Today, balconies are increasingly being transformed from a cluttered warehouse into a beautifully designed space.
For example, a winter garden, balconies with flowering plants - this design option can be increasingly seen in high-rise buildings.
The flower garden is used to transform balconies.
Let's talk about landscaping balconies? What plants will decorate an open balcony? How to decorate a balcony with flowers?
Starting landscaping, the first step is to clear the balcony space to the maximum, throwing out all the rubbish, removing conservation and food supplies for the winter, such as potatoes, onions and carrots.
The balcony can be both closed and open. So, in winter, nothing will grow on an unglazed balcony except for heaps of snow. If the balcony is glazed, then the air temperature is about five degrees Celsius, and therefore flowers such as chlorophytum and geraniums will grow on such a balcony.
If the air temperature drops below five degrees Celsius, then you should pay attention to hardy plants palm type.
If your balcony is glazed, additionally insulated, and there is no air temperature below five degrees Celsius, then plants such as cyclamens can be seen on the balcony.
In autumn, you can buy heathers - shrubs with a mass of flowers that look beautiful even after drying.
If you are thinking about what flowers to plant on the balcony, which is insulated and well heated, then it is important to remember that the main thing is to create a favorable climate for flowers. So, flowers love humidity, excellent lighting, and do not tolerate drafts, temperature changes.
Arranging a real winter garden on your balcony, it is important to think about protecting plants from direct sunlight.
Some flowers on a sunny balcony are still grown, because there are special types, perfectly tolerating the open sun with proper care.
For an open sunny balcony, it is better to choose:
Petunia, which pleases with a variety of colors and different varieties. It is better to give preference to small-flowered forms, because large leaves do not react well to heat, the flowers lose their attractiveness.
The stems of petunias are very sticky, therefore, when growing these flowers on the balcony in boxes, you need to separate them from each other without loss after the wind. There is such a variety of petunias as "typhoon", which is characterized by violent flowering.
Geranium can be zonal, ivy. The second species will suffer on a windy balcony, but at the same time, both species tolerate heat well.
Purslane are ideal blooming flowers on a balcony where there is a lot of sun. The plant is ground-blooded, but looks great in a pot. How else can you decorate a balcony?
It is difficult to imagine a more "survivable" plant. Purslane flowers from about the middle of July until the end of September.
Purslane loves the direct rays of the sun, so much so that in sunny weather opens the flowers, and after sunset the flower closes.
Phlox Drummond is a light-loving plant that tolerates drought very well. When growing flowers on a balcony, it is important to monitor the looseness of the soil so that the roots do not rot.
Ipomoea is a plant that pleases with new flowers every day. A flower blooms for a day, closes in the evening, but in the morning a completely different blooming flower will please the eye.
These flowers on the balcony grow with support, because in order to grow up, you cannot do without it. Such flowers are used as a green screen that protects the room from the sun.
The flower grows quickly, but the stems die off in the fall, and therefore it will be new season grow a new green screen.
If you are thinking about what flowers to plant on the balcony to bloom, you should choose begonias, pretty daisies. In order for the flowers to bloom until the end of autumn, you can plant asters, petunias.
When choosing flowers for your balcony, it is worth considering both the illumination of the balcony and the number of storeys.
If the balcony is closed, that is, glazed, then it is clear that the floor does not play any role, and if it is open, then you need to remember that the higher the floor, the stronger the drafts on the balcony.
You can see in the numerous photos of flowers on the balcony that undersized plants like daisies, begonias, and marigolds are planted on the upper floors.
Photo of flowers on a baclon
In our city apartments, it is the balcony that often becomes that oasis where constant summer reigns - plants turn green, flowers bloom. Let's figure out how to choose the right flowers for a balcony or loggia. What care do they need? How to protect them from diseases and pests?
In the southern regions of Russia, a constant assortment of perennials can be maintained on the balconies, and in the middle and northern regions it is better to prefer annuals. However, a glazed and heated balcony will significantly increase your options for choosing plants.
Flowers on a sunny balcony
If the balcony faces the south, sunny side, the vast majority of balcony plants will bloom well and for a long time, with the exception of fuchsia and begonia: excessive sun suppresses them, they wither and sometimes do not bloom at all.
They show a special "greed" for the sun and heat purslane, kobeya, ipomoea, doroteanthus and dimorfoteka.
On cloudy days, large-flowered purslane will not open its flowers, and in cool summers, even on the southern balcony, it blooms poorly.
Daisies, asters, mignonette, dahlias, godetia, gazania, heliotrope, ageratum, balsam, lobelia, verbena, viola, sweet pea, morning glory, ampelous pelargonium, petunia, nasturtium- a great set for a sunny balcony.
They do great in tubs or large pots. African agapanthus and Indian eland.
Place in one container large-flowered tobacco, zinnia elegant and Drummond's phlox, and you will get a lovely mini flower garden.
In order for the balcony to please flowering as early as possible, it should be planted in early May daisies, violas and evergreen begonias.
And to continue flowering until the end of October, use asters, kobeyu, petunia, gazania, lantana, tuberous begonia and stonecrop.
Flowers on a shaded balcony
Will bloom well in partial shade. begonias, lobelia, fuchsia, mignonette, viola.
