhatsApp support for first-timers.

How to start a balcony garden this weekend in 5 easy steps 

No fancy gear needed. Keep it small and test what works.

1. Pick 3 easy plants : Choice matters. Start with: basil (tulsi/Italian), coriander (cilantro), and a leafy green (spinach/saag or lettuce). These grow fast and reward you quickly.

2. Use a ready potting mix or a small potting kit : Don’t try to make perfect soil at first. Choose a light, well-draining mix (Biosar’s starter potting mix or similar). Small 1–2 kg packs are enough for a few pots.

3. Choose containers with drainage : Pots, recycled buckets, or fabric grow bags work. Drill or ensure holes so roots don’t sit in water.

4. Sow, water, and logs : Sow seeds at the recommended depth, water gently, and write down the sowing date. A notebook or a notes app is fine.

5. Watch and learn (10–14 days) : Seedlings will show if conditions suit them. Thin to 2–3 healthy seedlings per pot. If pests show up, send a photo in your gardening group or reach out to Biosar’s WhatsApp for quick tips.

Quick pro-tip : Start one pot as an experiment and one as your ‘produce’ pot. If one fails, you still have the other to learn from

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them 

• Overwatering : Most balcony plants die from too much water. Let the top soil dry a bit between watering.

• Wrong soil : Heavy garden soil in pots will suffocate roots. Use potting mix.

• Starting too many varieties : Limit to 2–3 at first. Learn one season at a time.

• No drainage : Always make sure pots drain.

If you’re uncertain, take a photo and send it on WhatsApp. Quick troubleshooting is usually enough.

How Biosar helps beginner balcony gardeners

• Starter kits on Amazon : Potting mix, and simple care guides: low cost, low risk. The suitable options for this would be Biosar Hira and Biosar Cams.

• WhatsApp support : Send pictures, get quick, plain-language advice (suitable pack sizes, watering tips, pest fixes, etc).

• Short how-to videos : Step-by-step potting and sowing demos you can watch on your phone.

• Small trial packs : For nutrients and safe pest controls suited to potted plants. Test before committing to larger packs.

 Why this trend is good for India  

Balcony gardening taps into health, sustainability and cost-savings. It reconnects people to food and nature, creates micro-ecosystems in dense cities, and builds a community of casual growers who learn and share. For businesses like Biosar, it opens a friendly on-ramp to help people buy the right small packs, learn safe practices and grow confidence, one pot at a time.

References

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9242931/
• https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1373
• https://www.urbanplant.in/a/blog/post/hot-urban-gardening-trends-2025-small-spaces-kitchen-herb-gardens?
srsltid=AfmBOoqFah9j9H20q5v1m4pyPRitD_OYODR9W3OvZf6x7lfoEP-bpY6v&
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/govt-launches-vehicle-to-promote-rooftop-gardening/
articleshow/122326057.cms

1) Banana-peel fertilizer (bury or soak peels)

What people do : Bury banana peels in the pot / soak peels in water for a few days and use the water on plants.

Why it’s claimed to work : Banana peels contain potassium (K) and small amounts of other nutrients.

How to test : One pot gets banana-peel tea (1 peel soaked 48 hrs), another gets plain water. Compare growth for 4–6 weeks.

Verdict : Partially effective. Banana peels release K slowly and can help in very small, local doses — but decomposition is slow in pots and can attract fruit flies if left on soil surface.

Risk : Minor. Smell/flies if not buried or composted.

Biosar alternative : Use a balanced pot-safe potassium + micronutrient fertilizer (small-dose liquid or soluble NPK) for a predictable K boost. We would recommend Biosar KMB + Biosar Gromax Banana respectively and for NPK, we would recommend our very own Biosar NPK.

2) Eggshell water / crushed eggshells

What people do : Crush shells or soak them in water to make ‘calcium water’.

Why it’s claimed to work : Eggshells are mostly calcium carbonate.

How to test : Add crushed shells to one pot’s soil vs. control. Or use soaked-shell water weekly on seedlings vs. water. Observe for 6–8 weeks.

Verdict : Mostly ineffective as a quick fix. Eggshells release calcium very slowly unless finely powdered and composted; ‘shell water’ is very weak. Good in compost long-term, not a fast corrective for calcium deficiency.

Risk : Minimal, but may attract pests if fresh food residue remains.

Biosar alternative : Use a chelated calcium foliar spray or a compost + calcium source recommended by agronomy for a measurable correction. We recommend Biosar Hira Plus + Biosar Cams respectively.

3) Coffee grounds in potting mix  

What people do : Sprinkle used coffee grounds on soil or mix into potting mix.

