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What flowers to plant on the balcony on the south or north side. Flowers for balcony boxes

Recently, decorating balconies with flowers has become increasingly popular. However, in order for the flowers on the balcony in the boxes to bloom for a long time and delight with their fragrance and beauty, you need to make a lot of effort. In this case, certain knowledge, skills and abilities will be required.

Before embarking on the design of the balcony, you need to carefully consider everything: what flowers to plant and how to do it, how to care for them, what containers to use for planting. First of all, you should decide on the location of containers with plants. A preliminary sketch of the circuit can be done on paper. Flower boxes and pots on the balcony are placed on wall shelves, bookcases, window sills and floors. This takes into account whether shade-loving or sun-loving plant species will be planted.

You can use plastic, ceramic, wooden boxes bought in a store or made by yourself. Hanging containers, large flowerpots, as well as tubs for tree-like plants look original. Metal containers can also be used, but do not forget that in direct sunlight they heat up to a high temperature, which negatively affects root system colors. In extreme heat, plastic containers also become very hot, which can lead to their deformation.

On the outside of the balcony block, it is best to place plastic boxes, since given material It is strong and yet light in weight. So that the mount does not break under the load of growing flowers, they are planted in 1 long container (however, no more than 1 m long). But for flowers on the balcony in clay boxes, the most comfortable conditions. Due to the porosity of a material such as clay, the plants receive the necessary amount of air, and the soil remains moist for a longer period of time. Clay containers are quite heavy, so it is recommended to place them on the floor. To give them greater strength, you need to put them in water for about 2 hours.

When choosing containers, it is important to consider the following characteristics:

1. 1 There should be small holes at the bottom, which will help to avoid excessive accumulation of moisture.
2. 2 It is advisable to pick up pots on the balcony with pallets. So, water flowing into the pan during irrigation under the influence of sunlight will create a greenhouse effect and will not flow down.
3. 3 An excellent option for creating a flower garden are pots that need to be attached to the ceiling on inside balcony structure.

Required soil properties

It is good when the design of the balcony is original, and the plants please the eye for as long as possible. And for this you need to choose the right soil. You can either buy it from the store or make your own. To prepare the soil at home, they take coarse sand, a layer of turf, humus; all components are in equal proportions. Then a piece of fabric is placed at the bottom of the flower container, which could accumulate water, gradually giving it to the soil. After that, a layer of sand, peat, turf is alternately poured, all weeds are previously removed from the latter.

It is important that the soil is 2-3 cm lower than the walls of the box. Do not pour a large amount of earth, because during irrigation it will be washed off with water.

If you plan to plant flowers on the balcony annually, then before each planting, you must remove the top layer and pour fresh in its place.

The soil needs fertilizer. However, they can only be applied after the topsoil has been replaced. It is advisable to use long-term fertilizers. Unlike annual plants, perennials require soil replacement once every 2-4 years, and, for example, agapanthus even less often, since it only needs to add a little fresh earth.

Flowers growing on the balcony do not fit the soil that is usually bought or made for planting indoor plants. Such earth mixtures contain insufficient nutrients. Rich in nutrients is peat crumb. In addition, peat has other advantages:

1. 1 Decontaminated from pathogens
2. 2 Holds moisture for a long time.

In addition to the fact that the plants need watering, they also need to be fed every 7-10 days. The exceptions are:

• nasturtium;
• purslane;
• glazing;
• godetia;
• dorotheanthus.

They need to be fed no more than 1 time in 2-3 weeks.

4-6 weeks after planting, the first feeding of plants should be made. For this purpose, they are used mineral fertilizers with trace elements of manganese, boron, molybdenum. The solution is prepared in this way: 2-3 g of fertilizer per 1 liter of water. Such top dressing is done almost until the end of summer.

Types of landscaping

Depending on the size of the balcony structure, use Various types landscaping:

1. 1 Horizontal.
2. 2 Vertical.
3. 3 Ceiling.

So, for a large balcony, all 3 types are suitable. To create a colorful, vibrant design, they select compositions from large single flowers, such as lilies, camellias, peonies. The presence of a sufficiently large area can lead to original ideas. For example, you can construct a small decorative fountain or a pond, decorate the flooring with pebbles.