Reconcile with the lack of light marigolds, pelargoniums, nasturtiums and petunias. Quite comfortable in partial shade calceolaria and ageratum.
If the balcony is heavily shaded, limit tuberous begonia, daisies, violas, and nasturtium is able to decorate the balcony until frost if not abundant flowering, then beautiful rounded leaves.
On the high floors, where it is windy and drafts are constant, it is better to use daisies, low-growing marigolds, ageratum, gazania, stonecrop and ever-flowering begonia.
Suitable for vertical gardening inside balconies and loggias ampel varieties lobelia, petunia, winged thunbergia, fuchsia, pelargonium and tuberous begonia.
Interesting balcony flowers and their care
And in conclusion, a few words about plants, sometimes undeservedly unclaimed in balcony floriculture.
Tuberous begonia is the queen of balconies.
The color range is from pure white to pink, yellow, salmon, bright red and crimson. The flowers are simple, semi-double and double on the same plant.
Suitable varieties with a height of 15 to 30 cm. Flowering from late May to October frosts. For the winter, the tubers are cleaned in a cool room and stored until March in sand or peat chips at plus 8-12 ° C.
Kobe climbing
Kobeya climbing is distinguished by large bell-shaped flowers of an exotic shape on long pedicels, painted first in green, and later in bluish-violet. There is a variety with white flowers.
Thanks to tenacious and strong tendrils on paired pinnate leaves, this fast-growing fly climbs several meters even along plastered walls, although it is more reliable to strengthen it on a rare wire mesh or a support on a balcony box.
Blooms from June to October. It is afraid of cold weather, so it is planted after the end of spring frosts. Kobeya quickly greens large areas, although from a distance it looks much more modest than calceolaria or salvia. Propagated by seeds, which are sown in March.
Seedlings are planted at a distance of 30-50 cm from each other.
Verbena
A low-growing plant with small, very beautiful flowers, similar to a primrose. The flowers are fragrant, with white eyes inside. When the plant reaches a height of 12 cm, you need to pinch the top.
Coleus
Coleus attracts with luxurious "mosaic" leaves and is easily propagated by cuttings.
Small-leaved balcony forms form a dense shrub 20-40 cm high. The brightness of the leaves of the coleus and its showiness in the near or far plans overshadows the brightly colored balcony flowers. Plants are planted in May at a distance of 20-30 cm. In August, coleuses are cut and left to winter in a bright room. Seed propagation is possible in February.
Calceolaria
Calceolaria blooms profusely and relentlessly yellow flowers resembling bright balls. Plant height 30 cm.
It is enough to buy one plant in order to further provide a spectacular contrasting bright yellow tone for red pelargonium, salvia, petunia, blue and purple violas, blue ageratum and blue-violet heliotrope.
It reproduces well in mid-summer by cuttings in a cool, bright room. They winter, like pelargoniums, in a room or a non-freezing room, and in mid-May they are planted on a balcony.
Erika
Erika (Erika carnea), sometimes incorrectly called "heather", reaching 15-30 cm in height, has needle-shaped leaves and is recommended for southern regions and insulated balconies and loggias.
Various varieties bloom from January to March with white, pink and red flowers, abundantly covering the tops of the shoots. For autumn bloom Erika gracilis is recommended, blooming from September to November.
Early-flowering erica is grown on calcareous soil, and late-flowering - on a slightly acidic substrate, preferably on a mixture of marsh soil with peat.
Erics winter in middle lane in the basement, in non-freezing loggias and even in open ground under spruce branches and snow; in southern regions- in open ground.
Gatzania
Gatsania is notable for radiant, shiny, orange-red (to bronze) flowers 7-8 cm in diameter with a dark spot at the base of the petals and a white eye.
Flowering from June to October. Unpretentious, resistant to winds. Height 20-40 cm. Seeds are sown in a room in March, seedlings are planted on a balcony in May. Foreground decoration.
Petunia
An annual plant up to 25 cm high, characterized by a compact bush shape and very abundant flowering. Thanks to the peculiar bright colors, it can be an ornament to any garden. Perfect for growing in balcony boxes. In March, petunia seeds are sown in cups or pots, they are not covered with earth, but only pressed down, then covered with glass or paper. Germination time 1-2 weeks at 18-20°C. They dive into loose, not very nutritious soil, keep at 10-14 ° C. They are hardened and in mid-May they are planted at a distance of 25x25 cm in balcony boxes. Blooms until November.
Geranium.
From mid-February - early March, geranium seeds are sown at 20 ° C. Maintain optimal hydration. Cups and boxes with seeds are best covered with foil or glass. Germination time - 6-8 days. After the first leaves appear, the seedlings dive into pots 8-10 cm high. They are planted in pots or boxes with nutrient soil in late May - early June. For a box 1 m long, 5 plants are enough. It has been noticed that plants growing next to geraniums are not damaged by spider mites.
Alyssum
An annual plant 20 cm high. Forms a white cloud of small flowers. Blooms throughout the summer. The aroma is reminiscent of honey. In March, the seeds are sown in a box, lightly sprinkled with earth. At a temperature of 16-20°C, they germinate in 8-12 days. Planted in a box on the balcony in May, 3-5 plants together at a distance of 10-15 cm. When flowering decreases, the plants are cut to half. Soon they will grow back and continue to bloom.