Why it’s claimed to work : Adds organic matter and (supposedly) acidity; thought to feed plants.

How to test : Mix a thin layer (10% by volume) in one pot vs none; monitor plant vigor and drainage.

Verdict: Mixed, useful only sparingly. Coffee grounds are good compost ingredients but fresh grounds can compact, create crusts, or temporarily tie up nitrogen. Small amounts mixed into compost are fine; straight heavy use in pots can harm drainage.

Risk : Overuse → root stress; fresh grounds may be slightly phytotoxic to seedlings.

Biosar alternative : Use ready-made potting mixes like Biosar Hira and small compost-amendment packs designed for pots like Biosar Neem Plus (these keep drainage and nutrition balanced).

4) Rice water (water from rinsing/saving water after cooking rice) 

What people do : Use rice rinse/wash water to water plants.

Why it’s claimed to work : Rice water contains trace nutrients and starch.

How to test : Water one set of pots with diluted rice water (cooled) and another with plain water for a month.

Verdict : Mildly effective but inconsistent. Rice water adds a tiny amount of organic matter; risks include stickiness on leaves and attracting ants/molds if overused. Dilute well and avoid foliar contact.

Risk : Mold/fermentation if stored warm.

Biosar alternative : Small organic liquid feeds or compost tea, recommending Biosar Natura (controlled), or our mild liquid feed trial packs for pots.

5) Ice cube watering for potted plants (especially orchids/houseplants) 

What people do : Put 1–2 ice cubes on potting mix once a week.

Why it’s claimed to work : Supposed to give slow-release water and prevent overwatering.

How to test : Use ice-cube schedule on one pot, manual watering on another. Check root health and growth over a month.

Verdict : Mostly a gimmick. Ice is inconsistent, too cold for some tropical roots and not a replacement for proper watering technique. Works only for specific plants (some orchids used in certain commercial displays), but not a universal hack.

Risk : Cold shock in sensitive species; uneven moisture distribution.

Biosar alternative : Teach correct watering frequency by pot size and soil moisture or use a moistureretaining potting mix that holds water without over-saturation.

6) Cinnamon as rooting hormone / antifungal (sprinkle on cuttings)

What people do : Dip cuttings in cinnamon powder or sprinkle cinnamon at cut sites.

Why it’s claimed to work : Cinnamon has mild antifungal properties and can reduce rot; may aid rooting.

How to test : Treat half your cuttings with cinnamon and half with no treatment or commercial rooting hormone; observe rooting rate over weeks.

Verdict : Usefully effective for hobby scale. Cinnamon can help prevent fungal rot on cuttings and is a safe, cheap option. It’s not as potent as commercial rooting hormones for stimulating roots, but it’s a good, natural anti-rot step.

Risk : Low. Don’t overdo it: fine dust everywhere.

Biosar alternative : Biosar rooting hormone like our Biosar Rootset or a safe bio-root stimulant for faster, predictable rooting.

7) Aloe Vera gel on cuttings / foliar

What people do: Use fresh aloe gel on cut ends or dilute gel as a foliar spray.

Why it’s claimed to work : Aloe contains compounds believed to help root formation and has antimicrobial action.

How to test : Apply aloe gel to some cuttings and compare to untreated and commercial-hormone treated controls.

Verdict : Moderately effective for cuttings. Aloe can help as a natural antiseptic and slight rooting aid; results vary by species. Not a guaranteed substitute for commercial rooting hormones.

Risk : Low; gel spoils if stored.

Biosar alternative : Small rooting hormone sachets for reproducible nursery results.

8) Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in seed soaking / soil for aeration  

What people do : Dilute food-grade hydrogen peroxide and soak seeds or water soil to reduce fungal load and increase oxygen near roots.

Why it’s claimed to work : H₂O₂ breaks down into water + oxygen, briefly raising available oxygen and killing some pathogens.

How to test : Use a 3% H₂O₂ diluted 1:10–1:20 for a short seed soak vs plain water; observe germination. (Do NOT use undiluted!)

Verdict : Conditionally useful. A very mild H₂O₂ soak can reduce seed-borne fungi and aid germination if used cautiously. Overuse can damage delicate roots. Follow safe dilutions.

Risk : Moderate if misused. High concentrations damage tissue.

Biosar alternative : Use our seed treatment guidelines or lab-tested seed disinfectants and fungicide treatments (as per label) for important crops. One of our best-sellers for this is Biosar Tricho (Trichoderma Viride).

9) Milk spray for powdery mildew  

What people do : Spray diluted (1:9 to 1:10) milk solution on leaves to control powdery mildew.

