Can marigolds be grown as indoor flowers?

Marigolds are an unpretentious, flowering plant that even a novice florist can handle.

Although these flowers are easy to care for, not everyone knows whether it is possible to grow marigolds at home. Small and large spherical inflorescences of various colors growing in a pot will create a unique atmosphere at home in winter.

Now, in some preschool institutions, a project is being implemented to grow marigolds. This program allows children to instill a love of nature by teaching them how to grow a flower from seeds on their own at home. That is, since the children succeed, then there is nothing to fear for a novice florist.

Varieties

In nature, there are about 30 species of marigolds, but the most popular are:

• thin-leaved;
• rejected;
• upright.

Each species includes a huge number of varieties, collected in variety groups. Varieties differ in the size of the bush (undersized, medium, tall and giant), color and diameter of the inflorescence.

The most popular varieties that have won the love of many flower growers

Gelberstein - the bush grows up to 70 cm, releasing chresanthem-like light yellow inflorescences up to 8 cm in diameter. Gold Dollar is a giant bush, reaches up to 120 cm in height. The variety has fleshy dark green leaves and densely double, red-orange inflorescences. Flowers are odorless. Goldlicht is a tall plant with hemispherical double inflorescences of bright orange color.

Sonnenschein is a standard shrub up to half a meter high. The inflorescences reach 6 cm in diameter and are golden yellow in color.

Gold Kophen is a densely leafy bush with chrysontemo-shaped double inflorescences, consisting of golden yellow tubular flowers and dark red reed flowers. Lemon Jam is a globular, densely leafy, compact shrub with thick, dense shoots and dark green foliage. Clove terry small inflorescences are colored bright yellow.

Seed selection

Before growing a beautiful lush plant on a balcony or in a pot, you need to choose the right seed.You can buy it in specialized stores, or you can assemble it yourself. Seeds are harvested in late summer or early fall from a healthy plant after the inflorescences begin to dry out. The resulting seed is placed in a dark, dry place until completely dry. The prepared seeds are packaged in sachets and stored until the next season.

Attention! Seeds are collected in dry, sunny weather.

Pot selection

The container for planting marigolds for good growth and lush flowering should be deep and wide. Plants are planted:

1. undersized varieties at a distance of 15 cm from each other;
2. medium height - 20 cm;
3. high - 40 cm.

This distance is necessary so that the plants, as they grow, do not suppress each other, but form into large spreading bushes.

Seat selection

Marigolds are a light-loving, cold-resistant and drought-resistant plant that blooms 1.5 months after sowing. The seed will germinate quickly if it is planted directly into balcony boxes or prepared pots.

To please yourself with flowering in early March, seeds for seedlings can be sown at the end of January, but only with additional lighting.

The grown seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place and installed on the southern sides of the premises.

Planting process

Plants can be planted in seedlings or directly to a permanent place (pots, balcony boxes). Sowing marigolds for seedlings depends on the required flowering time.

"After the first shoots, the plant begins to bloom in 1.5-2 months."

Most growers grow their seedlings in plastic boxes. The soil should be nutritious and neutral in acidity. Garden land mixed in a 1x1x1 ratio with sand and peat is also suitable.

In the soil, grooves are made with a depth of a centimeter and at a distance of 3 cm. Prepared seeds are spread at a distance of 2 cm from each other, covered with soil, spilled well and covered with polyethylene or glass. The container with the seed is removed to a warm, bright place where the temperature will not drop below 22 degrees Celsius.

The first shoots appear in a week. After that, the temperature is reduced to 18 degrees, to obtain strong, not elongated seedlings.

When 3 leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate pots. This procedure visually shrinks the stem and helps the plant develop a strong root system. After picking, the plant sharply increases its growth rate, and after 14 days the flower is ready for planting in prepared pots or on the balcony in boxes.

Further care

Marigolds are unpretentious in care, but like any plant, it needs timely watering, feeding, lighting, maintaining a temperature and humidity regime and preventing diseases. Proper care will be rewarded with lush flowering up to frost.

Watering

Watering a flower planted in boxes or pots should be done daily. In hot and dry summers - twice a day, morning and evening. Even though marigolds are drought-resistant, if there is a lack of water, the appearance of the bush will suffer, the leaves will turn yellow and dry out, and the plant will lose its decorative appearance.

Top dressing

Marigolds growing in balcony boxes and flower pots need constant feeding. With a lack of fertilizer, the bush may stop blooming and begin to develop poorly.

Lighting

Marigolds are a light-loving plant, therefore, it should be planted in sunny areas. The south, east and west sides are ideal. If the plant is grown on the north side of the balcony, the bush will turn out to be weak, and the flowering is poor, and it will end early - in August.

Air humidity

With low air humidity, the plant can attack a spider mite, so the bush should be kept away from heating appliances and, after the formation of flower buds, sprayed daily with settled warm water.

Temperature regime

The plant grows well in all temperature conditions.But shade or partial shade, as well as the north side of the windows, lead to poor flowering, stunted growth and a short flowering period.

Features of growing at home

• Flowers need a lot of light to bloom lush.
• Watering is regular before flowering. With the appearance of the first flowers, watering is carried out only after the topsoil has dried.
• Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is mandatory.
• Timely removal of faded inflorescences.
• Periodic loosening of the soil.

Attention! "The lighter and warmer the planting site is, the more beautiful and brighter the bloom will be."

Possible difficulties

Root decay can occur due to stagnant water.

Poor bloom comes from a lack of light and heat.

Pest control

Although the flower is unpretentious and resistant to diseases, marigolds can become infected with root rot, black leg and suffer from an attack of pests.

