Flowers for a sunny balcony
If you are planning to grow flowers on the balcony, then the sunny side is an excellent option for plants that tolerate direct sunlight well and do not suffer from drought.
Succulents
When it comes to “indestructible” plants that are not afraid of rare watering and direct sunlight, gardeners first think of succulents. These plants are famous for their ability to retain moisture for a long time. The most popular are aloe, haworthia, zamioculcas, echeveria, etc.
Geranium (pelargonium)
If you are looking for flowers for your balcony that bloom all summer, then geranium is exactly what you need. Pelargonium loves sunlight, so a well-lit balcony is a great place for this plant. Geranium does not get sunburn, but rather enhances flowering under the rays of the sun. Zonal and ampel varieties of geranium are best suited for growing on a southern balcony.
Purslane
This flower does not need frequent watering and tolerates direct sunlight. The moisture that accumulates in the dense leaves of purslane allows the plant to remain “in good shape” for a long time. Flowering period is from July to August.
Zinnia
Zinnia (zinnia) is a fairly heat-resistant annual plant. During prolonged drought, zinnia must be watered regularly and carefully so that water does not get on the leaves of the plant. Its bright large flowers with velvety petals delight the eye until the first frost.
Flowers for the northern balcony
Unpretentious flowers for a north-facing balcony should first of all be shade-tolerant.
Balsam
Impatiens love shady places; in the garden they grow best under trees, so these plants do very well on a north-facing balcony. It is important not to overdo it with watering, so as not to provoke the development of diseases.
Ivy
A balcony entwined with ivy shoots always stands out among others. This plant is also easy to care for: it does not need frequent watering, but it is necessary to spray (and even wash in the shower) the ivy regularly.
Cyclamen
The popular indoor flower is loved by many for its original appearance: cyclamen is not only remarkable for its flowers, but also for its patterned heart-shaped leaves. This plant must be protected from direct sunlight and high temperatures (no more than 17°C), watered moderately, not allowing moisture to stagnate or the soil to dry out.
Calceolaria
The unusual shape of the flower (it resembles a small clog shoe) and bright color (from bright yellow to speckled red) make calceolaria a very impressive indoor plant. This flower is another “ideal resident” for a northern balcony: it loves partial shade and low temperatures (14-16°C). The plant should be watered as the soil dries out.
Flowers for an east or west balcony
Balconies facing east or west are suitable for most indoor plants due to their moderate light levels.
Verbena
The popular names of this plant are: pigeon grass, cast iron grass, “Juno's tears”, etc. Verbena is known not only for its decorative properties, but also for its healing properties: since ancient times it has been used in folk medicine. Verbena is popular as a garden plant grown in flower beds. However, on the balcony she feels no worse than in the open ground. The flowering period of verbena is quite long - from June to November.
Marigolds (tagetes)
The homeland of marigolds is Mexico; in some countries this plant is used in cooking as a seasoning. Due to the fact that the flowering of marigolds is very abundant and long, these flowers have gained popularity both in gardens and on balconies. Marigolds tolerate both heat and windy weather well. They are comfortable in almost any conditions.
Daisy
In the middle zone, daisies bloom in May and continue to delight the eye until the onset of cold weather. An unpretentious compact plant thrives in shaded areas, so a low-light balcony is quite suitable for this garden flower.
Heather
Do you want your balcony to remain decorative in winter? Plant heather, a frost-resistant shrub that blooms from January to April. Some plants in the heather family bloom in the fall, such as Erika gracilis. Even when the heather practically dies (freezes), it does not lose its decorative effect.
Climbing flowers for the balcony
It’s hard to imagine a beautiful flower balcony without at least one climbing plant. Graceful shoots wrapping around the railings of an open balcony or a specially installed lattice look luxurious.
bougainvillea
Curly shoots of bougainvillea with bright purple flowers can effectively decorate a balcony or terrace. This plant prefers well-lit places with normal humidity. The optimal temperature is 23-27°C.
morning glory
A lush, densely flowering vine with bright flowers looks great on the balcony. Make sure that the morning glory has somewhere to direct the shoots and something to braid: install a net or pull ropes. In general, an unpretentious plant should still be protected from direct sunlight.