Why it’s claimed to work : Milk proteins can have antifungal effects and a beneficial microbial effect on leaf surfaces.

How to test : Spray one infected plant with diluted milk and another with water; watch disease progress.

Verdict : Sometimes effective for light infections. Milk sprays can reduce powdery mildew in mild cases, especially with repeated treatments, but are not a cure for severe outbreaks. May smell if overused.

Risk : Minimal; possible odour/attracting insects.

Biosar alternative : Use a recommended bio-fungicide, Biosar Pseudo (Pseudomonas fluorescens) or targeted fungicide, Biosar Sul (80% WP) for reliable disease control, especially in commercial settings.

10) Beer/Snail trap for slugs & snails 

What people do : Fill a shallow container with beer and bury so its rim is level with soil: slugs/snails fall in and drown.

Why it’s claimed to work : Slugs are attracted to fermenting liquids.
How to test : Place traps near affected plants and monitor damage.

Verdict : Effective locally. Beer traps attract and eliminate some slugs but won’t remove all pests and need maintenance. Not a full pest-management plan.

Risk : Low (may attract other animals).

Biosar alternative : Use cultural controls (mulch management), physical barriers, and approved snail/slug baits or biological predators where appropriate. We suggest our Biosar Trap.

How to run a cheap home test for any of these  

   1. Pick one hack and one plant species (same age/size).
2. Use paired pots: Hack pot vs Control pot. Keep everything else identical.
3. Record the start date, take a photo, and note watering and light.
4. Observe for 3–8 weeks (seedlings shorter; mature plants longer).
5. Judge by growth, leaf colour, pests, smell, and root health.
If a hack looks promising, scale slowly.

When to use hacks vs When to use tested products  

• Hacks are cheap and fine for experiments, beginners, and low-stakes hobby gardening. They’re great for learning and sharing on social media.

• Hacks are not a substitute for reliable fertiliser, nutrient correction (from soil tests), or professional pest control when you care about predictable yields or commercial outcomes.

• If you need reproducible results (FPOs, farms, plantations) use lab-tested products, soil/leaf testing and agronomy advice (Biosar can help with packs on Amazon or bulk scheduling via WhatsApp/partnerships).

Safety & a short checklist  

• Start small and test.
• Never use concentrated household chemicals undiluted (H₂O₂, etc.).
• Don’t mix unknown tank mixes: do a jar compatibility test.
• Label any homemade sprays and don’t store them for long.
• Keep food-derived liquids (rice water, banana peels) composted or diluted to avoid pests.

Biosar Catalogue (what to buy instead of guessing)

• Biosar NPK (Pot-friendly NPK) + Biosar Gromax Banana (Micronutrient liquid): Feeding.
• Biosar Rootset (Rooting hormone sachets): For consistent cutting success.
• Biosar Tricho / Biosar NPK (Bio-fungicide / Bio-fertiliser packs): For safe disease control and soil health.
• Biosar Hira (Starter potting mix & compost): Good soil beats home hacks.
• WhatsApp : Send a photo, get a short plan.

References :

1) Banana-peel fertilizer
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351597179_Effectiveness_of_Banana_PeelBased_Liquid_Organic_Fertilizer_Application_as_Potassium_Source_for_Eggplant_Solanum_melongena_L_
Growth_and_Yield
2) Eggshells as calcium source
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
363522714_Eggshell_powder_as_calcium_source_on_growth_and_yield_of_groundnut_Arachis_hypogaea_L
3) Coffee grounds in potting mix
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866716300103
4) Rice-water / rinse water for plants
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10559983/
5) Ice-cube watering (orchids / houseplants)
• https://www.justaddiceorchids.com/orchid-care-blog/why-water-orchids-with-ice-just-add-ice-wateringmethod-explained
6) Cinnamon as antifungal / for cuttings
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
350994926_Effect_of_Aloe_vera_Gel_for_Inducing_Rooting_of_Stem_Cuttings_and_Air_layering_of_Plants
7) Aloe vera gel for rooting / foliar use
• Experimental papers on aloe vera gel improving rooting success in some cuttings (useful as a mild natural
aid). ResearchGate
8) Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for seed soaking / aeration
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3405688/
9) Milk spray for powdery mildew
• https://www.ppjonline.org/upload/pdf/PPJ021-03-11.pdf
10) Beer traps for slugs & snails
• https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/aes/AES/pubs/pdf/tb97-1.pdf

Practical benefits, real trade-offs, and how to get started: for small farms, FPOs, tea
gardens and hobby growers in India. 

Short, practical fixes for beginners: balcony growers, kitchen gardeners and small
farms.