Content
With the onset of cold weather on the balconies it becomes boring and deserted. Summer plants have faded and only empty pots remind of greenery. But this is not a reason to abandon the balcony until spring, you can equip a winter garden and admire its beauty in the harsh cold weather.
It is hardly possible to equip a winter garden on an open balcony if it is located in a cold climatic zone. The maximum that can be done is to decorate it with fir compositions. But on closed, glazed loggias there are much more opportunities. Snow does not cover them. Temperature can fluctuate. If the thermometer drops to minus 10 ° behind the glass, it will be positive on the balcony. When it is severe frost outside up to 25 - 30 °, the temperature on the insulated balcony will be up to minus 5 °. There are plant species that do well in this temperature regime.
Winter plants for the balcony
Winter plants for the balcony should be selected depending on your location, climatic conditions and conditions of detention.
Citrus fruits can winter at a temperature of + 7 °.
Cacti are very adaptable plants. They can tolerate not only drought, but most species do well at a temperature of +5, and some of them are not even afraid of frost.
Plants such as laurel, pelargonium (geranium), fuchsia, hydrangea, chrysanthemums, boxwood are adapted for temperatures of + 5-6 °.
Camellias can become a decoration of the balcony in winter, they tolerate temperatures up to minus 5 °. The ideal conditions for her are a balcony, where the temperature is from 0 to 15 °.
Conifers araucaria, thuja, cypress, cryptomeria. The temperature of the content for them in winter is + 6-10 °.
Each flower or shrub requires individual conditions, so we will consider how to care for the most popular frost-hardy winter plants.
Heather and Erica
Heather is a low, unpretentious shrub that does not wither when cold weather sets in, and in frost it simply freezes, but does not change its decorative appearance. Common heather (Caluna vulgaris) and Erica (Erica carnea) are suitable for balconies. You can buy the plant in garden stores or in the market. From August to November, the heather is strewn with flowers, small flowers resemble bells, and on the branches-inflorescences there are double flowers, similar to roses.
Shrubs are usually planted in pots, heather loves acidic soil, you can add peat to the soil or buy a ready-made potting mix. With the onset of frost, the shrub actually dies, but does not lose its magnificent appearance. Therefore, watering is carried out before the onset of severe cold weather.
Erica and Heather are very similar at first glance. Erica is also a frost-hardy shrub, but blooms from January to April. For autumn bloom, from September to November, it is recommended to plant the species Erika gracilis. The optimum temperature of the content is from 7 to 15 °. During flowering + 8 °. Water Erica 2 times a week. The plant needs good lighting.
Related article: How to grow a hellebore on the balcony
Juniper
Junipers, one of the few coniferous plants, perfectly tolerate wintering in containers - with complete freezing of the earthen coma. Juniper is not picky about the composition of the soil, but it is still better to add peat and sand.
Very often a bonsai or bonsai tree is formed from the plant. To enhance the effect, they are sometimes planted on stones. The plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so intensive watering is not required. In the cold season, watering is rarely done.
Euonymus
The euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) can grow up to 60 cm and up to 2 meters near the wall. In winter, the leaves turn purple-red. After frost, the plant takes on its usual color. Preferred temperatures for euonymus in summer are + 18-20 °. In winter + 6 °. 
It can tolerate lower temperatures, but for this it is necessary to strengthen the roots: put a wooden plank or foam under the pot and wrap the pot with batting. In the summer, the plant is watered abundantly, and in the winter, it is significantly reduced. Euonymus is one of the most popular plants for winter gardening of the balcony.
Boxwood
Boxwood is an original green decor element. Without human intervention, the plant can reach impressive sizes, but skillful hands make bonsai out of it, create magnificent green sculptures. The plant can overwinter on the balcony, provided that the temperature does not drop below + 10 °.
Small conifers
Dwarf conifers are frequent guests on balconies. Having planted such plants as araucaria, cypress, yew, thuja, you can enjoy the healing tart smell without leaving the forest. Such plants calmly tolerate the temperature on the balcony up to minus five degrees. 
In autumn, it will not be difficult to buy these plants in pots or tubs. Dwarf plants grow very slowly, add one centimeter per year and do not like a haircut. Therefore, some winter plants for the balcony can be purchased in advance and kept all year round.