Godetia
An annual plant. This beautiful flower attractive for flower beds. Its large silky inflorescences of different colors (white, pink, red) are the decoration of any balcony. If you cut off faded inflorescences in time, the plants will bloom again. Sow in March-April in pots, transplanted in mid-May. The plant prefers sunny or semi-shaded places and loves fertile soil. Requires moisture. Cold resistant. Blooms early and until frost.
Plant compositions for balconies
When placing flowers in balcony boxes, the main thing is not to get carried away with a variety of colors: no more than two colors that harmonize well. Monochromatic red pelargoniums, fuchsias or salvias, pink petunias, white daisies, yellow or lilac violas are beautiful and concise.
Two-tone combinations of red salvias (petunias, zonal pelargoniums) from the side of the apartment and blue, white, purple petunias paired with yellow marigolds, mignonette, blue ampelous lobelia from the side of the street.
Instead of ampelous plants in the outer row, you can place low-growing red-white fuchsias, ever-flowering pink begonias, blue petunias or ageratums, and with inside- respectively red tuberous begonias and yellow calceolaria. These options are suitable for semi-shady and shady balconies.
To create a bright flower spot that attracts attention from the street, red and white pelargoniums, red salvias, yellow marigolds, calceolaria, nasturtiums are good.
Ageratum, mignonette, kobeya, beans, lobelia, daisies, stonecrops and balsams are expressive near.
Some plants are good only in the same type of planting: purslane, gazania, godetia, celosia, erica, dimorphoteca, doronicum, nemesia, aster, dahlias, coleus, chrysanthemums and lantana.
Microclimate and seasons on the balcony
On insulated, non-freezing balconies or loggias, you can carry out a successful early spring forcing of bulbous - crocuses, tulips and daffodils.
In autumn, a number of ornamental plants from the garden will migrate to the balconies and will delight in flowering all autumn (asters and chrysanthemums).
In summer, the balcony will also be decorated with houseplants that benefit from being outdoors: azalea, cyclamen, bromeliad, hydrangea, ficus, clivia, oleander, hippeastrum, agave, aloe, crassula, pomegranate, monstera, aspidistra, aucuba and cacti.
But indoor plants native to the humid tropics and subtropics do not tolerate open ground conditions (saintpaulias, or uzambar violets, peperomia, anthurium, royal begonia, philodendron, sansevieria and dieffenbachia), only a glazed "dacha" and high humidity air.
Soil for balcony plants
For most annuals, humus-rich compost soil with the addition of peat chips (10-20%) and lime material (ground egg shells) is suitable. Especially sensitive to a neutral or slightly alkaline soil reaction are annuals such as sweet peas, asters, and chrysanthemums.
Melissa, catnip, bluebells prefer slightly alkaline soils (pH up to 7.0-7.5); azaleas, heathers, hydrangeas - acidic soils(pH 4.5-5), they are fertilized with superphosphate or potassium sulfate.
In general, the soil must have moisture permeability, for which they add river sand; be sufficiently moisture-intensive, which is achieved by adding peat chips, and always fresh and free from pathogens, in addition, the soil for balcony flowers must be changed annually.
It is important to remember that earthen mixtures are not suitable for balcony flowers. indoor flowers containing too few nutrients. A three-meter balcony needs about 30 kg of soil mixture.
For flyers, you can use peat chips from briquettes, enriched nutrients: it will provide easier care, retain moisture for a long time, weigh less and be free from pathogens. For perennials grown in tubs, pots, humus cloddy soil with turf and clay additives is preferable.
Unlike annuals, which require replacing old soil with fresh annually, perennials are transplanted into new soil after 2-4 years, with the exception of agapanthus: they prefer to stay in settled old pots for as long as possible, content with adding fresh soil.
Top dressing of balcony plants
Given the limited feeding area and the rapid depletion of the soil substrate, balcony flowers need more frequent feeding compared to garden flowers. Perfectly suited for these purposes are complex mineral fertilizers with trace elements (manganese, boron, molybdenum).
Top dressing is carried out every 7-10 days, alternating with watering, using weak solutions (2-3 g per 1 liter of water). The first top dressing is carried out 4-6 weeks after planting and rooting seedlings. Top dressing continues until the end of August.
Minimal top dressing (every 2-3 weeks) is given to nasturtiums, gatzanias, purslane, stonecrops, godetia and doroteanthus: on highly fertilized soil they form a lot of leaves to the detriment of flowering, or even do not bloom at all, the purchased soil for them is diluted by 30% river sand.
How to plant balcony flowers
It is important not to thicken the flowers when placed in boxes: optimal distance between seedlings of dahlias, chrysanthemums, salvia, gazania, petunias, pelargoniums, asters, lantana, tuberous begonias, fuchsia and celosia - 20-30 cm; for verbena, heliotrope, balsam, godetia, Drummond's phlox, viols, zinnias, daisies, mignonette, marigolds and ever flowering begonias - 12-15 cm; for fiery red beans and sweet peas - 10 cm.
It is important to remove flowers immediately after flowering, preventing the formation of ovaries if it is not necessary to collect seeds. When the flowering of ageratum, lobelia and nemesia is weakened, it is important to cut off the upper part of the plant, leaving only stems 3-5 cm high: they soon form young shoots and flower buds.