Spider mite. The pest appears on a young, fragile plant. Symptoms: the foliage is covered with a white bloom, dries up without assistance, and the plant dies. You can get rid of the insect by increasing the humidity of the air and treating the bushes with tobacco infusion. Slugs. Appears in wet weather. Insect pests gnaw the stems and leaves of the plant, which leads to its death. You can fight the misfortune only by hand, collecting from flowers, and it is advisable to sprinkle the soil around the bush with a mixture of ash and lime.

Disease prevention

Root rot. The disease appears when the plant is grown in unfavorable conditions. Marigolds stop growing, and the trunk and leaves become yellowish.

To prevent root rot, the plant needs to create favorable conditions: the earth should be loose, without stagnant water. To avoid disease, it is better not to fertilize marigolds with fresh manure.

Blackleg. Found in plants at a young age. White spots appear on the lower part of the stem, which darken over time. If untreated, the plant rots and dies.

To prevent the appearance of a black leg, the soil is treated with fungicides before sowing seeds, and young seedlings are watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Conclusion

Bright beautiful marigolds are appreciated for their attractiveness and unpretentiousness. Growing marigolds from seeds at home will not be difficult even for a novice florist. You just need to follow the planting rules, provide timely care and minimal care for the plant.

Marigolds are bright, unpretentious, fast-growing flowers. We constantly meet them in the flower beds of city parks and flower beds in gardens. These cute creatures were so fond of people that many experienced and not very experienced flower growers began to grow them at home on the windowsills of the balconies.

In addition to decorative bright flowers (simple and terry) and pinnately dissected leaves, black shavers also have a specific smell, indicating a high content of phytoncides - substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body and are able to scare away pests from both the flower itself and the plants surrounding it ...

…

Is it possible to grow marigolds in pots at home

Although these flowers are easy to care for, not everyone knows whether it is possible to grow marigolds at home. Small and large spherical inflorescences of various colors growing in a pot will create a unique atmosphere at home in winter.

Now, in some preschool institutions, a project is being implemented to grow marigolds. This program allows children to instill a love of nature by teaching them how to grow a flower from seeds on their own at home. That is, since the children succeed, then there is nothing to fear for a novice florist.

Varieties

In nature, there are about 30 species of marigolds, but the most popular are:

• thin-leaved;
• rejected;
• upright.

Each species includes a huge number of varieties, collected in variety groups.Varieties differ in the size of the bush (undersized, medium, tall and giant), color and diameter of the inflorescence.

The most popular varieties that have won the love of many flower growers

Gelberstein - the bush grows up to 70 cm, releasing chresanthem-shaped light yellow inflorescences up to 8 cm in diameter.

Gold Dollar is a giant bush that grows up to 120 cm in height. The variety has fleshy dark green leaves and densely double, red-orange inflorescences. Flowers are odorless.

Goldlicht is a tall plant with hemispherical double inflorescences of bright orange color.

Sonnenschein is a standard shrub up to half a meter high. The inflorescences reach 6 cm in diameter and are golden yellow in color.

Gold Kophen is a densely leafy bush with chrysontemoid double inflorescences, consisting of golden yellow tubular flowers and dark red reed flowers.

Lemon Jam is a globular, densely leafy, compact shrub with thick, dense shoots and dark green foliage. Clove terry small inflorescences are colored bright yellow.

Seed selection

Before growing a beautiful lush plant on a balcony or in a pot, you need to choose the right seed. You can buy it in specialized stores, or you can assemble it yourself.

Seeds are harvested in late summer or early fall from a healthy plant after the inflorescences begin to dry out. The resulting seed is placed in a dark, dry place until completely dry.

The prepared seeds are packaged in sachets and stored until the next season.

Attention! Seeds are collected in dry, sunny weather.

Pot selection

The container for planting marigolds for good growth and lush flowering should be deep and wide. Plants are planted:

1. undersized varieties at a distance of 15 cm from each other;
2. medium-sized - 20 cm;
3. high - 40 cm.

This distance is necessary so that the plants do not suppress each other as they grow, but form into large spreading bushes.

Seat selection

Marigolds are a light-loving, cold-resistant and drought-resistant plant that blooms 1.5 months after sowing. The seed will germinate quickly if it is planted directly into balcony boxes or prepared pots.

To please yourself with flowering in early March, seeds for seedlings can be sown at the end of January, but only with additional lighting.

The grown seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place and installed on the southern sides of the premises.

Planting process

Plants can be planted in seedlings or directly to a permanent place (pots, balcony boxes). Sowing marigolds for seedlings depends on the required flowering time.

Most growers grow their seedlings in plastic boxes. The soil should be nutritious and with neutral acidity. Garden soil, mixed in a 1x1x1 ratio with sand and peat, is also suitable.

In the soil, grooves are made with a depth of a centimeter and at a distance of 3 cm. Prepared seeds are spread at a distance of 2 cm from each other, covered with soil, spilled well and covered with polyethylene or glass. The container with the seed is removed to a warm, bright place where the temperature will not drop below 22 degrees Celsius.

The first shoots appear in a week. After that, the temperature is reduced to 18 degrees, to obtain strong, not elongated seedlings.

When 3 leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate pots. This procedure visually shrinks the stem and helps the plant develop a strong root system. After picking, the plant sharply increases its growth rate, and after 14 days the flower is ready for planting in prepared pots or on the balcony in boxes.

Further care

Marigolds are unpretentious in care, but like any plant needs timely watering, feeding, lighting, maintaining a temperature and humidity regime and preventing diseases.Proper care will be rewarded with lush flowering until frost.

Watering

Watering a flower planted in boxes or pots should be done daily. In hot and dry summers - twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Although marigolds are drought-resistant, but with a lack of water, the appearance of the bush will suffer, the leaves will turn yellow and dry out, and the plant will lose its decorative appearance.

Top dressing

Marigolds growing in balcony boxes and flower pots need constant feeding. With a lack of fertilizer, the bush may stop blooming and begin to develop poorly.