For medium-sized balcony blocks, horizontal landscaping is best suited. For this purpose, light plastic pots are hung on the outside of the balcony. Those containers that are heavier are placed along the entire length of the walls and railings. In such flower beds, it is advisable to plant marigolds and Chinese carnations, whose height is 20-30 cm, and flowering continues throughout the summer. If pruned at the end of July, do not fill with water and do not overdo it with top dressing, marigolds can bloom until the first frost. As for cloves, excess water in the pot is fatal for her.

One of the ideas for decorating a flower garden on a medium-sized balcony can be a combination of horizontal gardening with ceiling. In this case, the pots are attached to the ceiling of the balcony. However, when making such a choice, you need to think about how it would be convenient to care for the flowers.

The most successful option for a small balcony design is considered vertical gardening. Its principle is that flower containers are placed against one of the walls, ropes are pulled to the ceiling, and then a kind of ladder is created from slats, or mesh trellises are installed. Preference should be given to climbing plants: kobee, sweet pea, beans, girlish grapes, which will climb the ladder up, creating the design of a paradise. For of this type landscaping, you can use any container: pots, planters, boxes. The main thing is that they have enough space for flowers and soil.

The combination of various plants in balcony flower beds

Exist various ideas regarding the combination of plants in flower beds. However, in order for the result to exceed all expectations, it is necessary to adhere to some recommendations.

The main recommendation concerns the color range of plants. So, it is desirable to combine no more than 2 colors that harmonize quite well with each other. Classic options for balcony flower beds: plain red pelargoniums, salvias or fuchsias, pink petunias, white daisies, yellow or lilac violas.

For balconies in the shade, the following scheme is suitable: on the outer row - red and white fuchsias (undersized) and ever-flowering pink begonias, and on the inside - red tuberous begonias and yellow calceolaria. As an interesting idea to draw attention to your balcony, you can create a bright flower spot from red and white pelargoniums, red salvias, yellow marigolds, nasturtiums.

If the balcony is located on the 2-3rd floor, and in close proximity to the street or sidewalk, you can create a flower arrangement from ageratum, mignonette, kobe, beans, lobelia, daisies, stonecrops, balsams. But do not forget about the combination of no more than 2-3 color shades. Plants such as purslane, dahlias, asters, chrysanthemums, erica, gazania look aesthetically pleasing only in the same type of planting.

Here's another pretty interesting idea. Creating an arrangement of flowers lilac shades in combination with decorative deciduous plants, it has an extravagant and elegant look. In this case, morning glory shoots with lemon-yellow leaves are placed next to the angelonia, which has violet-blue inflorescences. It will look great in this combination of coleus, the green leaves of which have burgundy veins. If space permits, you can arrange flowering rugs of caliberchoa. The box for the composition described should be about 80 cm long.

So, flowers on the balconies are not only possible, but also necessary to grow. Flower arrangements can decorate any room, they please both the owners and passers-by with their colorfulness and tenderness. And to give balcony block aesthetics will require only some knowledge, patience and a little imagination.

Boxes immersed in flowers are a magnificent decoration of balconies and terraces.

How to plant flowers in a balcony box

If balcony boxes narrow and the volume of land in them is small, plant plants in one row.

Fast growing ampelous petunias, calibrachoa petunias, geraniums, succession and verbena look very nice in boxes. Plant, for example, different varieties of any one type of summer lettuce, alternating them in flower color, or try an unusual mixture various kinds.

Spacious balcony boxes allow plants to be planted in two rows. In order for the letniki to develop normally, the box must be at least 18 cm wide and the same depth.

Plant plants in the holes and always with an offset. Place upright flowers like pelargonium, chrysanthemum or dimorphoteca in the back row.

On the sides and front, plant plants with hanging shoots, for example ampel verbena or scaevola, which can be alternated with more low colors, like heliotrope or . Along with the usual symmetrical plantings, you can also try asymmetric planting.

Single row planting in a box: for example, plant 3 pink and 2 purple petunias, alternating in color.

Double-row planting in a box: place upright plants in the background, and flowers with hanging shoots in front.

Our options and planting charts show you which flowers you will need for planting in balcony boxes and how to place them correctly.

All these compositions are designed for a flower box one meter long.

Schemes of flower arrangements for balcony boxes

1. For a balcony box in the sun

This mixture for a sunny location is made up of easy care summer flowering plants that impress with their joyful play of colors - yellow, white and red.

