Would you also like a balcony with beautiful flowers? Just to enjoy, to care for, and of course, to occasionally pick a few flowers for your home. Even without a green thumb, you can start with a few flowering plants on your balcony. Follow these steps and quickly enjoy the most beautiful flowers on your own balcony!
Which plants can you have on your balcony?
Start by determining where you want to keep plants on your balcony. How much sun does that spot get on an average day? This is an important indication of the type of plant that will grow and bloom well on your balcony. Check which category your balcony falls into:
Shade: 0 to 2 hours of sun
Partial shade: 2 to 4 hours of sun
Full sun: More than 4 hours of sun
Perennial and annual plants
The name says it all: perennial plants can be left in place. In winter, the leaves and stems of the plant die back. Below ground, the plant's bulb remains alive. As soon as spring arrives, it will produce new stems, leaves, and eventually flowers. Annual or biennial plants will not re-bloom after this period and will need to be sown or planted again every year or every two years.
Seeds, bulbs, and plants
You can choose to buy seeds, bulbs, or mature plants. Seeds are usually the cheapest, but also the hardest to bring to full bloom. Flower bulbs of spring plants like daffodils or tulips grow easily and add color to your balcony in early spring. Mature, perennial plants are already a few years old and have been able to grow into sturdy plants at the nursery that can withstand a lot. Look online and see which plants and colors you like and suit your balcony. Make sure you buy plants that grow well in a pot. Some plants, like peonies, usually don't produce flowers when planted in a pot.
Plants directly from the grower
At Clay & Roots, you'll find plants that come directly from the grower. With these plants, you receive the bulb that remains alive underground during the winter. Plant this mature plant in autumn or spring in a pot, and it will grow into a beautiful, flowering plant in spring.
Which pot do you need for your balcony plants?
There are many types of pots available. For outdoor plants, it's important to always choose a pot with holes at the bottom. This allows excess rainwater to drain away easily and prevents the roots of your plant from rotting. Terracotta pots are very beautiful, but they absorb a lot of water. So you always need to pay close attention to whether your plant itself still has enough water. Pots made from recycled plastic are durable and available in all sorts of colors and sizes. Choose a size that looks nice on your balcony and also ensure your plant has enough room to grow.
Care
The care your plant needs depends on the type of plant you buy. However, there are a few general rules you can follow:
- Easily check if your plant still has enough water by sticking a finger in the soil. If no moist soil sticks to your finger, add some water.
- Remember that plants in bloom need more water than usual.
- Leave the dead stems and leaves on your plant in winter and only remove them in early spring.
- When repotting your plants, use fresh potting soil and water generously.
- Give your plants enough nutrients to grow, usually it's enough to sprinkle some compost or organic fertilizer around your plants in spring.
It's always useful to write down or sketch which plants you have on your balcony and save information about the plant or take a picture of it. If you notice something unusual with your plant or it's not growing well, you can easily look up how to help your plant.
Start small
If you have no experience with caring for outdoor plants or don't have much time for it, start small! For example, order two or three mature plants and choose beautiful pots for them. This way, you can already enjoy your own flowers this summer, and you can always add more plants to your balcony in autumn.
View our complete collection of potted plants here. This is constantly growing as we are able to collaborate with more and more growers. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay informed.
Do you have any questions about this article or don't know exactly where to start? Follow us on Instagram for the latest tips or send us a message. We are happy to help you!