Lighting

Marigolds are a light-loving plant, therefore, it should be planted in sunny areas. The south, east and west sides are ideal. If the plant is grown on the north side of the balcony, the bush will turn out to be weak, and the flowering is poor, and it will end early - in August.

Air humidity

With low air humidity, the plant can attack a spider mite, so the bush should be kept away from heating appliances and, after the formation of flower buds, sprayed daily with settled warm water.

Temperature regime

The plant grows well in all temperature conditions. But shade or partial shade, as well as the north side of the windows, lead to poor flowering, stunted growth and a short flowering period.

Features of growing at home

• Flowers need a lot of light to bloom lush.
• Watering is regular before flowering. With the appearance of the first flowers, watering is carried out only after the topsoil has dried.
• Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is mandatory.
• Timely removal of faded inflorescences.
• Periodic loosening of the soil.

Attention! "The lighter and warmer the planting site is, the more beautiful and brighter the bloom will be."

Possible difficulties

Root decay can occur due to stagnant water.

Poor bloom comes from a lack of light and heat.

Pest control

Although the flower is unpretentious and resistant to diseases, marigolds can become infected with root rot, black leg and suffer from an attack of pests.

Spider mite. The pest appears on a young, fragile plant. Symptoms: the foliage is covered with a white bloom, dries up without assistance, and the plant dies. You can get rid of the insect by increasing the humidity of the air and treating the bushes with tobacco infusion.

Slugs. Appears in wet weather. Insect pests gnaw the stems and leaves of the plant, which leads to its death. You can fight the misfortune only by hand, collecting from flowers, and it is advisable to sprinkle the soil around the bush with a mixture of ash and lime.

Disease prevention

Root rot. The disease appears when the plant is grown in unfavorable conditions. Marigolds stop growing, and the trunk and leaves become yellowish.

To prevent root rot, the plant needs to create favorable conditions: the earth should be loose, without stagnant water. To avoid disease, it is better not to fertilize marigolds with fresh manure.

Blackleg. Found in plants at a young age. White spots appear on the lower part of the stem, which darken over time. If untreated, the plant rots and dies.

To prevent the appearance of a black leg, the soil is treated with fungicides before sowing seeds, and young seedlings are watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Conclusion

Bright beautiful marigolds are appreciated for their attractiveness and unpretentiousness. Growing marigolds from seeds at home will not be difficult even for a novice florist. You just need to follow the planting rules, provide timely care and minimal care for the plant.

Marigolds on the balcony - instructions for creating summer in your home

It is not at all difficult to grow marigolds on the balcony, it is enough to have suitable containers, a properly composed soil mixture and the seeds of the marigolds you like.By planting these wonderful flowers, you will not only admire the charming plants, but you will also be able to benefit from their healing properties.

The charm of marigolds

Description and biological characteristics

First, let's get acquainted with marigolds as plants. Natives of the American continent, they have the Latin name "Tagétes". Therefore, our second name is often heard and our second name is tagets.

Marigolds belong to the Asteraceae family and have many uses in humans. In addition to decorative properties, people use them in such qualities as:

• spice;
• medicines;
• plant protection.

Healing properties

Marigolds have a complex chemical composition, which we will not describe, but we will tell you what actions flowers and other parts of plants have on the human body. So, various drugs from tagets are used as means:

• immunomodulatory;
• laxative;
• sedatives;
• as antidepressants;
• sedatives;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antiviral;
• lowering blood pressure;
• antispasmodic;
• antiparasitic;
• diuretics;
• sweatshops.

How to prepare medicines from marigolds is the topic of a separate large article; we will not cite them in our review.

Plant protection product

The specific smell of marigolds, which some people dislike, is also disliked by many insect parasites. Therefore, experienced gardeners plant tagets along the edges of vegetable beds. It is especially good to plant flowers around the perimeters of beds with cruciferous plants: various cabbages, radishes, radishes, etc. - these crops are most affected by pests.

Marigolds protecting white cabbage

Selection of varieties

Before you start sowing chores, you need to choose the varieties of tagets that will be optimally located on your balcony. Of the many varieties of marigolds, three main varieties are especially popular:

• African, or erect;
• French, or undersized;
• Mexican, or thin-leaved.

Erect

The main feature of African varieties is their strong stem, which allows the plant to grow up to a height of one meter. If the place on your loggia or balcony allows you to grow flowers of this height, then we advise you to pay attention to such varieties as:

• Vanilla, grows up to 70 centimeters;
• Kilimanjaro - 60-70;
• Antigua 30-40.

Kilimanjaro marigolds

French

Low-growing, up to 60 centimeters in height, varieties of this group are most in demand for growing in a limited space of balconies and loggias. These compact shrubs are easy to place in planters, pots and oblong containers. When choosing this subspecies, we advise you to pay attention to the following varieties:

• Bolero - red and yellow;
• Orange - orange;
• The flame is red with a yellow border.

Bolero marigolds

Mexican

Fans of the decorativeness of openwork leaves are advised to choose Mexican varieties of marigolds. They are also short in stature, rarely reaching a height of forty centimeters. In addition, the tagets of this group have the most delicate aroma.

Of the varieties of the Mexican subspecies, we highlight the following:

• Golden Jam - yellow with a red center;
• Lulu - with yellow small flowers;
• Ursula - yellow with an orange center;
• The gnome is also yellow with very beautiful openwork foliage.

Openwork leaves and yellow flowers - grade of tagets Gnome

Growing

We turn to the most important part of our story - how to plant marigolds on the balcony. After choosing the varieties, it remains for us to purchase the correct containers, prepare the soil mixture and go directly to sowing.

Planting containers

The choice of the optimal box or pot for planting marigolds depends on several factors:

• the selected variety type;
• configuration of a balcony or loggia;
• method of container fastening.

