Skip to content
Balcony Garden

Small-space growing and outdoor living for renters

Gifts

Gifts for Balcony Gardeners: Ideas by Person and Space

Gifts for people who garden on a balcony, sorted by person and space: renters, cooks, tomato growers, travelers and composters, for any time of year.

By Balcony Garden editorial team5 min readHow we research

We earn from qualifying purchases through links on this page. How we make money.

A gloved hand holding a hori hori garden knife with a measuring scale on the blade

The best gifts for a balcony gardener fit a small space and solve a real problem: a railing planter that clamps on without drilling, a self-watering pot for someone who travels, a herb planter for a cook, or a sturdy hand tool. Match the gift to the person, to their balcony’s sun and wind, and to the lease.

Below, ideas are sorted by the person you are buying for. Every idea works year-round, and the main gifting occasions are called out near the end. This site does not link live plants, seeds or worms, so the gifts here are containers and tools; add a note about what to grow.

Before you buy, check the balcony

A quick look at the recipient’s balcony, or a photo from them, avoids a gift that does not fit. Count roughly how many hours of direct sun it gets, since that decides what will grow; what to grow on a balcony sorts plants by hours of sun. Note the railing shape and width, because railing planters fit only the rail sizes their makers list. Ask whether the building allows anything on the rail at all. If you cannot ask without spoiling the surprise, a hand tool or a freestanding pot is the safe choice.

For the first-apartment gardener

Black planter box of yellow and orange pansies hooked over a metal railing

A renter usually cannot drill into walls or the railing, so look for gear that hooks or clamps on, or stands on the floor. A railing planter with adjustable brackets fits many rail widths; check the maker’s stated rail sizes against theirs. A self-watering pot and a small watering can round out a starter set.

Lease and building rules vary, so it helps to know theirs. Either way, pick a planter that sits on the inside of the rail, so nothing hangs over the street or a neighbor. Our guide to railing planters and window boxes explains brackets and sizes.

For a housewarming, pair a planter with something for indoors from our sister site’s cozy housewarming gifts.

Gardening gift sets and hand tools

Shop gardening gifts

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

For the cook

A cook wants herbs within reach of the kitchen. A herb planter or a window box for the inside of the rail is the core gift; growing herbs in pots explains which herbs can share one.

Herb scissors make a small add-on. Regular cutting helps: Illinois Extension says pinching basil tips gives a bushier plant. For winter, a windowsill planter keeps a few herbs going indoors, and Illinois notes that rosemary needs to come inside before frost in zone 6 or colder.

Herb planters for a cook

Shop herb planters

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

For the tomato grower

South Dakota State University Extension says a cage must be large and sturdy enough for a plant heavy with fruit, so a heavy-duty cage is a useful gift. Fabric grow bags, soft plant ties and a dedicated tomato planter complete the kit. Growing tomatoes in pots covers pot sizes and support.

For a shady or windy balcony

Not every balcony gets sun. Iowa State University Extension says no vegetable, fruit or herb will be productive in full shade, so for a dark balcony consider UV-resistant artificial plants rated for outdoor use; see artificial plants for balconies. A heavy, low planter suits a windy spot. A book on shade plants helps a gardener choose what will grow.

For the traveler

Someone who is away often needs a garden that waters itself. Illinois Extension says self-watering containers and drip irrigation can reduce how often plants need water. A drip kit with a battery timer needs an outdoor tap, and Colorado State University Extension advises a test run before any trip. Terracotta watering spikes make a small extra. Self-watering planters explains how the reservoirs work outdoors.

Self-watering planters for the traveler

Shop self-watering planters

Opens eBay in a new tab. Check condition, seller feedback and returns.

For the composter

Black compost bin filled with fresh fruit and vegetable scraps

A countertop scrap bin or a bokashi starter set suits an apartment. Washington State University Extension describes bokashi as a sealed system that also takes meat and dairy, ideal for homes without a yard. Electric countertop units are a bigger gift; Mill, one maker, says they dry and grind scraps rather than make compost. A worm bin works too, with the worms bought separately. Composting on a balcony compares all three.

Small gifts and stocking stuffers

Hand trowel and three-prong cultivator beside a peat pot

Small tools fit a stocking and a small balcony: a hori hori digging knife, a hand trowel and cultivator, plant markers, gardening gloves, a kneeler or a gardening apron with pockets.