Asymmetric placement of plants is in fashion: in red to the right they bloom pelargonium"Grand Prix" petunia-calibrachoa"Cherry" and kufeya(Cuphea) "Torpedo", whose flowers look like mouse faces with huge red ears.

White-flowered pelargonium"White" and bacopa"Taifun White" on the left side of the box are framed with silver leaves immortelle(tsmina) "Silver Mini".

bright yellow spot stands out evening primrose African Sun. Its large cup-shaped flowers appear from late May to October, but close in shade and in bad weather. This perennial plant can overwinter in a place protected from frost.

2. Pink and purple flowers in a box

The composition in this box is also intended for a sunny place.

Left and right, lush cushions form a bright pink verbena"Patio Purple" and purple "Patio Blue". In the center are two-tone petunia"Sofia" and variegated sweet potato, or sweet potato(Ipomoea) "Buntblaettrig".

This type of morning glory with colorful foliage is very original. Leaves with pink edges are perfectly combined with the color of the flowers of other plants. Over the summer, sweet potatoes form curly lashes up to 2 m long, and underground, fist-sized edible tubers (which is why they are called sweet potatoes).

3. Green-blue flower arrangement

This composition is original in terms of plant composition and exquisite color combination.

undersized phlox Drummond with pink and blue inflorescences forms profusely flowering pillows on the sides. Perched next to each of them verbena: pink "Coral Pink" and blue-violet "Patio Blue".

In the center are taller plants: sage mealy (Salvia farinacea) and decorative tobacco(Nicotiana) "Lemon Lime".

The special charm of the original mixture of colors is given by soft green foliage. sweet potato"Gelb", which forms edible tubers by autumn. An interesting contrast large leaves with filigree silvery shoots beautiful head(Calocephalus).

This box should be placed in a sunny or slightly shaded area.

4. Composition for a balcony in the spirit of minimalism

This box is designed simply, but, you see, spectacularly.

In the center is a pale lilac cloud of ampelous petunias"Pastell 2000", framed on both sides petunia"Purpur" of the Sylvana group with small flowers that tolerate bad weather well.

Already from afar catches the eye golden yellow immortelle, or cumin bract (Helichrysum bracteatum) "Gold".

All of these varieties bloom profusely and are ideal for a very sunny spot. Flowering continues until late autumn. withered flowers in this case no plucking required.

5. Balcony box with ampelous flowers

How colorful ornamental plants look, this option proves.

During the summer coleus turns into a lush flaming bush, especially if, after planting, pinch its shoots from time to time. Light green foliage contrasts beautifully with it. sweet potato"Marguerite".

A colorful performance for a sunny and semi-shaded place is completed pelargonium"Fireworks", decorative buttercup"Sunny Star" and two ampelous petunias: "Lilac wonder" and "Neopink".

6. Flower mix in a box on the balcony

Composition in pink and blue colors looks calm and harmonious from any side.

In the background swirl blue clouds of three heliotropes Mini Marine.

In front, ampelous plants wove a lush cover with their blooming filigree shoots: on the sides - salmon-pink diascia"Coral belle", the middle is shared verbena"Coral Pink" and scaevola"Saphira", which differs, perhaps, by one of the most beautiful shades blue among the balcony flowers.

The composition is intended for a sunny place.

There cannot be too many flowers, and in big cities, where you have to drive to the nearest ordinary park, there are few plants at all. In the conditions of modern buildings and high-rise buildings, I want to create a garden in the immediate vicinity. Flowers in pots can improve the situation, but only a window sill may not be enough, and they come to the rescue balconies and loggias.

These premises are little involved in the main functionality of the apartment. Most make pantries out of them, but with a good thought and revision, you can find enough space for a flower garden. And even old junk help create a unique atmosphere.

balcony flowers

For the design of the balcony, you can use an unnecessary bedside table, old shoes, cracked dishes that are a pity to throw away, and even an old bicycle. All this can be further decorated.

Now we need to decide on the plants that can be planted. To do this, it is important to know which balcony is being landscaped. There are balconies open and glazed, northern and southern, as well as shaded when tall trees grow in front of the house.

If the apartment is new and the balcony is still empty, then it will not take much effort to prepare. But in old apartments there are a lot of valuable things, and they will have to be dealt with. It is necessary to determine the number of plants and containers for them, to purchase good land for flowers. For outdoor gardening, special fasteners and pallets are needed to protect passers-by and neighbors' windows from below from water overflow. The boxes will be placed on pallets, and when the weather permits, the seedlings can be taken out into the fresh air. You can also use racks, shelves or hangers.