Considering that the tagets have a pivotal root, let's say right away that the minimum depth in any case should not be less than twenty centimeters, but for tall "Africans" and thirty. In this case, it is also necessary to take into account that a drainage layer forty to fifty millimeters thick will be located at the bottom of the container.

It is important to select containers with fasteners so that after filling them with a soil mixture, they do not sag or, worse, come off and cause any harm to the environment, animals or people.

Soil mix

Growing marigolds requires a fertile mixture: black earth loam is best suited. This is a very heavy soil and in a balcony, if there is no additional support, the boxes will experience increased stress. This factor must be taken into account.

Part of this problem can be solved by lightening the mixture with peat or coconut substrate. But at the same time, it will be necessary to increase the number of dressings when growing flowers.

Separately, it must be said about the preparation of soil for seedlings, in the event that you use this method of growing. The seedling mixture should be just loose. To compile it, you need to take one part of the sod land, peat, humus and add half of the sand.

Sowing seedlings

Marigolds can be grown by seedlings or direct sowing in permanent containers. The first path gives a run in time and, accordingly, an earlier flowering.

Usually, marigold seeds are sown for seedlings with a monthly run, therefore, in the conditions of the middle lane, this is approximately the beginning or mid-April. Then, on a warm May day, it will be possible to cut the seedlings to a permanent place.

Seedling containers are chosen ten centimeters deep, on the bottom of which I lay a three-centimeter drainage layer. As such, you can use:

• expanded clay;
• fine crushed stone;
• broken brick.

A layer of coarse material is covered with sand or loose peat. After that, the soil mixture is laid and moistened.

On the moistened soil, they draw shallow, half a centimeter, grooves with a distance of 1.5-2 centimeters between them. Seeds are laid out in the prepared paths at intervals of a centimeter, sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with dry soil. After that, the surface of the soil is lightly tamped, it is enough to lightly pat it with your palm.

Cover the container with a lid or film and put it in a warm place with a temperature of 20-23 degrees - this is optimal for seed germination.

After germination, the containers are placed on the windowsill and try to reduce the temperature in the room for a couple of days. This is to prevent the seedlings from pulling out. Seedling care consists in timely watering and maintaining optimal, 60-70 percent, air humidity.

A week before planting in permanent containers, a gradual hardening of the seedlings begins: first, the seedlings are taken out onto the balcony for one to two hours, then the time spent in the fresh air is gradually increased.

Sowing in a permanent place

With a seedless growing method, all work is carried out in the same sequence, but sowing is carried out according to a different scheme. Seeds for permanent residence are planted at intervals of 2-5 centimeters, depending on the selected variety.

Transplanting

Planting seedlings is carried out at the same time as sowing seeds in permanent containers. The pick is made according to the schemes recommended by the seed producers. To create beautiful flower beds on the balcony, they think over compositions for the placement of plants in advance to get an elegant panel.

Composition of different varieties of marigolds

Plant care

It is not difficult to care for marigolds, it is necessary to maintain the temperature and humidity regime and regularly supply the flowers with food - dressings. Not getting enough nourishment, tagets not only lag behind in growth, but also bloom less luxuriantly.

As for watering, the rule is: the higher the air temperature, the more often you water, sometimes you have to do this up to twice a day. Marigolds are harmed by both excessive dryness of the soil and waterlogging in cool weather.

Top dressing should be done regularly, once a week. Apply complex fertilizers for this. Try to alternate root and foliar application of nutrients.

Timely removal of wilted flowers is important, in addition to the ugly appearance, they are still able to delay nutrition from the growing parts of the plant.

A good effect is given by a rejuvenating haircut for marigolds. It is held approximately in the middle of the growing season - in July. The return from pruning will pleasantly surprise you, the plants will rejuvenate and begin to bloom even more magnificently.

At the end of the story, watch an interesting video about growing marigolds at home.

It's time to refine the balconies: marigolds

Hello my golden ones. Enough to ride all the girlfriends, but take care of the transplants. It's time to think about the beauty of the balconies.

It's already quite warm, it's time to tidy up there and think about what flowers will decorate the window sills on the outside of the glass. Last year, if you remember, petunias stood guard over my beauty.

But this year I really wanted variety. And marigolds will help bring it in.

Why did I choose them? Let's start with the fact that I was looking for the most unpretentious plants. Moreover, they are also annual. And that's great.

This is a real plus, if only because I can update the decorations of my balcony every year. Although, on the other hand, marigolds, like any other plants, have certain preferences in terms of cultivation.

And if you observe them, the flowering will be both magnificent and beautiful.

Originally, marigolds are native to Mexico, and there, as you know, it is quite hot. That is why, if we talk about lighting, even the most resistant hybrids and plant varieties need an open and sunny or slightly shaded growing area. Still, I cannot but clarify that the more the plant receives light, the more magnificent its flowering.

Influences the origin of marigolds and their fiery passion for warmth. Plants cannot cope with even minimal frosts - they die immediately.

But even temperatures from zero to ten degrees Celsius, the plants feel so uncomfortable that the growth of foliage stops, and the color of its residues preserved on the plant does not change for the better. Flowers feel most comfortable at temperatures between nineteen and twenty-three degrees above zero.

If the temperature is constantly maintained at this level, the bushes will grow well and quickly, the buds will actively set, and the flowers will last as long as possible.

In terms of soil, our marigolds, thank God, are completely unpretentious... Therefore, with the choice of a suitable soil, problems should not arise, most likely.

But if you really want to achieve maximum flowering, select a drained and nutritious soil for growing them. Despite the fact that they grow fast enough, growth will not be active in acidic or too heavy and waterlogged soil.

Moreover, if water also stagnates in it. Here we are already talking about the potential decay of the root system.

