Many people dream of fully using their living space, using absolutely all of its components. The balcony is no exception. Flowers can be an excellent option for decorating a balcony, which will not only decorate the interior, but also benefit.
Features:
It's no secret that plants not only decorate the living space, but also perform the function of purifying the air and energy that reigns in the apartment. For example, it is customary to place cacti near computers in order to reduce the radiation of technology.
Balcony flowers will help not only visually improve the living space, but also provide a service in taking care of human health.
The open balcony, decorated with a “living” wall of plants, will always be filled with clean air, since acrid smoke and dust will be filtered out by the green leaves.
Preparation and development of a design project with a winter garden
If you have an idea to create a winter garden on the balcony and you seriously intend to implement it, you should take into account some tricks and subtleties that will help you make your dreams come true. It is necessary to limit the scope of the budget available to implement this idea. If the balcony is cold or not glazed, you need to allocate additional funds to insulate the space.
The room should be provided with the necessary lighting and the flowers should be arranged in such a way that during the daytime they would be exposed to natural light and ultraviolet rays for as long as possible, which appear even in winter.
All storage options for boxes, planters and flower pots are worth considering. To keep the flowers as close to natural light as possible, it is best to purchase or design shelves by hand and place them as close to windows as possible. Unpretentious, shade-loving plants can be placed in the wall area on hanging pots.
Of course, it is necessary to select flowers and plants that are not particularly prone to hot weather and are able to grow fully in the shade.
Where and how to arrange?
Not everyone knows how to arrange flowers correctly so as not to harm them and prevent wilting. Everything is very simple - you just need to take into account all their features:
- Plants that are not afraid of heat can safely be located at the window - the sun's rays will only benefit them. But flowers prone to wilting under the influence of heat are best placed away from the window - possibly closer to the floor.
- Plants, which feel equally well indoors and outdoors, can safely flaunt on the railing of open balconies - they will not be afraid of either wind or rain. But it is better to save capricious indoor flowers from getting acquainted with the harsh weather conditions - they can only harm the whimsical crumbs.
Which ones are right?
Undoubtedly, not all flowers are suitable for the balcony, so it is necessary to thoroughly study all the information regarding this topic. It is worth considering in more detail which flowers can be on the balcony and which not. It is recommended to know what effect the balcony side has on plant growth.
Curly flowers are great for the balcony. Growing up, they create a roof and a wall of leaves that looks very mysterious and romantic, and also protects windows from extreme heat and acts as an air filter.
As you know, most climbing plants are annuals, which means that next year they will not grow on their own and will need a new planting. To some, such plants seem not very practical, since they require an investment of time and money, but it is this feature that allows you to change the living decor of the balcony every year.
To grow plants from the climbing family, special devices are needed so that their branches can cling and grow more actively. In garden stores, you can buy special bamboo trellises, and stretched bundles and thin sticks will be a more budget option.
For growing on the balcony, you should choose unpretentious plant varieties, since the weather conditions are sometimes very changeable. Not all balconies are glazed and insulated, so many flowers will be exposed to rain, wind and other manifestations of cloudy weather.
Climbing flower plants are good for open balconies, but beautiful undersized flowers can be picked up for glazed ones. Since they are not affected by weather conditions (at least before the onset of frost), you can safely plant even a little capricious flowers.
If space on the balcony allows, you can get quite large boxes for planting and create a whole flower garden containing different plants, which, when combined, form a very nice composition. Fast growing herbs can be used to create a green velvety surface.
North dark side
When planting plants and flowers on the dark side of the balcony, you should not expect miracles, since many of them are thermophilic, love light and need exposure to sunlight. However, there are options that are also suitable for coolness.
Some growers believe that shade-tolerant plants are unpretentious to care for, so they only manage by watering with running water. This is a big misconception, because due to the lack of ultraviolet radiation and heat, plants need much more attention and care.
Of course, it is difficult to grow anything on an unglazed balcony, especially in northern regions with harsh climates. However, in this case, you can safely plant crops that will always come in handy during cooking: parsley, watercress and green onions. These plants tolerate coolness and lack of sunlight well.