The earth can prepare yourself:

1. Chernozem or soddy soil from the nearest forest - 6 parts.
2. Pure river sand - 2 parts.
3. Wood ash - 1 part.
4. Peat - 1 part.

Bring simple forest soil home in advance and spread it in a thin layer on oilcloth, dry it completely in three weeks so that all the putrefactive bacteria that lived in this soil die. The process can be accelerated by calcining the earth in the oven on a baking sheet. It is important to know: the temperature in the oven should not be higher than 80 degrees (otherwise, everything useful will die, and there is no point in planting plants in such soil). Sand can be bought at a hardware store, it is quite clean and sifted there. Wood ash should be taken at the dacha from the barbecue after frying the barbecue, and peat should be bought at a flower shop.

To equalize temperatures for balcony flowers on the northern sides, it is better to choose pallets and boxes dark colors. On the south side of the house, in order to avoid overheating of the soil, the container should be taken light or even white.

In nature, a myriad of the most beautiful flowers exist and have been bred by flower breeders for house facade decorations, balconies and loggias. It is important to take into account many factors when planting flowers in boxes on the outside of a balcony or loggia - illumination, wind strength, precipitation.

Southern balconies

For south balconies suitable for the following types of plants:

• Pelargonium hybrid - belongs to geraniums, looks more decorative than simple geranium. Flowers of various colors are collected in umbellate inflorescences, the plant is photophilous, but it can overheat behind glass, so it is better to keep it on summer outdoors. Dislikes wind and drafts. The perennial plant hibernates at temperatures from +6 to +12 degrees Celsius.
• Carnation. There are a huge number of varieties and varieties of carnations that can grow in pots and boxes on the balcony. The most common is Turkish carnation, in which small, bright, multi-colored flowers are collected in balls. Propagated by seeds. Seeds are germinated at room temperature, then they are transplanted into boxes at a distance of 5-6 centimeters between plants and 15 centimeters between rows.
• Kobeya is a climbing plant that clings well to rough walls. It blooms all summer with large bells on long pedicels, mostly purple, but there are flowers of pink and white color. In order to have more branches and flowers, the shoots are periodically pinched. Kobeya grows well in bright sun, but does not tolerate wind.

In autumn, small round boxes remain on the vines, in which 4-5 seeds have ripened in each, and they are sown in late winter and early spring. After 2-3 weeks they germinate, and when the first pinnate leaves appear, they are transplanted into permanent boxes 2-3 together and tied to supports. With the end of the cold weather, they take it out to the balcony.

north balconies

For north balconies suitable plants such as:

• Daisy - low biennial herbaceous garden plant. It may seem that they are difficult to grow, but this is an erroneous opinion. A little effort and care - and these little pretty bushes will delight for a long time with their terry baskets, white, pink or red. Daisies grow well in partial shade, only the leaves become a little larger, and the peduncles stretch a little, but this does not make them less attractive. In order for the plant to bloom in the first year, the seeds are sown for seedlings in February-March, sprinkled with sand, and when it gets warmer, they are taken out to the balcony. But usually they are sown directly into the ground in June-July. After the appearance of two or three leaves, 15 by 15 centimeters are planted, and so they will grow until next year, and in the spring and autumn of next year they will delight in flowering.
• Viola - pansies, flowering plant. Withstands summer heat and calmly tolerates frosts, blooms almost all summer. Viola can grow on balconies facing the north side of the house and in shady places. Only with strong shading, the flowers will be a little paler, but they will bloom longer. Since the plant is biennial, there are two options for sowing - in February and in July. February crops will bloom in May-June, and July - next year.

Design and decoration

You can surprise others and please yourself by using the old trash from the deposits on the balcony. Old bedside table remove the top table top work out the rough sandpaper and varnish. If the top is closed with four sides, then dense polyethylene can be laid in this niche, covered with soil and planted flowers. Old shoes or rubber boots can also be used as original planters under plants. You can put small plastic pots in them or cover them with polyethylene.

On the balconies in boxes and pots, you can grow a wide variety of plants. Ivy and creepers, although they do not bloom, are very good-looking, like purslane and other plants. Toreniya perfectly decorates balconies. The design and uniqueness of a place decorated with flowers can be limited only by the area, but not by imagination.