In terms of watering, these flowers are just the dream of a forgetful person. Due to their origin, they easily survive dry weather. Therefore, watering is carried out infrequently, and we spend a little water. Although at a young age, the plant requires slightly more moisture than mature. This is necessary in order for a lush bush to form, dotted with an abundance of large buds.

Marigolds, of course, like nutritious fertile soils... But nitrogen fertilization is probably not worth it. All the more so when it comes to spring feeding.

Nitrogen simply stimulates the intensity of growth, but the flowering will be slightly delayed.So, for feeding marigolds, full complex fertilizers are suitable, applied a maximum of two times a month.

If the plants are grown in containers, top dressing is applied two to three times a month.

How to care for marigolds?

As for caring for marigolds, the flower gardens where these wonderful plants grow must be carefully weeded.

In this case, all faded buds are necessarily removed - this way you will keep the healthy flowers on the plants longer. If you want, you can collect the seeds to plant next year.

Seed collection is carried out exclusively under dry weather conditions.

If your choice fell on tall varieties of marigolds, prudently stock up on props, otherwise they may break under sharp gusts of wind. With the first autumn and last spring frosts, marigolds need additional shelter.

Use spunbond or any other covering material. By the way, when autumn comes, the life of marigolds can be extended. To do this, it is enough to transplant the bushes covered with flowers into flowerpots and bring them into a warm room.

So the plants will have time to please you for some time.

And a few more words I would like to tell you about the basic rules of balcony floriculture.

In fact, everything initially depends on the correctly selected container. Everything is like houseplants, isn't it? A beautiful container will certainly liven up the facade of a building and give it a certain charm. They can be made from a wide variety of materials.

Their shape can also be very different. And the sizes vary. In general, all conditions have been created so that you can choose the right container for literally any balcony. Flowers on the balcony also need to be able to choose. Poking your finger into the sky is not good.

Especially for people who are skilled in floriculture like you and me.

The size of the container is determined not from the size of the balcony, but from the size of the plants that are planned for planting. More precisely, it is important to assess the potential volume of the root system of each plant during growth and development. I would recommend choosing containers made of plastic or wood.

Hanging them from the inside of the balcony or from the outside - it really depends on what goals you are pursuing. If it is important for you to personally admire the marigolds, hang them inside. If you want your apartment to breathe comfort and neatness even from the street, hang it outside. And you are pleased, and neighbors, and passers-by.

There is so much goodness that you can give to the world around you with the help of a few bushes of pretty plants. So, for hanging boxes it would also be good to buy strong supporting supports made of metal. The mounts must also be strong and secure.

You don't want the container to fall on someone's head at the most inopportune moment, do you? And it is from these considerations that flower growers try to follow one most important rule: the higher the floor, the stronger the ban on hanging containers outside. You never know what - then in life, do not forgive yourself.

Well, and purely from the point of view of the safety of flowers directly, it is better to hang containers inside: this way the marigolds will be completely protected from heavy rains that can beat the flowering, and from gusty winds that can break them.

How to properly prepare boxes for planting balcony plants? It's simple: we line the drainage at the bottom. It is best to use expanded clay or broken shards.

Pour coarse river sand on top of the drain... Of course, I insist that you rinse it beforehand, but decide for yourself whether or not to do it. And now you can add potting soil. Moreover, when you are finished, there should be at least two centimeters to the brim. Then, when watering, the soil will not flow down the walls of the container, giving it an unkempt appearance.

That's all.I think that you can easily apply these rules to any balcony plant. I don’t know what will bump into my head next year, but now I am quite happy with my choice, which is what I wish for you. Until next time. Write to me already, or something.

Flowers on the balcony: features of care and cultivation

Decorative flowers on the balcony perfectly protect from the summer heat, city noise and dust, serve as a magnificent decoration of the space, creating a unique cozy atmosphere.

However, the beauty of planting largely depends on regular and proper care, as well as on the correct selection of plants.

From the article you will learn how to equip a miniature balcony garden, and which crops are most suitable for growing on the balcony.

Arrangement of a flower garden on the balcony

In order for a balcony flower garden to be beautiful and viable, you need to properly organize it.

To equip a balcony flower garden you need:

1. strengthen boxes with pallets on the floor or balcony railing;
2. put a drainage layer 3-4 cm thick on the bottom of the tanks (coarse sand, expanded clay, gravel);
3. prepare potting mix:
4. disinfect the soil.

Soil preparation

The easiest way is to purchase a ready-made potting mix suitable for growing certain crops. You can also prepare the soil yourself by mixing:

• garden land (4 parts);
• peat (2 parts);
• coarse river sand (1 part).

You cannot plant flowers for growing on the balcony in a substrate consisting of pure peat. With excessive watering in such a soil, oxygen deficiency immediately occurs, and the root system of plants begins to rot quickly. If the peat is overdried, it will draw moisture from the shoots and foliage, which will also lead to the death of flowers.

For disinfection, the soil mixture is watered with a hot saturated pink solution of potassium permanganate. If the flowers on the balcony grow constantly, then every year in the boxes at least a third of the volume of the earth must be replaced with fresh soil.

Landing

Specialized flower shops offer a wide range of ready-made flower seedlings.

But due to the fact that the planting area is limited by the size of the balcony, growers often grow seedlings on their own - after all, very few plants are needed to create a balcony garden. The only exception is begonias.

Growing them from seeds is too laborious and time-consuming process, so it is better to purchase ready-made seedlings.

For different crops, the timing of sowing seeds and germination conditions may differ. So, the seeds of marigold, nasturtium, fragrant tobacco and ageratum are sown in March or April, and the sowing of seeds of balsam, lobelia and viola for growing on the balcony is carried out in February.

On northern balconies, flowers are best grown in dark boxes, while light containers are more suitable for a southern balcony.