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Decorating a balcony or loggia in an apartment with flowers is a great opportunity to make a beautiful green corner for relaxing in the city. Here you can also put a small wooden table with chairs and enjoy evening tea and sunset. Not all garden flowers can grow on the balcony.
In this article, you will learn what is the best to grow flowers on the balcony in boxes.
1. Marigolds
Heat-loving yellow marigold heads are an integral feature of summer containers, garden flowerpots and balcony boxes. They are easy to grow from seeds or purchase seedlings, they are unpretentious, bloom from early summer until frost. Removal of faded inflorescences prolongs flowering.
In addition, if you are thinking what flowers to plant on the sunny side, then these are marigolds. They love sunny places. The only thing is that in a drought you need to water it regularly, do not overdry the soil.
The most popular marigold varieties are rejected hybrids. There are bushy varieties, in this case you will only need a couple or three plants for the balcony box. To make these yellow flowers on the balcony look beautiful, choose low 15 - 30 cm species. Terry or semi-double inflorescences, up to 5 cm in diameter, are perfect for a balcony box.
2. Calendula, marigold
A flower that is undemanding to the soil. These are flowers for the balcony, sunny side or light partial shade. It is completely unpretentious, can be affected by powdery mildew and aphids. Refers to plants that bloom all summer. The flowering time is from June to September. For long-term flowering, you need to remove faded inflorescences.
The original form is calendula officinalis, for balconies and loggias you need to choose a low-growing variety Fiestа Gitana - 30 cm, which have different colors. It is very easy to grow at home from seeds. For early flowering, calendula seedlings can be planted in the second half of February.
When creating an unusual balcony design, it is better to plant calendula together with other flowers - pansies, bulbs (daffodils, tulips), ampel petunias, ornamental cabbage, ornamental and spicy herbs.
3. Nasturtium
Annual nasturtiums are flowers for the southern balcony. Blooms from July to September. Sow with seeds immediately to a permanent place. These are unpretentious flowers for balconies, they grow from seeds almost always. A unique garden plant, flowers of different varieties are completely different from each other:
- there are vines for draping the walls, that is, you can pick up varieties and grow curly flowers for the balcony;
- ampelous flowers for the balcony and window boxes - foreign nasturtium peregrinum, the length of the vines reaches 3 m;
- bushy dwarf varieties for flower beds.
foreign nasturtium
curly nasturtium
4. Petunia
The most popular flowers in boxes for growing on the balcony are petunias. Thanks to their varied colors, long flowering, a variety of varieties and species, they create a unique design on the balcony.
What flowers to plant on the balcony of petunias:
- ampelous varieties of petunias are planted in large garden pots or hanging pots for balconies, loggias and summer verandas (these varieties need to be sown for seedlings earlier than spray ones - in early - mid-February);
- bushy multi-flowered species.
Beware of purchasing flower seeds with one stem, they are completely unsuitable for balconies and loggias. In this case, 1 stem will grow with a pot with several flowers at the top.
The scheme of planting petunias in a balcony box is 15 by 15 cm. Single-row and two-row planting of petunias in a box on the balcony is possible.
How to create flowers on the balcony design:
- for a single-row planting, plant 3 pink and 2 purple petunias, alternating them in color;
- for a two-row planting in a box, place erect flowers in the background, and ampelous varieties in the foreground.
5. Pelargonium
Most often, geranium is called pelargonium, which is grown in pots, like a houseplant. Pelargonium is one of the unpretentious plants to care for, grows quickly, blooms well and abundantly. By the way, with proper care, pelargonium can bloom all year round. It has a pleasant spicy aroma, which is exuded not by flowers, but by leaves. A great plant for a balcony in a warm period.
In addition, with pelargonium, you can create wonderful flower arrangements, complementing them with other flowers. Here is one of the schemes of what to plant on the balcony of flowers:
pelargonium white and red;
kufei;
petunia;
evening primrose;
bacopa;
immortelle.