Calistegia
This perennial bindweed is familiar to many gardeners. Why not use it as a “balcony” vine? Calistegia is not difficult to care for; it blooms with modest but beautiful flowers of soft pink color. Traditionally, the flowers are bell-shaped, but there are varieties with double petals.
Clematis
A south or east facing balcony is perfect for growing a favorite garden plant - clematis. For the balcony, choose frost-resistant varieties. Keep in mind that on a northern open balcony, clematis can die from the cold, so if you are the owner of just such a balcony, opt for another plant.
Boxes, flowerpots, pots for the balcony garden
Flower containers can be divided into:
- Traditional clay pots. The best option for flowers is that the root system breathes, excess moisture is absorbed into the walls, the natural environment.
- Clay glazed pots with decoration. A very beautiful container, but the brightness of the colors and glossy shine suppress the beauty of the flowers.
- Cast concrete bowls. Suitable for large tuberous plants, which is not relevant for our latitudes. But they are suitable for planting compositions of several plants.
- Hanging flowerpots. They are made from various materials from plastic to metal. Excellent for planting flowers and acting as a decorative component of balconies.
- Special flowerpots with fastening on the fence. There are several options from industrial to DIY. Small and large balconies are decorated with industrial-made and hand-made hanging flower pots
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- Flower boxes for arrangements are made independently from scrap materials, or purchased in stores. Their materials are ceramics, plastic, wood. Often there are decorative options in the form of wicker baskets, houses, and animals.
You can decorate the external space of the apartment, balcony, loggia and window sills without any special financial costs. In most cases, inexpensive plastic pots are used for seasonal flowers; they do not have a bottom drain. It’s easy to make a hole for water drainage: heat a large nail on fire and attach it to the bottom . Choose a plastic planter with a view to repeated use, so the side should be such that you can attach a hook for hanging. Decorating loggias or external window sills with fresh flowers in pots is also convenient using hanging pots with abundantly flowering plants.
You can decorate the external space of the apartment, balcony, loggia and window sills without any special financial costs!
Additional decoration of pots using natural materials will help you decorate your balcony with your own hands: sisal, moss, bamboo sticks, flexible tree branches. Boxes of different sizes are suitable for creating flower arrangements.
Ampelous flowers for the balcony
When deciding what flowers to grow on the balcony, think about the plants grown in hanging pots.
Fuchsia
Charming fuchsia is an evergreen plant with flowers of unusual shape. It is precisely because of the characteristics of the flowers (they seem to “look” down) that fuchsia is usually grown as an hanging plant. Fuchsia is used to decorate terraces, balconies, and rooms. The variety of varieties allows you to choose a plant of this type for any room.
Lobelia
One of the most popular hanging plants, lobelia, in a hanging pot resembles a blooming cloud. This flower loves bright but diffused lighting, so it is best to grow it in partial shade, on an eastern or western balcony (at least on a bright, open northern one).
Petunia
When thinking about how to decorate a balcony with flowers, you have probably more than once imagined a hanging flowerpot with a spectacular plant, densely covered with bright flowers. This is exactly what petunia looks like - a favorite of gardeners and flower growers. For a northern balcony, choose cold-resistant hybrids, but on a southern or southeastern balcony you can grow most varieties of petunias.
Spurge
A variety of milkweed varieties are popular for growing in the garden (especially for rock gardens) and are also widely used as houseplants, such as Euphorbia Milius (Milia) or Euphorbia Tirukalli (finger). This succulent is unpretentious and does not need frequent watering, but you need to be careful with the juice that is released when a spurge branch is broken, as it is poisonous.
Schemes of compositions for planting in balcony boxes
Needless to say, only plants of the same type according to the conditions of their maintenance are collected in groups. Separate seating can provide some guarantee of safety. But even here, when combining pots into a single composition, you need to remember the aspects of cultivation. When arranging, focus on the main parameters: attitude to humidity and degree of illumination.
For example, the moisture-loving fuchsia is unlikely to make friends with a resident of Mexico - zinnia. One of them will suffer in the absence or excess of water. But verbena and ornamental tobacco can be grouped with both phlox and sage. Ampelous petunia will look great against the background of immortelle. And for the background of pelargonium, coleus is suitable.