Many growers practice sowing seeds directly into balcony pots or boxes. This method has several advantages:

• the plant develops faster thanks to full sunlight;
• flowers acclimatize well, gradually getting used to the ambient temperature, winds, rains;
• if the spring is warm and early, the flowers will bloom in June.

Immediately after sowing, the ground is watered, covered with a film or light covering material. In such conditions, the seeds will not freeze and will sprout faster. The seedlings that have appeared should be opened during the day, and covered again at night so that the return frosts do not destroy the young flowers.

Care rules

1. Use warm, settled water for irrigation.
2. Fertilize young plants with fertilizers containing nitrogen.
3. If the seedlings look weak, grow slowly, apply a liquid fertilizer intended for flower seedlings.
4. During the period when the buds appear, the plants should be fed with fertilizers that improve the duration and quality of flowering.

Balcony plants need to be fed every 7-10 days.

What colors should you give preference to?

To create a beautiful flower garden on the balcony, it is important to choose the right crops for planting. Balcony plants should be short, frost and drought resistant, long blooming and bright green foliage.

Houseplants look great on balconies, which in summer can be taken out of the premises into the open air. Fuchsia and various types of pelargonium bloom beautifully and profusely in such conditions. Cuttings of these indoor flowers prepared in advance can be rooted, planted in balcony boxes in spring.

Many indoor flowers in summer develop better on northern balconies, and on the south side they often suffer from overheating.

The location of the balcony plays an important role in the selection of plants. When landscaping a balcony space, the following problems may arise:

• constant wind, strong drafts;
• insufficient illumination (on north-facing balconies);
• too strong sun (on the southern balconies).

A flower garden on a shaded balcony

Most plants prefer bright light and grow much worse on the north side. However, there are many shade-tolerant crops that thrive in partial shade and shade.

From annuals, viola, marigolds and balsams, nasturtium, tuberous begonias, ageratum, daisies feel great on a shaded balcony. Perennials develop well and grow with a lack of light: aquilegia, primroses, astilbe, doronicum.

They are planted in deep containers. And in winter, in a mild climate, they are insulated and left for the next year. But in regions with frosty winters, the plants on the balcony may freeze; it is better to transfer them to the basement.

Flower garden decoration can be supplemented with ivy and shade-loving host.

Decoration of sunny balconies

It is quite difficult to grow plants on the southern balconies. Most of them cannot stand high temperatures and the scorching sun. Potted soil dries instantly, even if you water the flowers abundantly in the morning and evening.

Sunny balconies should be planted with drought-resistant species and succulents that can accumulate moisture in the leaves. Purslane and kermek (statitsa) tolerate heat best of all.

Nasturtium, sweet peas, and tunbergia normally respond to exposure to sunlight. From flowering plants, you can try to grow ageratum, pelargonium, mattiola.

Some indoor plants feel good on sunny balconies: yucca, laurel, dracaena, aloe, agave, cacti.

Geranium is very fond of heat and sun, thrives well on southern balconies, and plants placed nearby are not attacked by spider mites.

Plants for balconies with strong winds

In order for the plants to be stable and not to fall, flower growers lay large heavy stones on the bottom of the planting containers, and the containers are grouped, securing them to each other and tying them to the balcony railing.

Plants with dense, fleshy leaves, flexible shoots, basket inflorescences are suitable for decorating blown balconies. You can plant ivy, rudbeckia, Mexican ageratum, calendula, verbena and begonia, gazania, daisies on such a balcony.

The most popular plants for the balcony

When decorating balconies, special attention should be paid to the compatibility of colors and shades. Compositions made up of 2-3 primary colors and complemented by halftones look best. It is very easy to cope with the task of selecting plants by color, because the choice of undersized and climbing crops for growing on balconies is huge.

Undersized

• Verbena. A low-growing plant with beautiful, albeit small, fragrant flowers in appearance resembles a primrose. He loves moisture very much and responds well to feeding.
• Petunia. Herbaceous annual up to 25 cm high is distinguished by abundant, long flowering, lasting until November. Peculiar bright petunia flowers often become an adornment not only of the balcony, but also of the garden.Florists who grow these flowers in the country can give valuable advice on keeping petunias in balcony boxes.
• Allisum white (honey). An annual plant with a height of about 20 cm throughout the summer blooms with small snow-white flowers exuding a honey aroma.
• Godetia. A beautiful annual, which is very often decorated with flower beds and balconies. Large inflorescences of godetia can be of various colors: white, red, pink. If the wilted buds are cut off in time, the plant will bloom again. The main growing conditions are bright diffused lighting or partial shade, fertile soil, good moisture. This is a frost-resistant plant that blooms early, and pleases with its inflorescences until frost.

Petunias do not take root on balconies with constant drafts.

Curly

Climbing plants for the balcony will help to green the space and create a cozy green corner. The main thing is to make supports for them. To do this, you can use:

1. thin and durable cords;
2. frame made of rails;
3. fine wire mesh
4. metal rods.

Climbing plants are planted in deep and wide boxes (both sizes 25–30 cm) about a meter long. The soil should be fertile and light at the same time. The soil substrate can be purchased at the store or prepared by yourself by mixing equal amounts of leaf and turf soil, sand. To ensure good drainage, a layer of expanded clay should be laid out at the bottom of the box.

The list of balcony climbing plants is extensive, but some species are especially popular with flower growers.

On northern balconies, climbing crops should be positioned so that they do not block the light.