6. Nemesia
Flowers of nemesia are one-, two- and tricolor. Blooms early, in hot summer flowering may be short. A second wave of flowering is possible, closer to autumn. To do this, you need to prune the stems after the first wave of flowering. If you want to achieve autumn bloom, then plant nemesia seeds for seedlings in early June, then your balcony will look great in November.
Seeds of nemesia are small, so you need to sow on top, without sprinkling with earth. Then spray well with water and cover with glass. As it fogs up, the glass needs to be slightly opened, after the appearance of green sprouts, remove.
When transplanting into flowerpots and pots, the distance between the flowers of 20 cm is observed. When planting seedlings of flowers, the stems are pinched.
Balcony decoration with nemesia flowers turns out to be very delicate, due to the fact that the flowers are small, low, about 20 cm and bushy.
7. Low-growing varieties of snapdragons
Snapdragon is usually grown in the garden, but if you use the shortest variety, Rainbow, you can grow flowers in a variety of colors and shades. On the plus side, it is worth noting the smell of snapdragon, it exudes such a fragrance! And for this you need only 5 - 6 bushes.
In autumn, when frosts come, this plant freezes, the flowers do not change color and it looks great. Flowers, as if alive, stand all winter.Therefore, if you are choosing which flowers you can plant on the balcony, be sure to add your list of dwarf snapdragons. They bloom in the second half of summer, from July to October.
8. Ever-flowering begonia and tuberous begonia.
Both types of begonias can be grown in containers and are flowers for the balcony north side, they grow well in partial shade. They have rounded fleshy leaves with a color ranging from pale green to chocolate brown. Blooms from June to September. It is considered a perennial, but most often this plant is grown as an annual. It grows well in humus-rich soil and in partial shade. Therefore, when planting, you need to make compost.
9. Fuchsia ampelous
There are 3 main groups of fuchsias. What flowers are best to plant on the balcony? So these are delicate thermophilic ampelous fuchsias with weak flowing stems in hanging baskets. The name of the ampelous fuchsia variety is Swingtime. Stems grow up to 50 cm with red and white flowers.
Fuchsias are great blooming flowers for the north balcony. A small amount of light is enough for them to bloom and grow. Be sure to water regularly and abundantly. Make sure that the earthy ball does not dry out. After a drought, the fuchsia will die and will not recover.
10. Pansies or Vitrock Violet
There are many hybrids of Vitrok violets with a height of 15 - 25 cm.These flowers on the loggia are of two types:
- winter flowering (in November - May) varieties that are grown as a biennial, the Universal series prevails;
- summer flowering (June - October), which are grown as annuals.
Viola can be grown on the balcony, but must be planted in a location with proper lighting. The sunny side is most optimal with shading at noon hours. On the southern balcony, it will quickly lose its decorative effect. It will burn out in July and will look dry and unattractive.
Viola must be watered regularly so that the ground is moist, but without moisture stagnation. Also, if you want to grow flowers on the balcony, then you need to feed them.
Not everyone has the opportunity to have their own flower garden in the country, but for the owners of balconies and loggias it will not be difficult to organize a mini-garden. It's easy to get lost in the variety of indoor and garden plants. Your attention - the best flowers for the balcony.
When planning to plant a flower on the balcony, take into account its features: thermophilicity, shade tolerance, frost resistance. We suggest starting with the selection of plants depending on the degree of illumination of the balcony.
Flowers for a sunny balcony
If you are going to grow flowers on the balcony, then the sunny side is a great option for plants that tolerate direct sunlight and do not suffer from drought.
Succulents
When it comes to "unkillable" plants, which are not afraid of rare watering and direct sunlight, growers first of all remember about succulents. These plants are renowned for their ability to retain moisture over time. The most popular are aloe, haworthia, zamioculcas, echeveria, etc.
Geranium (pelargonium)
If you are looking for balcony flowers blooming all summer long, then geranium is just what you need. Pelargonium loves sunlight, so a well-lit balcony is a great place for this plant. Geranium does not get sunburn, but rather enhances flowering under the rays of the sun. Zonal and ampelous geranium varieties are best suited for growing on the southern balcony.
Purslane
This flower does not need frequent watering, it tolerates exposure to direct sunlight well. The moisture accumulating in the dense leaves of the purslane allows the plant to remain "in good shape" for a long time. The flowering period is from July to August.
