How To Choose Plants for Your Balcony

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If you are a lucky owner of a balcony, most probably you dream of converting it into a relaxing retreat. How nice it is to have a cup of tea or coffee surrounded by bloomy flowers and lush vegetation! However, in order to make this dream come true, you need to be careful with selecting plants for your peaceful nook. Natural factors, such as exposure of a balcony to the sun, wind, humidity will be the main factors to consider.

Here is a short guide on how to choose the right plants for your balcony:

1. At high altitude

High rise balconies ( 4-5th floor and above) are usually exposed to harsh winds, which can break the stems of plants, overturn the light pots and dry out the soil. Tall trees and plants most likely will feel uncomfortable in such conditions. For this environment it is better to choose low creeping plants: daisies, marigolds, begonias.

It is also recommendable not to hang plants on the walls, but to arrange the pots on the floor or along the balustrade: at this level the plants will be partially protected from the wind. Pots with pelargonium, pansies and alyssum will look very effective and they are the good choice for the windy balconies too.

2. Growing in the shade

It is commonly considered that it is difficult to arrange a garden on a shady balcony.

Generally in these cases landscape designers advise to use decorative deciduous plants. Among them: honeysuckle, grapes, hops, various ferns and asparagus.

But in fact, it is still possible to create a flourishing garden on a north-facing balcony. Violas, lobelias, fuchsia feel themselves quite good in the shady places.

3. Direct sunlight

On south-facing balconies be careful with plants that require plenty of light, but are very delicate and tender. For roses, for example, it is necessary to make some shade. Unpretentious plants are considered to be Ipomoea, climbing honeysuckle, sweet pea. Ageratum, pelargonium, godetsiya, cloves, jasmine are also not afraid of direct sunlight.

4. East-West

You are very lucky if you have got an east or west-facing balcony, as in this case you can create a real landscape project in miniature. You can plant a small tree or a coniferous plant or evergreen shrub in a pot, hang planters with flowers on walls and even arrange a small pergola with creeping plants.

5. Vegetables and fruits

Most fruits and vegetables prefer plenty of light so consider it if you want to make edible gardens on your balcony. If there is too much of sun on a south-facing side, you can create an artificial shade to protect your garden. Coriander, mint, basil, oregano and sage grow well on the east and west facing sides. Fennel salad and parsley prefer the shade, so the north balcony for them is the best place.