Combine creativity with compliance with the rules of agricultural technology and you will succeed!
Indoor flowers on the balcony
Indoor plants need fresh air and sunlight no less than humans, so when the weather warms up, give the flowers a “vacation” on the balcony. When deciding when to place flowers on the balcony, focus on the weather outside the window. Wait until the street temperature in the morning does not drop below 15°C and begin to accustom your “green pets” to a new place.
Not all indoor flowers are recommended to be placed even on a glazed balcony. Thus, Usambara violet (Saintpaulia) and some types of cacti do not like such changes.
To begin with, leave flowers on the balcony not for the whole day, but only until noon, so that bright sunlight does not harm the plants. Gradually increase the time the flowers are on the balcony so that they have time to get used to it.
You should leave flowers on an open balcony (and even on a glazed balcony) for a whole day only after the difference between day and night air temperatures outside becomes minimal.
Over time, the solar heat on the balcony will increase, so provide the possibility of shading so that the flowers on the balcony do not get burned in the summer.
Balcony flower boxes
The flower industry offers a wide range of containers. There are flower pots of almost all sizes, shapes and colors to choose from. Phytodesigners advise:
- Purchase containers only after you have decided on the type of landscaping.
- For hanging structures, choose flowerpots, pots and containers made of plastic.
- For the window sill area or floor placement, it is better to purchase heavy flowerpots made of clay or ceramics.
- Drainage holes in balcony boxes are the main condition for the health and blooming appearance of your mini-garden.
- Don't forget about style: flower pots should help create a unified composition.
How to decorate a balcony with flowers - tips with photos
Decorating a balcony with flowers is, first of all, a matter of taste. When thinking about the composition, take into account the size of your balcony, the color of the walls, as well as the general style in which the room is designed.
When placing climbing plants on the balcony, think about how to beautifully arrange a trellis or ropes along which the shoots will weave.
Place flowers on the balcony in boxes or pots according to the same principles as in flower beds in the garden - combine plants of different heights, play with shades and textures.
For hanging plants, make strong fastenings to protect yourself and the flowers themselves. If you want to organize a vertical wall composition, arrange the flowers in a loose order.
So, if you already have flower seedlings for your balcony (or seeds), then, armed with ideas and using your imagination, start transforming balconies and loggias, and we are waiting for your photos in the comments!
Stands, hanging holders, flower tables
To arrange all the flowers and compositions on the balcony, additional funds are needed.
Pay attention to the hanging flower holders. They are comfortable, decorate the walls, and show off all the beauty of hanging plants. To understand what they look like, remember a standard birch tree with two stands for flower pots - this is the most prosaic, but still relevant, option for hanging flowers on the wall. Multi-level shelves or shelves with one plane are suitable. Boxes made of wood and plastic are popular. It all depends on the amount of space on the wall or floor and the flowers that will live there.
Hanging flower holders are the most prosaic, but still relevant, option for hanging flowers on the wall!
Some pots can stand on the floor - this is important for tall plants against the wall . If the balcony is open, low-growing plants can be placed closer to the floor with a lattice fence; for compactness, they can be placed in boxes. If the outer side of the fence is sewn up, then the plants require placement in other available ways.
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Numerous options for flower stands provide a lot of possibilities for balcony design. From miniature single pot stands to multi-tiered tables to suit your needs. Tables and shelves can be replaced with painted boxes of different heights. They are presented to choose from in any construction or specialized florist store or from photos from catalogs of online portals. Lightweight, inconspicuous metal structures are suitable for flowers that grow throughout the season; literally a month after planting the begonia, the stand will not be visible, but the beauty of the flower can be admired without interference. If the balcony is small, use more external window sill and fencing.
If the balcony is small, use more external window sill and fencing.
You can hang flowers in separate pots or decorate the outer perimeter of the fence with them. Self-made pendants for compositions will be much more attractive - exclusivity is always in trend. Flowers in boxes made of wood or plywood will complement the composition. Before you start landscaping your property, take a closer look at photos and videos - materials on the topic so that your mini-garden becomes beautiful.