Zinnia
Zinnia (zinnia) is a fairly heat-tolerant annual plant. With prolonged drought, zinnia must be watered regularly and carefully so that water does not get on the leaves of the plant.Its bright large flowers with velvety petals delight the eye until the first frost.
Flowers for the north balcony
Unpretentious flowers for a balcony facing the north side, first of all, should be shade-tolerant.
Balsam
Balsams love shaded areas, in the garden they grow best under trees, so on the balcony facing north, these plants feel very good. It is important not to overdo it with watering, so as not to provoke the development of diseases.
Ivy
The balcony, entwined with ivy shoots, always stands out from others. This plant is also easy to care for: it does not need frequent watering, but it is necessary to spray (and even wash in the shower) ivy regularly.
Cyclamen
The popular indoor flower is loved by many for its original appearance: cyclamen has not only flowers, but also patterned heart-shaped leaves. This plant must be protected from direct sunlight and high temperatures (no more than 17 ° C), water it sparingly, avoiding stagnation of moisture or drying out of the soil.
Calceolaria
The unusual shape of the flower (it resembles a small clog shoe) and bright color (from bright yellow to red speckled) make calceolaria a very effective houseplant. This flower is another “ideal inhabitant” for the northern balcony: it loves partial shade, low temperatures (14-16 ° C). Water the plant as the soil dries.
Flowers for the east or west balcony
Balconies facing east or west are suitable for most indoor plants due to moderate light conditions.
Verbena
Popular names of this plant: pigeon, cast-iron grass, "Juno's tears" and others. Verbena is known not only for its decorative properties, but also for its healing properties: since ancient times it has been used in folk medicine. Verbena is popular as a garden plant grown in flower beds. Nevertheless, on the balcony, she feels no worse than in the open field. The flowering period of verbena is quite long - from June to November.
Marigolds (tagetes)
The homeland of marigolds is Mexico, in some countries this plant is used in cooking as a seasoning. Due to the fact that the flowering of marigolds is very abundant and long, these flowers have gained popularity both in gardens and on balconies. Marigolds tolerate both heat and windy weather well. They are comfortable in almost any conditions.
Daisy
In the middle lane, daisies bloom in May and continue to delight the eye until the onset of cold weather. An unpretentious compact plant thrives in shaded areas, so a low-light balcony is quite suitable for this garden flower.
Heather
Do you want your balcony to remain decorative in winter? Plant heather, a frost-hardy shrub that blooms from January to April. Some plants of the heather family bloom in the fall, such as Erika gracilis. Even when the heather practically dies (freezes), it does not lose its decorative effect.
Curly flowers for the balcony
A beautiful floral balcony is hard to imagine without at least one climbing plant. Graceful shoots, entwining the railing of an open balcony or a specially installed lattice, look luxurious.
Bougainvillea
Curly shoots of bougainvillea with bright purple flowers can effectively decorate a balcony or terrace. This plant prefers well-lit areas with normal humidity. The optimum temperature is 23-27 ° C.
Morning glory
A lush, densely flowering liana with bright flowers looks great on the balcony. Make sure that the morning glory has where to direct the shoots and what to braid: install a net or stretch the ropes. In general, an unpretentious plant should still be protected from direct sunlight.
Calistegia
This perennial bindweed is familiar to many gardeners. Why not use it as a "balcony" vine? Calistegia is not capricious in care, blooms with modest, but beautiful flowers of a pale pink color. Traditionally, flowers are bell-shaped, but there are species with double petals.
Clematis
A balcony facing south or east is great for growing a garden plant loved by many - clematis. Choose frost-resistant varieties for the balcony. Keep in mind that on the northern open balcony, clematis can die from the cold, so if you are the owner of just such a balcony, opt for another plant.
Ampel flowers for the balcony
When deciding which flowers to grow on the balcony, think about the plants grown in hanging pots.
Fuchsia
Charming fuchsia is an evergreen with irregularly shaped flowers. It is precisely because of the peculiarities of the flowers (they seem to "look" downward) that it is customary to grow fuchsia as an ampelous plant. Fuchsia is used to decorate terraces, balconies, rooms. A variety of varieties allows you to choose a plant of this type for any room.