Gift now, plant in spring

A vertical tower or tiered stand makes a generous gift in winter, ready to plant when spring comes. Check the balcony first: see vertical planters and how much weight a balcony can hold.

Gifts by occasion

  • December holidays: tools and containers that wait for spring, plus an indoor windowsill planter for winter herbs.
  • Mother’s Day (the second Sunday in May): planting season is under way, so a filled railing box or a herb planter is ready to use.
  • Housewarming: a self-watering pot or a railing planter that needs no drilling, for a renter.
  • Birthdays: match the season. Spring and summer suit planters, fall and winter suit tools and compost gear.

More for balcony gardeners

Terracotta window boxes of red and pink flowers on a wrought iron balconyBalcony plantersWhich railing, hanging, vertical or self-watering container fits each spot.
Balcony full of leafy potted plants with a lounge chairWhat to grow on a balconyPlants by sun, shade and wind, with tomatoes, herbs, watering and compost.
Small outdoor space with a patterned outdoor rug, rattan furniture and potted plantsSet up the spaceFurniture, flooring, screens and faux plants for a balcony renters can undo.
Apartment balcony seen from below, packed with potted flowers and plantsBalcony weight limitsWhat to check before adding heavy pots, and who can tell you what your balcony holds.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good gift for someone with a small balcony garden?

Something that saves space or water: a railing planter that clamps on without drilling, a self-watering pot, a small watering can or a good hand tool. Match it to their balcony, since a shady one needs different plants and gear than a sunny one.

What can I give a gardener in December?

Tools and containers for spring. A planter, a tower or a set of hand tools can sit in a closet until planting time, and an indoor windowsill herb planter gives them something to grow in winter.

What is a hori hori used for?

A hori hori is a Japanese garden knife used for digging, planting and cutting roots, and many have a depth scale marked on the blade. It suits a balcony gardener because one tool covers jobs a trowel and a knife would share. A hori hori knife also fits a stocking.

Can I gift live plants or seeds from this page?

This site does not link live plants, seeds or worms. Shipping rules for living things vary, so buy those from a local garden center, or give a planter with a note about what to grow in it.

What gift helps a gardener who travels?

Anything that waters for them. Illinois Extension says self-watering containers and drip irrigation can reduce how often plants need water, and Colorado State Extension advises testing a drip kit before a trip.

Sources

  1. 6 Tips for Watering Container GardensIllinois Extension
  2. Watering potted plants with drip systems: vacation and beyondColorado State University Extension, Pueblo County
  3. BasilIllinois Extension
  4. RosemaryIllinois Extension
  5. Tomato: How to Grow ItSouth Dakota State University Extension
  6. Growing Edible Plants in Shady AreasIowa State University Extension and Outreach
  7. Bokashi CompostingWashington State University Extension, Kitsap County
  8. It's not a composter: It's MillMill
All guides

Start here

Balcony Planters: Which Container Fits Each Spot

Which planter suits each balcony spot (railing, wall, floor, overhead), how planter materials compare on drying and heat, and what to check on weight first.

  • Best spot: Match the planter to the spot first: rail, wall, floor or overhead
  • Weight (UMD Extension): A 20-inch pot of moist mix and plants can weigh 100 pounds

Start here

Small Balcony Setup: Ideas Renters Can Undo, Garden or Not

Set up a small balcony you can enjoy and undo when you move: rules to check first, floors, shade, privacy, furniture and plants, real or artificial.

  • Check first: Lease or HOA rules, and weight with your building manager
  • Renter-safe: Clamps, zip ties and click-together tiles instead of drilling

Start here

What to Grow on a Balcony: Plants by Sun, Shade and Wind

What to grow on a balcony, sorted by hours of direct sun, then heat and wind: vegetables, herbs and greens for each spot, and when faux plants make more sense.

  • Full sun (Iowa State Extension): At least 6 hours of direct sun
  • Tomatoes, peppers, beans: 6 to 8 hours (Oregon State Extension)

Affiliate disclosure

Balcony Garden is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links: when you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase through our links. Commissions never decide what we recommend or how we rank it. Listings and prices come from our partners and change often, so check the price, condition and seller on the retailer's page before you buy. Read how we make money.