However, there are all kinds of things to consider here. Not all plants are equally suited to the different balcony positions. A distinction is made between balcony plants which prefer the sun and those which prefer partial shade. Find out here how to choose the right plants for your balcony and how to fertilise them correctly so that you can enjoy their flowers in all their glory right through to the late summer.
To ensure the best choice of balcony plants, you should first take a look at the location of your balcony. If it faces south then you should, of course, choose plants which like constant sunshine. Examples of such plants are petunias, geraniums, Paris daisies and hanging verbenas.
Plants which prefer partial shade are better suited to balconies which face east or west. Make sure that you don't over water them as stagnant moisture can cause rot. Also, the roots of plants which prefer partial shade can unfurl better in drier soil. Fuchsias, busy lizzies, hardy perennials such as ferns, ivy and begonias feel particularly at home on balconies offering partial shade.
There are a few things to remember when planting window boxes, too. About 4-5 plants are enough for a box which is one meter long. They should be arranged according to their growth characteristics. Hanging plants should be planted on the outside so that they can hang down beautifully over the balcony area. By the same token, tall-growing balcony plants should be planted right on the inside. Choose smaller plants to fill the spaces in between.
It is particularly important to inspect balcony plants at regular intervals. You should check the moisture content of the potting soil and watch out for deadheads. These should then be removed from the stems.
In order to enjoy flowers in all their glory on your own balcony, you really have to take care of your plants and give them fertiliser too. Begonias and geraniums thrive extremely well if you mix some coffee grounds into the potting soil. The right dose is about two handfuls of coffee grounds per approx. one metre of window box. Mixing in an all-nutrient flower fertiliser from time to time is also recommended. About once a week, put 1 cm³ of fertiliser in a litre of water. This dose should also be used for fast-growing flowers - but you can then increase the watering frequency. Busy lizzies, fuchsias, slipperwort, petunias and begonias need three to four times more fertiliser than other plants.
If you follow all this advice for your balcony plants, you will certainly set yourself up to enjoy them for a long time.