• Clematis. A beautiful climbing and abundantly flowering plant is best grown on closed balconies located on the east or south side. Containers with planted plants must be placed in pallets and make sure that no water stagnates in them. The main care consists in abundant watering, loosening and mulching the soil.
• Morning glory (farbitis). A fast-growing annual plant with large flowers (up to 12 cm) is not quite demanding on the conditions of detention, it loves abundant watering, sunlight. Most varieties bloom from July to September, and beautiful buds adorn the blue morning glory until late autumn. Ipomoea can be sown in a permanent place already in April - it is not afraid of frost.
• Sweet pea. A fast-growing annual with fragrant, attractive flowers and shoots up to 2-3 m in length. There are also undersized varieties, in which the length of the shoots does not exceed 60–90 cm. Sweet peas are also cold-resistant species. It is better to sow peas directly into balcony boxes, since it does not tolerate transplanting well. To make the plant lush, pinch the top of the shoot above the third pair of leaves.
• Girlish grapes. A perennial plant that is grown in very deep (65 cm) and wide (60 cm) boxes. Regular feeding and soil renewal in containers every 2 years is important for the culture.
• Nasturtium. The climbing culture blooms 40-50 days after sowing. Flowering lasts until frost. But on the southern balconies or with insufficient watering, the plant can already bloom by September. To have a lot of flowers, the soil does not need to be fertilized. Otherwise, abundant flowering will be replaced by lush greenery.

Mixed flower arrangements in balcony boxes, composed of annuals and perennials, will be a great decoration for a balcony or loggia.

Flower beds look especially impressive, in which each plant contrasts with those around it in shape and color.

And if you choose the right crops for the timing of flowering, you can admire the bright colors from the beginning of summer until the cold weather.

What can be grown on the balcony in winter, in summer?

Plants occupy far from the last place in the interior design of a city apartment.

When it comes to arranging a balcony, with the onset of warm sunny days, many townspeople simply light up the idea of ​​acquiring an entire garden.

The question is especially relevant in the event that the owners of the apartment do not have their own land plot. Let's find out what can be grown on the balcony during different seasons.

Looking for consensus

Families usually face a dilemma. If women are ready to give almost all the balcony space at the mercy of decorative flowering plants, then men think more about "their daily bread" and with all their might advocate planting greenery and vegetables on the balcony. How to be in such a sensitive situation? There is only one way out: to look for a compromise and competently divide the tiny space.

The head and skillful male hands will come to the rescue in this situation, who will make hanging structures for ampelous flowers, thereby relieving the space for greenery and vegetables inside the balcony itself.

With the skillful use of multi-tiered stands and hanging boxes, you will be surprised to find that you can grow flowers and vegetables on the balcony at the same time.

By the way, disassembled old furniture is quite suitable for the construction of boxes for planting material, and leaky buckets and pans will find a second life as trays for plants.

Flower balcony garden

Now let's talk about specific cultures. And let's start, of course, with the flowers. After all, it is they who, every spring, make the inexhaustible human imagination look for more and more new combinations, to compose new compositions.

Plants such as petunia have proven themselves well as the decoration of the external space of the balcony; they delight the eye with abundant flowering from May to autumn. However, the seeds should be sown back in February, besides, petunia sprouts quite hard, and is also reluctant to undergo transplants.

Seedlings of summer dahlias, verbena, lobelia, godetia, alyssum take root well in balcony boxes.

If we want bright blooming spots to delight us during the entire warm period, it is advisable to sow some unpretentious crops with seeds, and immediately to a permanent place. This will be the so-called second seeding wave. Let it fall in June, and as seed we will consider nasturtium, morning glory, phacelia.

What can be grown on the balcony: biennial flowers

Daisies and viola are very good options for a balcony garden (they are also popularly called pansies). These biennials may not be sown in a box, but taken with ready-made bushes in the spring from the garden.

Plants do well in a confined space, moreover, at the end of flowering, they throw seeds into the ground. If the soil in the box is not changed, then the next season you can wait for self-sowing shoots.

Herbs and herbs

An important role in the question of what can be grown on the balcony is played by location and natural light. So, if you are the owner of the exit of the balcony door to the south side, then you can safely grow any spicy herbs.

For the rest, there is a simple rule for choosing material for landing. So, the height of an adult plant should not exceed half a meter - in this case, the seedlings will feel quite at ease in a compressed space.

The ideal option for planting on the balcony are herbs and spices, reaching a height of no more than 30 cm. The exemplary "balcony" inhabitants include thyme, sage, oregano, lemon balm.

Perennial herbs can be formed, like trees, by trimming the tops at any desired height. In this case, spices will fill the entire space after 3-4 years.

If the balcony is located in partial shade, then parsley, dill, coriander, rosemary and sage are ideal for growing.

Glazed balcony conditions

The answer to the question of what can be grown on the balcony in the summer, we partially gave.In addition, we considered some of the features of the location, Now it is time to talk about the conditions of the glazed balcony. Even when growing unpretentious greens and herbs, it is always important to remember that plants need oxygen for a favorable development.

That is why the vents on the balcony must be opened as often as possible. Burning direct sunlight can become another unpleasant factor for the vital activity of crops. To save crops from the heat will help darkening the glasses with the help of improvised means (paper, homemade curtains).

There is also an option in which crops can be harvested on the floor during the hottest hours of the sun.

Dwarf vegetables

There is great news for all vegetable lovers. It turns out that you can grow bell peppers and eggplants on the balcony, because breeders have bred dwarf varieties of these wonderful vegetables.

Cherry tomatoes and dwarf hot peppers also take root well in extreme urban conditions. Let's not forget about the onion feather for greens.

Now it remains to solve the problem with placement, make basic care and wait for the harvest.

Placement in trays

When planting in a box, vegetables can be combined with herbs. The main thing is to remember that spices have a tendency to overgrow. Therefore, the distance between seedlings should be at least 20 centimeters.

It is also not a secret for anyone that you can grow not only flowers, but also vegetables in pots on the balcony. Only large-diameter pots will fit only for vegetable seedlings, because the better the root system develops in a plant, the more fruits it will bear.