Diseases and pests of balcony plants and how to deal with them
Given the right place and proper care, balcony plants are rarely affected by diseases.
Reddish at the edges or yellow color of the leaves occurs with severe waterlogging (lack of drainage) or overdrying of the soil.
Poor flowering may indicate an excess of nitrogen in the soil, and in combination with oppressed growth and yellowing of the leaves, a lack of nutrients.
Plants can be damaged by pests.
Ugly, curved tops of the shoots and leaves covered with sticky juice indicate an aphid invasion that occurs in dry, warm summers. Do not rush to the store for pesticides, but do not put off pest control either: they multiply at an unprecedented rate and can quickly eat up your entire flower garden. Spray the affected plants with an infusion of garlic, nettle, at worst - soap or washing powder.
Sometimes the leaves are eaten by caterpillars - remove them and destroy them. A mini-garden of spicy herbs, planting marigolds will help scare away pests. Finally, a tiny ladybug will finish the job.
In dry, warm summers, sometimes the leaves and stems are covered with a white powdery coating - a real powdery mildew. Spray the plants with a strong solution of potassium permanganate (15 g per bucket of water) or fermented infusion of fresh minced garlic (40 g per bucket).
by the most effective means protection are, contrary to popular belief, not strong poisons that destroy pests and pathogens, but simple and generally accessible preventive measures that stimulate the plant to effectively defend itself.
Do not overmoisten the soil and do not thicken the plantings - your asters, marigolds, lobelias will not get sick with black leg and fusarium. Do not use acidic soils - get rid of rot. Annually change the earth in boxes to fresh - there will be no soil fatigue and pathogens.
The balcony is that part of the apartment that is located on the street, and therefore it is often used by many residents only as a storage room - for storing unnecessary and old things that, most likely, will never be useful in everyday life. But with the onset of spring, the balcony can be turned into a wonderful flower garden, the most romantic and bright part of your home. And if leeks and pepper seedlings are the only vegetation you decorate your balcony with, then it's time to fix it.
Flowers help in the design of the apartment, emphasize its features and bring a note of romance, fabulousness and cheerfulness to the life of its inhabitants. The choice of specific varieties of the future flower garden depends on the location of your apartment relative to the sun (shady or sunny side), and on which floor your apartment is located. But the most important, of course, criterion is your likes and dislikes.
Territory preparation
Of course, for the future winter garden need to prepare a place, spend at least redecorating. Think in advance which varieties of flowers will make up the balcony composition in order to choose the right paint for the railings and the floor, which will harmoniously blend with the bouquet. Flowers should not merge with the background of the walls.
Decide which part of the balcony you are ready to give for landscaping, maybe it will be only one box, or maybe most of your loggia. If you want passers-by from the street to admire your flower garden, prepare and strengthen the railing, calculate the weight of pots and boxes with earth so as not to overload them. Be especially careful if you are the owner of an old balcony, don't overload it, remember that a harmonious and elegant composition can be made with a small amount of balcony flowers.
Depending on the size of the balcony itself
Choose for a flower garden appropriate size containers so that their volume allows the root system to develop freely. It can be pots, wooden boxes, pots made of both plastic and clay.
Lightweight plastic boxes and pots are ideal for planting flowers with outside balcony. Such compositions look especially beautiful in one long box. If there is a possibility that the structure may not withstand and break, then in this case several light meter pots are used. To decorate the outside of the balcony, buy boxes immediately with pallets, because in their absence, excess liquid will drain through the holes in the bottom right onto the heads of passers-by.
Clay pots are more comfortable for flowers, because the moisture stays in them longer and the soil is better saturated with oxygen. But due to their impressive weight, it is better to put such pots inside the balcony and grow larger and more whimsical plants in them.
For small and medium sized balconies perfect fit pots- they are suspended from the ceiling and can create complex multi-stage compositions by adjusting their height - after all, you yourself decide at what distance from the ceiling to fix the pots.
Be careful with the choice of soil, buy it only in large, specialized stores or do it yourself using good black soil with sand and humus. Before you start filling the pot with earth, lay a special dishcloth on the bottom of the pot, it will serve as an excellent layer in order to absorb water, maintaining moisture in the soil. Next, lay out the drainage layer - coarse sand, on top of which humus is laid out and on it - black soil.
Choice of colors
Flowers may vary in lifespan.
Annuals
Such flowers live only one season, but many southern varieties in their native countries can live several seasons. Therefore, if your balcony is glazed, insulated and the flowers themselves receive proper care, such varieties and in the conditions of your loggia can please you for several years in a row. When caring for such plants, do not forget to cut the faded heads in time, then the rapid flowering will delight you for a long time.
In order for your little garden to bloom as early as possible, most annuals grown seedlings.
Not so popular for breeding on the balcony. The fact is that in the first year these plants develop only their stems and leaves and remain in a green state, and flowers are given only in the second year. In addition, biennial varieties are much smaller than the rest, and with improper care, such flowers can live not for 2 years, but for only a few months.
If you want to see your favorite biennial plant in a flower ensemble, plant it in a pot in the first year and keep in the apartment. And in the second year, transplant into common box to the rest of the colors, forming the desired balcony composition.
The most popular balcony biennials are forget-me-not, viola, and, of course, daisy.