The shady side will appeal to the bright blooming fuchsia, which does not feel very comfortable under the influence of sunlight and may even die. But in the shade and coolness, the plant will delight you with colorful greens and bright flowers for a long time.
A plant called balsam, which perfectly tolerates shade, can be safely planted in balcony pots without fear that the flower may die. With proper care, following the watering schedule for the plant and protecting it from pests, balsam will give beautiful and very bright flowers.
Among the deciduous vegetation, plants from the fern family are best suited for the shady side of the balcony. However, you should be careful, having previously studied the literature, since there are many rumors and legends around the fern that the plant brings bad luck.
For growing on insulated shady balconies, the American dichorizander is perfect. The plant looks very beautiful, has a watery stem structure, which is why it is rather capricious about the burning sun rays, which are dried and burned.
South sunny side
The south side of the balcony is illuminated by the sun for most of the day, illuminated and heated. It would seem that every plant will be happy with the sun, growing and blooming under the influence of its rays. However, this opinion cannot be called true, since some flowers are not suitable for the sunny side.
Nasturtium is perfect for growing on a hot southern balcony. A beautiful flower with voluminous bright green leaves and orange-brown flowers will adorn any loggia.
The plant can be called unpretentious, since it perfectly tolerates heat and drought, does not need frequent watering.
The well-known petunia, of which there are quite a few varieties, also loves the heat and will perfectly take root on the southern balcony. Petunia is best grown in hanging pots, but it is best to choose small-leaved varieties that are suitable specifically for home growing.
The well-known and beloved geranium is an excellent option for the south-side balcony.
It is best to choose a zoned or ivy-leaved plant variety, since it is it that is least susceptible to heat and survives well in such conditions.
The beautiful purslane, the brightest representative of the ground cover species of plants, does not require any special handling and reverent care, it is enough just to grow it in sandy soil. The flower is so sun-loving that in the absence of ultraviolet rays, it folds its leaves and closes the buds.
A flower called "snapdragon" looks beautiful. Its name is constantly heard and known to us from childhood. The plant has an interesting shape and unusual color, it tolerates heat well and blooms before the onset of severe cold weather.
Although sun-loving plants are resistant to heat, you should not forget about basic flower care. Regular watering with cool water, which is best done in the evening, and spraying the leaves are all that is needed.
East, west side
The balconies on the east or west side are not cold. It may be that with the onset of the afternoon, the atmosphere on the balcony becomes identical to the southern version, so most of the above flowers can be grown in the east, and in the west, and in the south.
Penumbra plays an important role, so you should pay attention to plants specially bred for balcony growing in such an atmosphere. In addition, small street flowers can be grown on the open east and west balconies.
If you are decorating a Provence-style balcony, it is difficult to do without narrow-leaved and French lavender. The plant is unpretentious in care, it blooms beautifully and grows quickly, moreover, it has a very pleasant aroma during flowering.
Ampel plants grow quite well in partial shade. However, you should be aware that the leaves and shoots of these plants grow, stretching downwards, so for this type of flowers it is best to use pots or boxes with hooks and hanging planters.
One of the representatives of this type of plant is clematis , which takes root very well in partial shade conditions. The plant has large flowers in bright colors and grows like wild grapes, so this option is ideal for open balconies.
For open east and west balconies, a garden variety of verbena is suitable. For this plant, you should purchase a large box or pot with a lot of soil. The plant is perennial, so it will delight flower growers for more than one season.
For growing in boxes and volumetric pots, feathery and crested celosia are perfect. Plants are usually planted in garden plots and urban flower beds, but it is perfect for both open balconies and insulated loggias.
Plants for an open balcony
An open balcony needs decoration and landscaping, perhaps even more than a closed one. It is quite easy to grow flowers in summer, but not everyone knows how to create a harmonious composition of plants. It is worth considering which plants are most suitable for growing on an open balcony and why.
Decorative sweet peas. This plant is best grown in boxes along walls and railings. The thing is that peas are stretched in height from one to two meters, so it will be very beautiful if its shoots grow, clinging to something and forming a green hedge. The flowering period of this plant lasts from early June to mid-October. With a warm autumn, flowering can last until the onset of November cold weather.