September 27, 2016
Specialization: facade finishing, interior decoration, construction of dachas, garages. The experience of an amateur gardener and horticulturist. He also has experience in repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and much more, for which there is not enough time :)

This time I decided to highlight an article like this interesting topic like landscaping a balcony. She is usually interested in those people who want to turn the balcony into a place of rest, because what can be better rest Outdoors? Next, I will tell you what plants can be planted on the balcony, and briefly tell you what they are.

The main factors in plant selection

There are a huge number of plants that can be planted on the balcony. However, keep in mind that there are certain rules for them to choose from. In particular, attention should be paid to the following points:

Below we consider in detail what can be planted on the balcony in different situations and how to choose the right plants.

Advice 1: how to choose the right plants for the illumination of the balcony

Sunny side

If your balcony is well lit, i.e. faces the south side of the house, then you should choose plants that are not afraid of the open rays of the sun, and also withstand rain and wind. These include the following cultures:

• pelargonium - loves a lot of light, however, requires daily watering. From a lack of water, this perennial flower of the geranium family quickly dies;

• petunia is a less whimsical perennial plant that belongs to the nightshade family. The advantage of petunia, in addition to appearance, is that it blooms for six months, starting from the end of spring. At the same time, it decorates the space of the balcony with curly shoots;

• dahlias - for a balcony it is better to give preference to low varieties, such as " Funny boys and "Minion Mishung". Their height does not exceed 40-50 cm. The flowering of these dahlias is abundant, and it begins in July and stops with the onset of the first frost;
• balsam - beloved by many home plant, which is characterized by a compact bush. The latter is abundantly covered with lush and very beautiful flowers. Moreover, the plant blooms all summer and autumn, before the onset of the first cold weather;

• polyanthus roses - the flowers of this plant are quite small. However, they are going to large groups, resulting in a plant that looks gorgeous. And this culture is absolutely unpretentious and propagates very quickly by cuttings.

As for the flowering time, it is the same as that of the petunia;

• zinnia is another light-loving and unpretentious plant, which can be planted both in floor containers and boxes;

• calendula - is a very light-loving plant, so only in the sun can show itself in all its glory. Terry calendula flowers can be white, yellow, orange or even red, which allows you to create interesting compositions with it.

In order for perennials to bloom well, be sure to remove wilted flowers, otherwise they will delay their vitality for seed ripening.

These plants are quite enough to create a varied, very beautiful composition. However, if you wish, you can plant other plants, such as Snapdragon, godetia alissum and many others. The only thing, before buying seeds, ask how light-loving they are.

shadow side

If the balcony is in the shade for most of the daylight hours, this is not a reason for frustration. For him, too, you can pick up very beautiful shade-loving plants. In particular, the following cultures will feel good here:

• hydrangea - this flower can rightfully be considered a favorite of the balcony. his main hallmark are large spherical inflorescences that are pink, blue, white, lilac or red. Hydrangea blooms from April to November;

• cissus - is a beautiful climbing plant, which is also called birch or indoor grapes. In fact, this is a climbing vine that clings to surfaces with the help of antennae. Thanks to this, it is possible to implement the landscaping of the balcony very beautifully and effectively, decorating the walls and other surfaces;

• begonia - many people consider this flower the most beautiful of those that can be grown on the balcony. It has excellent decorative greenery and elegant inflorescences, which are the most different colors. Keep in mind, that begonia needs constant watering and fertile soil;
• fuchsia is another plant that thrives in a lack of sunlight. As for its decorative qualities, they are in no way inferior to begonias - blossoming buds can have different shape and color. Moreover, the flowering is very lush, from which it is simply impossible to look away.
  Keep in mind that fuchsia, like begonia, does not tolerate overdrying of the soil, so it needs to be watered every day;

• verbena - in general, this flower is light-loving, however, there are varieties that grow well in the shade. The only thing to note is that verbena does not tolerate frost. Therefore, if the balcony is not insulated, you will have to grow it as annual plant;
• carnation is an annual plant (there are also biennial varieties that bloom only in the second year), which loves shade. At proper care it begins to bloom no later than four months after sowing;

These plants will allow you to create the most unimaginable flower arrangements on the balcony.

West or East side

If your balcony is facing west or east, i.e. moderately lit, then consider yourself lucky. Most indoor plants will grow well here, with the exception of frankly light-loving crops such as purslane, or vice versa shade-loving plants such as sedge.

