Alright, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the beans on my little “crush with a neighbor” experiment. Don’t get any wild ideas, it’s not what you think! It’s about plants, okay? Plants!
The Idea: I was staring out my window the other day, feeling kinda blah about my sad little balcony garden. Then I noticed my neighbor’s plants – thriving, lush, green! So, the idea popped into my head: could I basically “crush” my plant-growing goals by mirroring what my neighbor was doing?
The Reconnaissance: First things first, I needed intel. I casually hung out on my balcony, “reading,” but really just observing. What plants did they have? How much sun did they get? How often did they water? I felt like a botanical spy. I spotted a few things for sure: herbs like basil and mint, some colorful flowers in hanging baskets, and what looked like a small tomato plant. All receiving morning sunlight.
The Shopping Spree: Armed with my observations, I hit up the local nursery. I grabbed similar plants to what my neighbor had. Got myself some basil, mint, a couple of petunias for color, and a baby tomato plant. Also picked up some good-looking potting soil – gotta start with the basics, right?
The Setup: Back home, I got my hands dirty. Repotted everything in bigger containers, using that fancy soil. Made sure to give them plenty of space to breathe. I mimicked my neighbor’s setup as much as possible, placing the plants in similar locations on my balcony where they would get the most morning sun. This took me about two hours to get it just right.
The Watering Routine: This was the tricky part. I didn’t want to straight-up ask my neighbor their watering schedule (that would be weird, right?). So, I went back to my observation game. Noticed they usually watered in the early morning. So, I started doing the same, checking the soil moisture first, of course. I try to only water when the top soil is dry.
The Watching and Waiting: This is where the patience comes in. I’m diligently watering, making sure they get enough sun, and just generally keeping an eye on them. I’ve even started talking to them – don’t judge! It’s only been a week, but I swear the basil is already looking perkier. The tomato plant even has a tiny tomato forming!
The Verdict (So Far): Okay, so it’s early days, but I’m calling this a tentative success! My plants are definitely doing better than before. Whether it’s pure luck or my neighbor-inspired efforts, I’m happy. Maybe I’ll even bake them a thank you pie if I manage to get a decent tomato harvest. Who knows, maybe we’ll become plant-loving buddies after all!
Stay tuned for updates on my “crush with a neighbor” journey. I’ll let you know if my balcony transforms into a jungle, or if it all goes horribly wrong. Wish me luck!