Also not so popular among flower growers. Main problem associated with their breeding is that in winter it is difficult to keep root system flowers and keep them from freezing. For this reason, you have to look for a warm place where you can move the boxes with plants "for the winter". Of course, the exceptions are those perennial flowers that are grown in separate pots and are simply brought into the apartment for the winter.
But, despite these difficulties, many people like to decorate their balconies with perennial flowers, preferring grapes, creepers, climbing roses
, which are easily cut and wrapped up for the winter.
One of the varieties of perennials are bulbous flowers, the cultivation of which is not difficult. Planted in boxes in the fall, it is the bulbous ones that are the first to open the spring season on the loggias, delighting their owners with bright, rich colors and aromas. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths are especially favorite varieties of bulbous flowers.
Flowers for the sunny side
The choice of flowers and their varieties largely depends on the location of the balcony and degree of illumination. Most of them are very thermophilic and it will not be difficult to arrange a flower arrangement on the southern balcony. For loggias located on the sunny side, asters, petunias, purslane, asters, nasturtiums are ideal. Choose any southern flowers.
Flowers on the balcony
The cultivation of decorative flowers is usually associated with a suburban area or cottage, since it is there that you can plant beautiful flower beds and flower beds as you please and realize your flower growing fantasies with almost no restrictions.
But flower lovers can afford to create a mini-flower garden in an urban environment - on the balcony of their apartment. Beautiful flowers can grow and bloom there no worse than in a suburban area.
To do this, you just need to competently approach the choice of plants and care for them.
Let's talk about important points while creating home flower garden do-it-yourself: which flowers for the balcony are best suited for your specific situation, how to care for them and what else you can plant, we will share design tips and.
To a greater extent, the choice of plants will depend on the location of the loggia relative to the cardinal points, on the degree of illumination.
There may also be a choice: annuals or perennials? The latter require long-term systematic care and, accordingly, great patience from the gardener, so let's talk about annuals.
Names and photos of colors suitable for the south balcony
Most garden flowers are very thermophilic and it is not difficult to arrange a flower arrangement on the southern balcony.
Of course, you might think that the more sun, the better.
But you need to take into account a few serious points regarding the effect of direct sunlight on flowers:
- scorching Sun rays inflict burns on tender leaves.
- On the south side, there can be scorching heat in summer. In such conditions, flowers require frequent watering and regular spraying.
When choosing a plant with this orientation, you need to build on the following characteristics of species and varieties: high drought resistance, good ability to tolerate sunlight, light-loving.
Pelargonium (Pelargonium)
It is very similar to geranium, but they are different plants. Tolerates direct sunlight well. Zonal (Pelargonium x hortorum, Zonal pelargoniums) and ivy-leaved (Ivy-Leaved Pelargoniums) varieties are most resistant to abundant sunlight.
Zonal pelargoniums have leaves with a characteristic, different in color, zonal pattern. The flowers are collected in large umbellate inflorescences, which can be laid along the entire length of the shoot, due to which there is a long flowering. In the presence of sufficient heat and light, such varieties can bloom. all year round starting from March.
Green Color
Divas Blueberry
Night Scarlet
Patricia Andrea
Ivy pelargoniums are distinguished by long thin stems and hard ivy-like leaves. The leaves are covered with a thick cuticle that helps reduce moisture loss during drought.
With an abundance of light, pelargonium will even enhance its flowering. Also she can for a long time do without watering. True, the royal pelargonium is an exception of its kind and in the hottest midday hours it must be shaded.
Calendula, marigold (Calendula officinalis)
In addition to the fact that calendula is photophilous and drought-resistant, it also belongs to plants that bloom all summer. Flowering period: June to September. For long flowering you need to remove wilted inflorescences.
For loggias, the undersized variety Calendula Officinalis Fiesta Gitana, which has different types of color, is most suitable. Grows very well from seed.
Calendula Officinalis Fiesta Gitana
Petunia (Petunia)
Decorating a balcony with these bright light-loving flowers is one of the most popular and proven ideas to date. As for drought resistance, in the conditions of a hot summer on the south side, they require moist soil, frequent watering (about 2 times a day!). To reduce the need for frequent watering, you need to pick up deep boxes and mix hydrogel into the soil.
Purslane (Portulaca)
Abundant flowering in purslane occurs precisely in the south.
It tolerates heat, direct sunlight, does not need frequent watering, as it is a succulent plant (with stems and leaves that can accumulate moisture). Purslane flowers have a wide variety of bright, saturated tones, which will allow you to create a variety of color compositions.
The most used species for growing on loggias: garden purslane, terry purslane, large-flowered purslane.
Purslane grandiflorum
Nasturtium
Flowering period: July to September. Grow directly from seeds permanent place. is unpretentious flower almost always grows from seed.
Nasturtium
Interestingly, the flowers of different varieties are radically different from each other. There are high-weaving creepers that can be used for wall decoration, ampelous flowers for balconies and window boxes (for example, foreign nasturtium peregrinum, reaching a length of 3 m), as well as bushy dwarf varieties.
Also for the sunny side are well suited: calibrachoa, morning glory, sweet peas, canna, gazania, fragrant tobacco, zinnia, stonecrop, all succulents and cacti.
East and West location - what to plant?