Lobelia
One of the most popular ampelous plants, lobelia, in a hanging planter resembles a flowering cloud. This flower loves bright, but diffused lighting, so it is better to grow it in partial shade, on the east or west balcony (as a last resort, on a bright open north one).
Petunia
Thinking about how to decorate a balcony with flowers, you probably more than once imagined a hanging flowerpot with a spectacular plant, densely covered with bright flowers. This is what petunia looks like - the favorite of gardeners and florists. Choose cold-resistant hybrids for the northern balcony, but most petunias can be grown on the southern or southeastern balcony.
Spurge
Various varieties of milkweed are popular for growing in the garden (especially for decorating rock gardens), and are also widely used as houseplants, for example, the euphorbia Milius (Mila) or the euphorbia Tirucalli (finger). This succulent is unpretentious, does not need frequent watering, but you need to be careful with the juice that is released when the milkweed branch is broken, as it is poisonous.
Indoor flowers on the balcony
Indoor plants need fresh air and sunlight no less than a person, so when warmth comes, arrange a "vacation" for flowers on the balcony. When deciding when to bring flowers to the balcony, focus on the weather outside the window. Wait until the outdoor temperature in the morning does not drop below 15 ° C, and start accustoming your "green pets" to a new place.
Not all indoor flowers are recommended to be taken out even on a glazed balcony. So, the Uzambara violet (Saintpaulia) and some types of cacti do not like such changes.
To begin with, leave flowers on the balcony not for the whole day, but only until noon, so that bright sunlight does not harm the plants. Gradually increase the time the flowers are on the balcony so that they have time to get used to it.
For a whole day, you should leave flowers on an open balcony (and on a glazed balcony) only after the difference between day and night air temperatures outside becomes minimal.
Over time, the sun's heat on the balcony will increase, so consider the possibility of shading so that the flowers on the balcony do not get burned in summer.
How to decorate a balcony with flowers - tips with photos
Decorating a balcony with flowers is, first of all, a matter of taste. Thinking over the composition, consider the size of your balcony, the color of the walls, as well as the general style in which the room is sustained.
When placing climbing plants on the balcony, think about how to beautifully arrange the trellis or ropes along which the shoots will trail.
Place flowers on the balcony in boxes or pots according to the same principles as on flower beds in the garden - combine plants of different heights, play with shades and textures.
For ampelous plants, make strong attachments to protect yourself and the flowers themselves. If you want to organize a vertical wall arrangement, arrange the flowers in a loose order.
So, if you already have seedlings of flowers for the balcony (or seeds), then, armed with ideas and connecting your imagination, proceed to the transformation of balconies and loggias, and we are waiting for your photos in the comments!
What flowers can be planted on the balcony so that you can admire its view in spring, summer and autumn? A similar question is asked by everyone who wants to turn a plot of their home into a small but very beautiful garden. The article will discuss which plants are suitable for growing from the north side of the building, and which ones from the south. Photos with corresponding names are attached.
Where to begin
To get the desired result, be sure to take into account:
- On which side of the building the balcony is located - on the south, that is, sunny, or on the north, that is, shaded.
- What area does the balcony occupy - whether it is small or large.
- Glazed balcony or not.
Attention! In the case of an open balcony, it is imperative to take into account the strength of the wind. Not all plants tolerate strong gusts.
If we talk about the general principles of gardening, then there are two of them:
- horizontal;
- vertical.
Flowers on the balcony
The first one involves decorating the balcony with long horizontal lines consisting of containers with flowers. The structure is located both from the outside and from the inside of the balcony. The containers can be installed directly on the floor, or they can be attached to the walls one above the other. With vertical gardening, flowerpots are installed on the balcony floor. Supports are attached to them, along which the stems of plants will rise.
Advice. It is better to use annual vines as vertical gardeners. They grow quickly and can be directed easily.
Before planting plants, appropriate preparation of containers is required:
- The flower containers are securely attached to the balcony railing or placed on the floor.
- To prevent water from flowing from the balcony during irrigation, pallets are installed under each container.
- The bottom of the tanks is covered with drainage material.
