For hobby botanists and flower lovers, balconies and terraces are a veritable playground. But cooking fans who like to experiment with herbs can also live out their taste fantasies and culinary preferences on balconies according to all the rules of garden art. But it’s not just about moving any plants from the pot into the balcony box, the hanging basket, the terracotta tub or the mini herb bed. In the following article you will find out what to look out for when choosing flowers, shrubs and herbs, which are best suited for north, east, south and west and what else is important when caring for balcony plants in summer.
Before you think about which flowers or herbs you want to green your balcony with, you should check what conditions your plants have to cope with. That means: How intense is the solar radiation during the course of the day? Not all plants tolerate direct sun for several hours. Still others are true sun worshippers. Some are so frugal that even completely shady locations cannot harm them.
Here is a small overview of the most popular balcony plants for sunny, shady and half-shady balconies:
It is obvious: many of the sun-loving balcony plants come from the Mediterranean region and have adapted to the climatic conditions there. As a result, they can cope with both blazing sun and longer periods of drought. In plain language: lavender, but also popular herbs such as sage, thyme and rosemary don’t mind if you sweat from watering from time to time. The geraniums and petunias, which are very popular in Germany and can be found in almost every flower box on balconies, are a little more sensitive. They need much more and regular water. But they don’t like waterlogging at all. Tip: Always wait until the soil has dried before watering. The credo: It’s better to do it right once than a little slosh every day. In order for this calculation to work, sun-loving, Mediterranean balcony plants and herbs should be planted in the largest possible planters, such as this rectangular pot from Lechuza. Alternative are water storage boxes, which have a built-in water tank and supply the plants with the required amount of water without much effort. If you are away for several weeks and have no one who can take care of the plants, it is worth installing a professional holiday watering system.
There are certainly cheaper locations for balcony plants. But even a north- or north-west-facing balcony doesn’t have to lead a gray and dreary existence just because the sun hardly ever shows up here. Above all, fuchsia, clematis, loyal to men and busy Lizzie really blossom in darker locations. If you get too much sun, let the flowers and leaves hang quickly. Basically, the rule of thumb is: the bigger, thicker and softer the leaves of a plant are, the better it gets along with little light. Of course, these plants still need water. However, less than their sun-loving friends. The reason: Even on hot summer days, the soil dries out much more slowly in the shade than in the blazing sun.
Fuchsias are considered the classic for shady (north) balconies. The two-tone flowering beauty is not only very uncomplicated in terms of light. The robust plant also forgives longer dry spells. Some varieties are even hardy and can stay outdoors all year round. A hardy fuchsia is available here.
While there is space for shrubs such as garden hydrangeas (flowering period July and August) or even an olive tree on large balconies or roof terraces, you have to think about saving space on small balconies. Instead of blocking the space for a table and chairs with potted plants, most people opt for the classic balcony box, which is elegantly hung over the parapet or attached from the outside. Wall or ceiling solutions such as these Mediterranean hanging baskets made of coconut fibers are an alternative.
Sources: Beautiful living, My beautiful garden
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