The "universal" plants include:

• asters - an annual plant that is planted on the balcony with seedlings. The flowers of this plant are quite large, and the bushes themselves are lush. True, in order for the culture to develop well, it is necessary to use soil fertilized with compost and large enough;

• hosta - is a small beautiful bush with sharp leaves, from which stems grow with pink or white flowers. With the advent of winter, the plant begins to turn brown and gradually dries up. During this period, it must be cut to the surface of the soil.
  In spring, the plant begins to develop again;

• daisies - belong to the aster family, but unlike asters, they are perennial plants. True, they are grown for no more than two years, because after that they become smaller and lose their attractive appearance.

The peculiarity of this flower lies in the original single peduncles that do not have leaves. On peduncles is a basket with white or pink flowers.

If you want the balcony to be not only beautiful, but also filled with pleasant aroma, put a few flower pots with mint. It should be noted that mint is unpretentious in care, so it is easy to grow. The only thing for the plant to be fragrant is to provide it with enough sunlight.

In order for your greenhouse to always be blooming, you should select plants taking into account the flowering time. Otherwise, a situation may arise when all the plants bloom profusely on the balcony for a month or two, and the rest of the time the composition looks very boring and monotonous.

Below is a table that will help you choose flowers based on flowering time:

plant name	flowering time
Pelargonium	Blooms 6-10 months after planting. Depending on the variety, flowering time is 3-6 months.
Petunia	Blooms in April-May and blooms until November
Balsam	Flowering begins in summer and lasts for 6-8 months, and sometimes the whole year.
polyanthus roses	They begin to bloom from mid-May and bloom until November
Zinnia	Blooms by the end of July and continues to bloom until frost.
Hydrangea	Blooms from mid-spring and blooms until November
Begonia	As a rule, it blooms two months after planting. Flowering time is 6 months or even more. Begonia is one of the few flowers that can bloom even in winter.
Fuchsia	Blooms after 4-5 months from the start of sowing. Flowering occurs before the first frost.
Verbena	Dissolves in June. With proper care of the flower, the flowering period can be extended until frost.
Cloves (Chinese)	Flowering time is from June to August
asters	They bloom a few months after planting. The average flowering time is 3 months. However, different varieties the duration of the flowering period may be different.
hosta	The flowering period begins in early summer and lasts from 20 to 40 days.

Above, we considered only flowers as possible plants, since they are most often planted on balconies. However, what prevents you from growing a small garden on the balcony? After all, how pleasant it is to sit on fresh air among trees, even dwarf dwarfs.

There are a lot of options for shrubs, all kinds of conifers and other crops that can be grown on the balcony. However, some of them require complex care, which is beyond the power of beginners. Therefore, below we consider some of the most interesting crops that are not difficult to grow:

• thuja - is one of the most popular and beloved by many "home gardeners" ornamental plants. Most often, western thujas are grown in pots, however, they are simply called thujas for short.
  Its most popular varieties are Little Champion, Danica, Mr Bowling Ball, Waterfield, etc. All of them grow to a height of no more than a meter.

The disadvantage of thuja is that it is a photophilous plant. Therefore, on shaded balconies, it is better to refuse it;

• Yew is an evergreen bonsai that can be grown in both sun and shade. Moreover, yew is unpretentious to the soil. The only thing is that during the growing process it is necessary to ensure that water does not stagnate in the pot;

• microbiota cross-pair - this plant belongs to the cypress family. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the width is five times the height. An unusually wide crown is created by branches located parallel to the ground.

Unlike thuja and yew, the cross-pair microbiota prefers to be in the shade. True, solar areas only affect the slowdown in its growth.

Of course, in addition to shrubs and dwarf trees, other greenery should be present in the garden. If you look at various ideas for a balcony garden, you will notice that all sorts of things look especially impressive. climbing plants, such as:

• kobeya is a liana that can reach a length of six meters. It has beautiful light lilac or purple flowers in the form of bells. As a rule, in our country it is grown as an annual plant.

While the kobe is young, you can install a net or pegs for it. A stronger plant independently "creeps" along the walls and other surfaces that come across it on the way;

• dolichos is not just beautiful decorative liana with a purple stem, but a leguminous crop cultivated since ancient times. Dolichos is especially popular in Indian cuisine. But, since we are of little interest in its taste, we will pay attention to other features.