- Nutrient soil is poured into containers.
Only after completing the listed work, you can start the selection and planting of flowers.
What plants are suitable for landscaping a balcony if the side is sunny
For balconies strongly illuminated by the sun, that is, located on the south side of the building, flowers are suitable that can tolerate heat and direct sunlight well.
Examples of some of them:
- Purslane - the plant blooms well only in strong sunlight. Its fleshy leaves accumulate moisture in reserve, so the flower does not need frequent watering.
Purslane
- Calendula also refers to sun lovers. There are many varieties and hybrids of different shades of red and yellow with simple and double flower shapes. You can always find a suitable version of this plant.
- Geranium is a common indoor pet that feels great on sunny balconies. Almost all of its varieties can be planted here.
Geranium
- Petunia - a huge variety of species allows you to create beautiful compositions. For good growth and flowering, it is advisable to water it twice a day.
- Verbena - the flower is not afraid of frost, therefore, it can be planted in the open air at the beginning of May. For balcony landscaping, it is recommended to use Canadian and hybrid verbena. The shoots of these varieties reach 30 cm and hang down from the pot in a beautiful cascade.
- Alyssum honey - the aroma of small, very delicate flowers resembles the smell of honey.Growing strongly in a pot, the plant is capable of forming ball-shaped bushes. When the flowering fades, the stems are cut in half. After a while, the overgrown shoots are again densely covered with flowers.
Alyssum honey
- Lobelia - although this delicate flower loves light, it is better to place it in the back of the balcony. Ampelous varieties of hanging lobelia are most suitable. It blooms very profusely all summer.
Advice. On balconies on the sunny side, it is better to select containers with light walls. This will prevent overheating of the soil.
What plants will do well on the balconies on the north side
On the northern side of the buildings, there is a lack of lighting, which some plants do not tolerate. Here, for landscaping balconies, you should select flowers with great care. The following plants tolerate shading normally:
- Fuchsia - you should not hope for its abundant flowering on the northern balconies. However, the plant intensively grows green mass and forms a lush bush. The main thing is to organize regular watering, preventing the soil from drying out.
Fuchsia
- Mimulus - thanks to the extended forward petals, the people call him "lipstick". The plant feels great in the shade and has a fast growing season - it takes about two months from the moment of sowing to flowering.
- Calceolaria is a very interesting shade-tolerant plant with yellow, brown speckled flowers. Leaves do not tolerate water ingress, so the plant is best grown on glazed balconies and watered very carefully.
- Waller's balsam is a plant with thick, fleshy stems and flowers of various colors. At the slightest frost, it dies, so it is planted on open balconies as late as possible.
Waller's balsam
- Marigolds - these flowers are striking in their variety. There are high, medium and low varieties. It is better to place the former on the floor of the balcony, and the latter on the sides of its fences. Plants bloom from summer to late autumn.
- Periwinkle is an evergreen perennial. Its creeping stems are covered with delicate blue flowers in May. Dark green glossy leaves can decorate the balcony all year round.
- Fragrant tobacco - the plant is a close relative of petunia, but it tolerates shading absolutely normal.
Scented tobacco
The same flowers can be used for landscaping the balconies that are located on the west side of the house.
How to properly decorate a balcony with flowers
Observing simple rules, you can achieve a harmonious combination of various plants.
- In one container, it is allowed to plant flowers with the same requirements for soil and moisture level.
- Plants with different budding periods next to each other will ensure continuous flowering in the mini garden.
- Contrasting colors next to it look very bright and expressive. For example, yellow flowers in the same container with blue or purple, white with red, etc.
Plant flowers with different flowering periods
- Large plants, surrounded by miniature ones, look great.
- Tall and slender plants should be planted next to low or creeping plants.
- If you want a calm environment, it is better to plant flowers in one, dull tone.
- Even on a very small balcony, many different flowers can be grown by placing the containers at different levels.
Advice. To make the flowers look lush and beautiful in hot periods, you need to add a little hydrogel to the containers with soil.
With a competent approach to gardening a balcony, you can enjoy the surroundings of your own grown flowering pets from early spring to late autumn.
Growing flowers on the balcony: video