Oriental orientation is the most successful option for breeding flowers. Soft harmonious lighting is suitable for the vast majority of plants.
Daisies, heather are also perfect here. various kinds and varieties, calendula and.
If you have a loggia in the west, this is also a very good option. The sun here is in the afternoon, not as scorching as during the day. Therefore, plants that love partial shade are well suited here.
A wonderful option for such an arrangement is verbena, which has voluminous inflorescences with large flowers. It has a large assortment and a large color spectrum. But so that the flowering of vervain pleases you throughout long term, it will be necessary to water it daily and loosen the soil.
A more unpretentious option for the western side is the sedium. It blooms profusely almost until mid-autumn. Also, climbing plants, such as morning glory, grapes, weaving roses, will feel good here.
Often novice gardeners wonder if it is really possible to plant grapes on a balcony and expect it to bear fruit? Yes! To do this, first of all, you need to choose grape seeds of a variety that will not be afraid weather conditions your region.
Varieties that are not afraid of frost and are resistant to other features of the Russian climate: Laura, Northern and Taiga.
What to grow on the north side?
What can be planted on the north balcony? Usually, landscaping in this arrangement is not an easy task for flower growers, since the plants here bloom poorly or do not bloom at all.
Therefore, the range in this case should be selected primarily according to the criterion of shade tolerance.
Fuchsia
To bloom profusely, fuchsia does not require abundant lighting, it has enough light from the north side.
Fuchsia does not like the open sun and heat, but it really needs abundant regular watering, otherwise it will die.
Begonia
It grows well in semi-shady and shady areas, requires fertile acidic soil and needs intensive watering and top dressing.
Torenia loves bright but diffused light, so she will have the right place in the balcony boxes. Requires regular watering. The soil for threshing must be constantly moist.
A north-facing balcony is also suitable for growing pansies, balsam, violas, ivy, mignonette, nasturtium, various bulbous flowers (such as daffodils). All these flowers do not like direct sunlight and high temperatures.
Arrangement of indoor plants
Arrangement of indoor plants on the balcony seems much easier than garden ones - it would seem that you can simply transfer the plants in pots and arrange them in a composition. But it is obvious that not all home flowers will find the new environment suitable for life. On the open balcony it may be too cold for some, and too hot indoors (due to direct sunlight).
exposing indoor flowers to the street, you need to consider that night temperatures in spring and early summer are much lower than daytime ones.
Many indoor flowers calmly tolerate temperature fluctuations within 15-20 degrees, but it should not fall below 12-15. It is especially difficult for plants if a cold snap occurs after watering (or rain) - wet roots after a “temperature shock” can rot.
The question often arises - when can flowers be taken out to a glazed or open balcony?
If flowers can be placed on glazed (but not insulated) loggias already at the end of April, then on open ones - only by the end of May.
There are indoor flowers for which life in the open outdoor air basically impossible. Of course, a lot depends on the climate, but at least these plants are best left at home: cacti, violets, tropical flowers with special requirements for humidity - dieffenbachia, philodendron.
Composition for a balcony from light-loving crops, video:
Drawer selection
As for the choice of boxes for flowers, today the market provides a huge range. To achieve a harmonious combination in choosing a tone for flower containers, you need to take into account the overall style of the balcony, as well as the facade of the house.
It can be a plastic, wooden or even stone box (there are also such on the market now).
The box can be hanging with holders or a regular one placed on a stand. Now you can also buy a "house" for flowers with a special form of fixing on the balcony railing as in the photo.
In order for your flowers to feel good, the general mandatory requirements for boxes are as follows:
- Flower boxes must be durable and weather resistant. Generally, most modern plastic boxes meet these requirements (although in fact it is difficult to determine when buying, since flower container manufacturers are not required to label their goods according to these indicators).
- At the bottom of the box should be drainage holes every 20 cm with a diameter of about 1 cm.
- When watering, water should not drain onto walls, floors and sidewalks. For this, pallets with sides about 5 cm high should be provided.
You can buy boxes for flowers on the balcony in any garden shop quite cheap. Big choice is available in stores such as Obi, Leroy Merlin, as well as on Internet portals.
The price ranges from 150 to 2000 rubles, depending on the size and material of the box.
home garden
Perhaps, in addition to beautiful flowers that will please the eye, you will want to have crops that are useful and something else, such as tasty fruits. Ornamental plants combined with fruit and vegetable crops can create a special unique composition.
It is now possible to create a small garden at home even in areas with a harsh climate thanks to the work of breeders who have created zoned varieties. For roast enclosed space vegetable garden fit better of everything, since it is a kind of year-round greenhouse.
planting tomatoes
Perhaps the most popular and sought-after vegetable for planting on loggias among Russians is tomatoes. In an apartment garden, these can be both varieties with large fruits, and with small ones, for example, cherry tomatoes.
Tomatoes can be grown both by seeds and seedlings, but for conditions with a cold climate, it is still better to stop at the second option.
Seedling tomato on covered balconies it is better to plant in early May, and in open areas it is better to start growing in early summer.
It is necessary to arrange the sprouts in such a way that direct sunlight does not fall on the leaves, you also need to take care that there is no stagnation of water in the ground.