So, this plant is also popularly known as "curly lilac", or " hyacinth beans". The stem can reach a length of 2-4 meters. The color of the leaves can be green, red-violet or even purple, depending on the variety.

Inflorescences are long and many-flowered - up to 40 flowers can be contained in a bunch. However, in order for the culture to develop properly, it must receive a sufficient amount of sunlight. Therefore, dolichos is not recommended to be planted on shaded balconies;

• Ipomoea is another vine that grows up to five meters in length. Ipomoea inflorescences are shaped like a gramophone trumpet. In this case, the color can be very different - blue, red, pink, etc.

As for the growing conditions, morning glory feels good both in the sun and in the shade. The only thing is that in the sun the flowers close by noon, unless it is cloudy outside. Pots for this creeper should be spacious enough - this also greatly affects its development.

Keep in mind that morning glory is very poisonous, so it is more suitable for open balconies and terraces, but its use in a closed winter garden must be abandoned.

If you are wondering what can be planted in May, then morning glory would be an excellent choice, since its seeds are sown at this time.

I must say that along with vines and large bushes, small flowers in hanging pots look beautiful. These can be the following flowers:

• calibrachoa - originally it was believed that this plant belongs to the genus petunia, however, it later turned out that it had a different DNA. Best of all is this ampelous plant looks on the balcony in hanging planters. Its feature is long shoots (up to one meter), which are densely dotted with flowers, as a result, the planter looks like a suspended ball of flowers;

• Lobelia - is a perennial plant that belongs to the bell family. The plant is a small bush about 20-25 cm high, which is simply plastered with small blue, blue or even white flowers. True, hanging varieties look more beautiful in hanging pots, such as Miranda and Sapphire.

For successful cultivation This flower needs a lot of light and heat. However, under the aggressive summer midday sun, the plant can even burn out, so it should be shaded during such hours.

Decorating a garden is not only ornamental plants but also vegetables. For example, eggplant in pots looks beautiful, which grows in height from half a meter to one and a half meters.

All plants that can be grown on the balcony, depending on the life span, are divided into several types.:

plant type	Growing features
Annuals	They are the main contenders to be "balcony" plants. As it is not difficult to guess from the name, they live one season. However, in the conditions of a glazed balcony, their life can be extended, the only thing, as mentioned above, is that it is necessary to cut off faded heads.
Biennials	They differ from annuals in that in the first year after planting it develops a green rosette and only in the second year begins to bloom. For this reason, they are rarely grown on balconies, because everyone wants to quickly see the result of their work.
perennials	They are also rarely used for landscaping a balcony, as they require certain conditions to keep the root system in winter time. True, the exceptions are bulbous plants. Their bulbs are stored in a cool place in winter, after which they are transplanted. The result of this work is that bulbous perennials open the season of bright colors on the balcony.

Conclusion

In order to successfully grow plants on the balcony and at the same time provide a beautiful composition of the flower garden, several important factors must be taken into account when choosing them. The most important of them is the illumination of the balcony. However, regardless of its location, the choice of cultures is huge, so you can always arrange a recreation area in this room beautifully and varied.

If you have any questions regarding the choice of plants for planting on the balcony, ask questions in the comments, and I will be happy to answer you.

May 8, 2017
Specialization: master in the construction of plasterboard structures, finishing works and styling floor coverings. Installation of door and window blocks, facade finishing, installation of electrics, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

Do you want to arrange a small greenhouse on the balcony, but doubt that you can properly care for the plants? I will tell you how to choose boxes and fastenings for them, and what flowers are suitable for different parts of the world. And as a bonus, I will offer several landing patterns so that you can create beautiful compositions from plants.

Description of work stages

If you decide to grow flowers on the balcony, then first of all you need to solve two questions:

1. The choice of containers and fasteners for it;
2. The choice of plants depending on the location of the balcony.

Let's analyze each aspect in detail.