This type of plant is good only for balconies that are on the sunny side, since sweet peas are susceptible to sunlight and are very thermophilic.
Multicolor beans. The plant is perfect for south-facing balconies and will help create the cool shade needed in the sultry heat. It is best to grow beans in hanging planters, allowing the shoots to grow downward.
In order to direct the branches and leaves in the desired direction, it is necessary to tie several dense ropes along which they will stretch, forming a dense green "curtain". The period of active flowering of beans falls on June-September, but it can retain green leaves until frost.
Other plants are for vertical gardening. Options such as indoor rose, wild grapes, or ivy will work. They stretch perfectly both up and down, look beautiful and are not very moody in their care. You can use clematis, Turkish beans, and actinidia.
In addition, low-growing flowers grown in hanging pots will look great: carnations, violets, dahlias will do. Ampelous plants will also fit perfectly into the interior, the brightest representatives of which are graceful petunia and ivy geranium.
Choosing balcony boxes and flower pots
To provide flowers with comfortable growing and decorate the balcony, you need to choose a functional container. It is worth considering in more detail which species is good for a certain type of flowers, as well as convenient storage devices for flower pots.
Pot boxes can be useful if you have to grow miniature bush indoor flowers. If there is a small window sill on the balcony, an oblong rectangular box will fit perfectly on it, the main thing is to choose a beautiful option.
You can choose a rectangular trapezoidal model, the bottom of which is slightly narrower than the top. Such boxes, as a rule, do not have any decor, they are simple and harmoniously fit into any interior. If you need to choose a decorative element in the form of a box, you should pay attention to the product, the surface of which is decorated with a small fence.
To store a large number of such boxes, there are rather compact and practical racks that will not take up much space on the balcony, but will hold quite a lot of containers with flowers. These racks are most often made of metal or wood.
There are also some pretty interesting shelves that can be mounted on the wall, placed on the floor or on the windowsill. Usually, pots with flowers are stored on such shelves, the most capacious of them can hold up to fifteen pieces.
It is noteworthy that some shelves are made of untreated wood, and everyone can independently decorate the product to their liking.
For hanging pots, you will need to purchase a wall bracket, which is a cast openwork piece with a hook. It is worth being careful not to load it very heavily, because from too heavy pots the mount may not withstand and break.
There are quite convenient multi-level flower pot stands available. They can be quite tall, but these varieties will need to be secured at the bottom or top to prevent falls. The most practical of all are medium-sized models, which will fit four to six pots.
For those whose balconies are equipped with internal narrow metal beams, there are special planters with holders. This is a container in the form of a colored bucket with a wide flat hook. The hook catches on the bar and the pot hangs from it at a slight slope.
Tips
To grow flowers on the balcony, it is necessary to take into account many aspects that in one way or another affect the growth of plants that need not only care, but also in comfortable living conditions, which can be quite difficult to provide.
It is necessary to choose the right plant from the list of those that are suitable for balcony growing. Indoor plants should not be tortured in vain, since they are not adapted to weather changes and prolonged exposure to fresh air.
An unsuitable houseplant can simply die on the balcony.
Next, you need to carefully study the nature of the plant and the characteristics of its cultivation in order to choose the right pot. Yes, unfortunately, some plants are quite capricious and susceptible not only to the soil, but also to the material of the pot or box.
The thing is that unscrupulous manufacturers, when making planting accessories, use low-quality material that releases special vapors into the ground that can harm capricious plants. That is why it is necessary to carefully choose products, while studying the composition.
Another important aspect of planting balcony flowers is the choice of soil. Ordinary garden soil will not work, since it can contain eggs and various larvae of pests and ants, whose presence is absolutely not needed in any apartment.
It is best to purchase soil suitable for growing indoor and balcony plants from specialized stores. Usually such soil is enriched with special vitamins and minerals that will only benefit the flowers.
Of course, plant care is important. Regular watering is essential as the water nourishes and nourishes the stem and leaves with vitality. However, you need to know when to stop, since too little water will dry out the flower, and overflow will destroy it. For faster growth and flowering, it is worth adding special fertilizing when watering.