To increase productivity, it is necessary to pinch off all twigs and leaves that are higher than the fifth or sixth flower tassel. It is advisable to plant tall tomatoes at a distance of about 40 centimeters from each other and be sure to tie them to supports.
Planting cucumbers
It is very important to choose exactly self-pollinated (not requiring pollination by bees) varieties of cucumbers for your garden. It can be such varieties: Gribovsky, Dubrovsky, Courage, Sail, Cucaracha, Stresa.
When growing, it is necessary to properly treat the watering of cucumbers - the soil should always be moist. It is necessary to periodically remove the antennae (at least 1 time per week).
To increase productivity, the tops of cucumbers need to be pinched, to form one stem. Also, supports are needed for cucumbers, they can be decorated with a beautiful trellis, from which cucumber lashes will create a beautiful green wall, which can complement your flower arrangement well.
Strawberry
Everyone's favorite strawberry is suitable for growing in almost any conditions. But good harvest can be obtained with proper planting, proper care, watering and pollination.
On the balconies, strawberries are grown in a regular container. rectangular shape, as well as in hanging pots or bookcase.
When buying strawberry seedlings, you need to find out the resistance of the variety to diseases and the fruiting period (it is better to purchase both early and late varieties, which will ensure uninterrupted harvesting of berries).
The Albion strawberry variety is distinguished by multiple fruiting. If needed frost-resistant variety then it's Strawberry Temptation.
What can be planted from greenery?
In addition to vegetables and berries, of course, you can plant healthy greens. For example, spices that you can use in your kitchen: basil, rosemary, mint, thyme and sage.
They are sown directly into the ground. You can also grow different varieties of lettuce. You can buy seeds in almost any specialized online store.
Balconies with strong wind
For sustainability flower plantings and to avoid falling, it is recommended to lay heavy stones at the bottom of containers / landing boxes, you can also fasten the boxes together and tie them to the balcony railings.
You also need to consider that the higher the floor, the stronger the wind. Starting somewhere from the 7th floor, it is better not to keep large plants. In this case, it is better to plant begonias, marigolds or ageratum.
Several interesting ideas so that your flower corner can become a place that truly pleases the soul:
A balcony beautifully decorated with flowers in our cities is, unfortunately, the exception, not the rule. You can refer to the climatic features of most regions of the country. Or talk about the fact that the culture of flower decoration of balconies is unusual for us and that it is more customary for us to grow on balconies green onion and other garden greens. That in the Soviet era, every citizen had to participate in the construction of a "garden city", and not engage in petty-bourgeois cultivation of flowers on a personal balcony, and even for incomprehensible purposes. And we turned this page in the history of the country only a quarter of a century ago. But how nice it is, with your head up, to admire flower oases from the street on the balconies of standard buildings! And rejoice that up there, someone not only decorated the balcony for themselves, but also gives this beauty to everyone around.
Where to begin?
As in any business, floriculture has its own professional secrets. What flowers to choose for a flower garden? What composition to make for the winter garden? What colors to choose for decorating a south-facing balcony?
Start with the improvement of the "balcony area". This may be a cosmetic repair, which will be limited to painting the railings and replacing the flooring. It will not be possible to paint the walls, so we advise you to select flowers of such shades that will not merge with the color of the walls.
Then we advise you to decide what area on the balcony you will allocate for flowers. Do you give everything for a flower garden or leave part of the area for household needs or a recreation area? Boxes secured with outer side balcony railings, we do not take into account - they do not take up space. Do you want to grow flowers only for yourself, or will you try to arrange a balcony so that all passers-by can admire your success?
Very important! The permissible load on the balcony slab must not be exceeded. You need to be especially careful when decorating flower beds on old balconies. Therefore, do not chase after the number of pots and flower boxes, especially since by placing them in large numbers, you will not be able to make a beautiful flower arrangement.
When you answer these questions for yourself, the turn of geometry will come. Not a subject from the program high school, and the geometry of the arrangement of flower boxes, containers, pots and planters. When decorating a balcony with flowers, we advise you to follow the well-known rules:
- On the large balconies you can safely combine all types of landscaping: horizontal, vertical and ceiling. Compositions that involve large single flowers (lilies, camellias, peonies) look great. Decorate your flower garden lawn, pebble flooring, decorative fountain or a pond alpine slide, evergreen shrubs or special varieties fruit trees. In a word, create! On the large balcony it is advisable to use all its elements: walls, fences, floors.
- On the small balconies usually use horizontal gardening. To do this, light plastic containers are suspended from the outside of the balcony railing, heavier pots and boxes are placed along the walls and railings. Marigolds and Chinese carnations are excellent for this type of flower beds. Height undersized varieties marigolds is about 20 cm, they stop blooming only with the arrival of frost. Chinese carnation feels good in flower beds on balconies. Chinese carnation usually grows up to 30 cm in height, blooms all summer. This requires pruning at the end of July. Frequent feeding is not required. Does not tolerate excess water in containers. Often horizontal landscaping is combined with ceiling landscaping, in which planters are hung from the ceiling of the balcony. Do not forget to provide convenient access to flowers for watering and caring for them.
- On small balconies, the emphasis is on vertical flower beds. Containers are installed against the wall, ropes are pulled up to the ceiling, a “ladder” is mounted from the rails or mesh trellises are installed. Climbing them, climbing plants will quickly turn your balcony into paradise. Take kobe, sweet peas, beans for planting in a vertical flower garden. From climbing plants, girlish grapes look great.