Drawers and fixtures

All containers for growing flowers are divided into several types:

Illustration	Description
	plastic containers. Such a balcony box with a flower tray is the most popular today. Its main advantages: a wide variety of colors; different sizes; light weight products. The plastic box perfectly tolerates atmospheric influences, which is also important. The price of such products is lower than that of any other solution.
	Wooden crafts. If you want to make balcony flower boxes with your own hands, then choose this option. Required for manufacturing edged board 20-25 mm thick and 20 cm wide. The photo shows the design, it is very simple, so even a novice master will cope with the work. Such products look attractive, but do not last long - the wood quickly begins to deteriorate due to dampness.
	Ceramic boxes. Most often they are designed for one plant and are small in size due to their significant mass. They are most often used as floor version, hanging them is not very convenient due to the large weight.
	Automatic watering boxes. Most modern type products, consisting of a pallet with water and a system of capillary tubes through which moisture enters the roots of plants. Thanks to this design, you can not water the flowers for 2-3 months. The price of such products starts from 900 rubles. Until the roots of plants reach a certain depth, the automatic watering system will not provide the necessary moisture. Therefore, in the beginning you will still have to water the flowers manually, remember this.

In addition to the material of manufacture, other aspects are taken into account when choosing:

• The presence of drainage holes in the bottom. This is necessary to remove excess moisture and prevent rotting of the root system of flowers;
• Pallet for drawer. It allows you to collect moisture and prevent it from spilling onto the floor or on the heads of passers-by if the structure is located outside. Ready options most often come with a pallet, for home-made you need to purchase the appropriate option separately;

• Drawer dimensions. Pick up best option for the plants you want to grow. Universal option - 180x180 mm, this is enough for planting small size in two rows. It is these options that are most often found on sale. The length can vary from 40 to 100 cm;

• Drawer color. This aspect is much more important than you think. Coloring affects not only the appearance of your mini-flower bed, but also regulates the degree of heating of the soil. On the south side, it is better to put light products so that the sun does not overheat the root system, and dark ones are more suitable on the north.

Now let's figure out how to install boxes on the balcony. There are several mounting options:

• metal coasters. They are most often made to a certain size of boxes and have the exact width and length. There are suspended options, with hooks bent under the railing and structures that are attached to a concrete or brick wall with anchor bolts. The option is selected which better fit in your case;

• Metal or plastic brackets. This option is a holder, adjustable for the width of the drawer. They can cling to the railing, or they can be attached to the surface. You can choose the holder to match the color of your drawers so that it does not catch the eye. Usually two brackets are used per container, but if the box is wide and heavy, then it is better to use three elements.

How to hang a box on the wall? Use either the same holders, or put shelves. Alternatively, you can use rope holders that you can buy or weave.

First of all, decide on which side the balcony is located. This depends on the choice of colors. Let's look at the main options. On the south side, it is best to plant the following:

Illustration	Description
	Calendula. Feels good under the sun and blooms very violently and brightly. By combining several different varieties, you can create an interesting composition.
	Petunia. Loves an abundance of light and blooms very well in such conditions. This option is demanding on soil moisture. Therefore, on sunny balconies, you will have to water twice a day.
	Purslane. Many flower growers believe that these are the best flowers for a south-facing balcony. They tolerate light well and do not need frequent watering. They bloom very brightly and profusely.
	Geranium. Another great option for the balcony. It has a very beautiful flowering, unpretentious care and does not require frequent watering.

In addition to these types of plants, many others can be planted: cacti, dahlias, phlox, morning glory, asters, cannes, mignonette, zinnia and much more. The seed store will tell you all the possible options.

Almost everything can be planted on the east and west sides, so it makes no sense to list specific crops. What flowers to plant - you decide.

Let's figure out what to plant if you have a north side:

Illustration	Description
	Torenia. Doesn't need direct sunshine, so it blooms well on the north side. Requires constant watering and moisture.
	Begonia. Great for shaded balconies, demanding on watering and fertilizers.
	Fuchsia. Very beautiful plant, but also demanding to care. Grows well on the north side.

Let's analyze some schemes for planting flowers in boxes:

Illustration	Description
	Single row fit. If the boxes for flowers are narrow, then it is better to place the plants in one row, alternating in color.
	Double row fit. In this case, straight plants of medium and high altitude, and in the front - curly flowers or varieties of small size.
	A simple scheme of immortelle and petunias. Great for boxes 60-80 cm wide, everything is simple, but this option looks very elegant.
	Pink purple mix. More difficult option which is suitable for wide drawers. You can also come up with compositions on the basis of the examples above. Your fantasy is unlimited

Living plants look much better than artificial flowers. I hope this simple instruction will help you create a small greenhouse on your balcony.

Conclusion

You have received detailed information about the colors for the balcony and how to choose drawers and fittings for them. The video in this article will reveal the topic even better, and if you have questions, ask in the comments.