It can be tough to start an apartment gardening project. After all, there are limited windows, limited sunlight, and lots of gardening equipment! However, apartment gardening can be surprisingly simple, especially if you follow a few simple rules. Apartment living tends to mean fewer choices for plants, so it’s important to choose carefully. And there are lots of reasons to go organic: cultivating plants inside an apartment is known to decrease stress and boost productivity, and even growing herbs and vegetables in your apartment garden are a great way to get natural whole foods in your diet.

Plant varieties that grow well together and tolerate different environments are best. The trick is to find apartment garden plants that complement each other and have hardy traits that will make them withstand the rigors of apartment life (or city life, for that matter). Some of the most useful varieties for apartment gardening include annuals (which grow quickly), perennials, container plants, vines, shrubs, and climbers.

Annuals are an apartment gardening staple because they’re easy to maintain and care for. If you’ve got limited outdoor space but want a colorful array of flowers or colorful blooms throughout the year, consider using annuals to fill in your vacant spaces. Annuals need only to be watered once a month, then kept in covered containers all winter. Many types of annuals like the Shasta Daisy, Blue Star Bells, Purple Coneflower, and Green Seedlings make terrific container plants for balconies and patios.

Perennials are plants that live for one season and then die back to bloom again in the fall. Incorporating perennial flowers into your apartment gardening design can be tricky, but there are a number of tricks that will help you get this effect. Plant perennials in groups, with one in the front yard and another in the back yard or balcony. This will create a dense blanket of flowers that never fails to brighten up your apartment. Some types of perennial flowers that work well as apartment gardeners include California Poppies, Bulrush, Busy Hams, Lotus, Pineapple, Purple Heart, Sedum Vera, and Tulips.

Containers are an apartment gardening favorite for a simple reason: the lack of space prevents you from having to stretch your plants out to get the full amount of sunlight that they need. Of course, container plants require some sunlight to thrive, but as long as you give them regular access to sunlight, they’re perfectly happy growing indoors. Some popular plants that work well as container plants include African Violets, Bulrush, Burdock, Catmint, Coffeeberry, Corn, Dogwood, Hawaiian Umbrellas, Iris, Japanese Maples, Pot Marigolds, Rosemary, Southern Pines, and Sweet Potatoes. You may have to go outside to get regular sun, but at least you’ll be prepared when it does come.

Another thing that you have to pay close attention to is how you space your houseplants. Space them so that you can have an open area where air can circulate and air can reach all parts of your plants. If you place too many houseplants next to each other, you’ll be creating more heat than you need, as well as creating more dirt to clean up. This extra dirt will weigh you down, and it’s not easy to move around when you’re carrying a ton of extra bags of soil.

On the contrary, putting your pots on window sills, in hanging baskets, or on your balcony will provide you with abundant exposure to sunlight and heat. Of course, you won’t have the whole apartment garden to showcase your plants, but you’ll still have a great deal of gardening space. If you want to have pansies or geraniums in your apartment, plant them in pots that can be placed on your windowsill. These plants will thrive regardless of what season it is, and they make marvelous houseplants. Plus, you’ll save a lot of money by using discount flowers instead of buying expensive varieties.

Just remember that planting flowers in pots won’t make any sense if you don’t provide them with the proper light levels. As mentioned above, they have to get plenty of sun to grow properly, so remember to vary the times that you’re putting them in the ground. And check your local ordinances to make sure that you aren’t breaking any laws by planting flowers in containers. That could make your neighbors a little nervous, so make sure that you do your research before you get started.