For planting flowers, use all the possibilities: boxes, pots, planters. The containers are chosen in such a way that the flowers have enough space and soil.
Lightweight but durable, plastic boxes are best used for placement on the outside of the balcony railing. It is recommended not to plant flowers in one long box - when watering, the weight of the structure will increase and the mount may not be able to cope. In such cases, several relatively small boxes up to one meter long.
It is believed that plants “live” more comfortably in clay boxes, flowers can “breathe” in them, and moisture is retained longer. But such boxes have significant weight, and it is better to use them for floor placement.
Advice. Before using new clay boxes, place them in water for two hours. This is an old way of forcing air bubbles out of the clay to give the box more strength.
Buy only boxes with small holes in the bottom. So excess moisture will not accumulate in them.
The best option is to use pallet boxes. "Excess" water will leave the box, accumulate on the pallet and create a greenhouse effect in the sun. And it won't flow down. It’s unpleasant, after all, instead of words of admiration, to hear from passers-by, on whom water drips from your boxes, something offensive: “They hung it up here!”.
Great for flower pots. They must be fixed to the ceiling or from the inside of the balcony. Planters fixed on the outside can be damaged by gusts of wind.
Feel free to buy durable boxes and pots of the most inexpressive colors. They must have the main quality - strength. You can decorate them with your own hands in any style you like.
It is very important to choose the right soil for flowers. The soil can be purchased at the store or made independently. For this, coarse sand, soddy layer of earth and humus (peat) are used in equal proportions. A layer made of an elastic napkin for washing dishes or a piece of rug is placed in a flower box, which can accumulate water, and then gradually release it into the ground. Then we pour a layer of sand - this is a layer of peat and sod land is poured on top, from which weeds have been removed.
The level of the soil should be below the edge of the box by a couple of centimeters. If you poured too much earth, water will wash it out when watering.
Important! Every year before planting flowers must be removed upper layer and replace it with fresh. Fertilizers are applied only after replacing the topsoil. Try to use long-acting fertilizers. Specify the order of laying the fertilizer with the sellers of seeds.
Choosing flowers
The most crucial part of preparing for the creation of a flower garden. Immediately pay attention to the height of the plants - it is indicated on the packages. Otherwise, tall and powerful plants will "strangle" the weaker ones. Nothing can be done, the struggle for survival.
Do not try to put a lot of seeds in one box in the soil. Grow they will grow, but frail and weak. In a meter box, it is optimal to plant up to 10 flowers in two rows. True, you need to consider what kind of flowers you plant. You can combine and plant one row of falling ones, and for the second one choose taller plants.
Given the height of the flowers, we must not forget about the color combination. Excessive variegation of the flower garden will not decorate your balcony. Check out these possible combinations:
Pick up color combinations, which you like, without losing sight of the difference in the time of flowering plants. With time and experience, you will learn how to make flower arrangements that will change throughout the season, such as tulips with crocuses and daffodils,
which are replaced by begonias.
After planting flowers in boxes and pots, do not rush to send them to the balcony under direct sunlight. sunbathing most flowers are not very fond of accepting, in addition, they must be given time to first get stronger. And for this purpose, let them stand in the shade for a while. And the flowers should be watered early in the morning or after sunset, when the heat subsides.
Flowers for a sunny balcony
Sun-loving daisies are perfect for a flower garden on a sunny balcony,
calendula.
They love the sun purslane, morning glory, mignonette, heliotrope (the name speaks for itself!), sweet peas, decorative beans.
Plant Viola (Pansies) in early May
and daisies, and your flower garden on the balcony will delight you with early flowering.
African agapanthus
and Indian canna, planted in large beautiful pots, will decorate your flower garden on a sunny balcony.
Flowers for a shaded balcony
For a flower garden on a shaded balcony, choose fuchsia,
cloves,
forget-me-nots,
Tradescantia
For flower beds on balconies located on the upper floors, and where the wind is stronger, opt for begonias, ageratum, undersized marigolds, and stonecrops.
On small balconies, mostly with vertical gardening planting petunias,
pelargonium,
ampere varieties of lobelia,
tumbergia winged.
Plant an evergreen boxwood, and plant a ragwort (cineraria) or violets in the spring. Believe me, the composition you will get is original and very beautiful.
If you enjoy this experience, next year try to make a more complex composition:
Success will undoubtedly inspire you, and you will want to develop it immediately. That's when the stage of the "wise gardener" comes, who knows the sense of proportion and can restrain his impulses. First of all, for the benefit of flowers and the entire flower garden. You have a small, but still a corner of wildlife on your balcony. And in nature, everything is very reasonably arranged, even if we often do not understand this and consider the existing rules cruel, according to which the strongest survive. Therefore, be guided by a sense of proportion and do not rush to plant the entire balcony with flowers at once. And do not be afraid of failures, they are inevitable in such a difficult matter as growing flowers. Failures will be forgotten, and the reward in the form of constant communication with flowers, your joy from this communication and the joy of your loved ones will always be with you. And it may well be that an absent-minded passer-by will accidentally raise his head, stop in his tracks when he sees your balcony, and say: “What a beauty!”.