Even with this method of planting, the plants will require increased watering and feeding. The optimal container for planting vegetables on the balcony is medium-sized buckets (5-10 liters).

We form a bed in a peat bag

If space and conditions allow, you can arrange a peat bed right on the balcony floor (sometimes special coasters or an old table are used). To do this, go to the store and buy a large bag of peat.

We will not unpack the bag, put it in a layer on the floor or on the countertop and make small square slots for the seedlings around the entire perimeter. So that the moisture does not stagnate during watering, we will also pre-construct small holes at the bottom of the bag.

Now we know that you can grow vegetables on the balcony in the summer right on the makeshift garden. It remains only to provide appropriate pallets for the container and regularly moisten the peat.

The east and west side of the window arrangement is the most suitable for a good harvest. Sunlight is enough for plants, and it is not scorching at all.

What can be grown on the balcony: early vegetables

How come we still haven't mentioned radishes, lettuce and arugula? But the small size and speed of ripening of early vegetables in themselves speaks in favor of good adaptation to the conditions on the balcony. Some urban vegetable growers manage to harvest more than one crop per summer. As a container, nursery boxes or medium-sized pots are usually used.

Variety of options

Seed plants such as onions, garlic, beans and peas also do not mind living in a balcony. Few people know that berry bushes can also be grown on the balcony.

So, strawberries take root well in unusual conditions. Many experimenters try to grow cucumbers on windowsills. In this case, you can safely transfer cucumber seedlings to the balcony.

This is especially true for hybrid and salad varieties.

What can be stored and grown in winter?

Did you not know that you can grow fragrant marjoram on the balcony in winter? After all, it freezes out only in open airspace.

Try to plant it in the summer, do not clean it before winter, and delicate fragrant shoots will delight you on cold evenings.

You can also leave basil for the winter, but only until this beautiful annual plant has finished its life cycle.

Some Tips

• In order to harvest crops under the conditions of a glazed balcony in winter, you need to pick off basil, lettuce or greens not with a whole bush, but one leaf at a time.
• It is necessary to carry out top dressing only in a damp substrate, otherwise the plant roots may burn.
• For the growth of vegetables, peat soil or a special one designed for each specific type is best suited.
• In containers for planting, a good drainage layer is required.
• If the plant on the balcony is affected by pests, it is better to get rid of it, rather than add chemicals. Marigolds and aromatic basil planted next to vegetables are natural repellents for parasites.

What are these flowers?

Attention: Marigolds are flowers of the Aster family, exported from America in the Middle Ages. They quickly spread and won sympathy for their bright beauty, vitality and pungent aroma.

There are many types of this plant: they differ in structure, color, there are annuals and perennials, with straight stems and spreading bushes. The inflorescences are fluffy and bright, with a wide variety of shades of yellow and orange.

Can I grow at home?

It is not difficult to plant marigolds at home on the windowsill, or in drawers on the balcony... They will easily adapt, take root well and soon fill the room with the aroma of essential oils.

Growing features

To grow marigolds in the house, you need to know how to do it correctly. Features of growing at home:

• The apartment can be planted any month of the year. But better in January. In this case, the buds will appear in the spring, but additional artificial lighting will be required for the growing season. You can sow seeds in mid-April: more light for flowers, no winter dryness from apartment heating, which means the whole process becomes easier.
• It takes a lot of sunshine for the bushes to bloom luxuriantly. Flower pots should be placed on the sills of the southern windows. When shaded, the plant will not die, but it will stretch out, the buds will be smaller.
• The potting soil in home containers dries out much faster than on an outdoor flower garden. Therefore, watering should be regular.
• Also, the soil in the container is depleted faster than on the flower bed. Therefore, the house needs fertilizing with fertilizers.

Marigolds are grown at home not only because they decorate the interior and are unpretentious... They also saturate the air in the room with phytoncides, help other plants in the room to fight fungal diseases.

The necessary conditions

To grow marigolds at home, you need to create optimal conditions for them:

1. Choose a suitable place. It should be sufficiently lit - the plant is very light-requiring. Therefore, if the balcony or windows face north, it will grow, but without lush flowering.
2. Pay attention to the choice of container for planting. In order for the bushes to turn out to be spreading, not to compete, everyone needs to be given free space. Therefore, flower pots or balcony boxes are selected based on width, not depth. For the taproot system of marigolds, the container may not be deep.
3. Prepare soil or purchase from a specialized store. To get a nutritious loose substrate with low acidity, you need to mix leaf and turf soil with peat and sand (2: 2: 2: 1).
4. To avoid contamination, the soil can be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or steamed. Store-bought soil usually does not need to be processed.
5. Pour drainage on the bottom of the container: shards, expanded clay or pebbles. Sprinkle with prepared substrate on top.
6. The distance between flowers during planting depends on the variety of marigolds: for undersized ones - 12-15 cm, for medium-sized ones - 20-25 cm, for tall bushes - 35-40 cm.
7. After planting, it is necessary to ensure that the air temperature in the house is above + 22 ° C.

On the balcony

In summer, on an open balcony, marigolds can be grown in special boxes or containers with flowers can be taken out of the apartment. To get lush bloom, keep the pots on the balcony in a sunny place..

If the balcony is glazed and faces the south side, and at the beginning of spring it is already up to + 10 ° C, then you can sow flowers in boxes already in January. But, so that the seedlings do not stretch out, additional lighting is needed.

It is better to choose varieties for the balcony among low-growing flowers:

• Bonanza Orange.
• Bonanza Flame.
• Bonanza Bolero.
• Ursula.
• "Paprika".
• Lulu.
• "Dwarf".

Further care

After planting in pots or balcony boxes, marigolds require additional care. Let's take a closer look at what it is:

1. Watering and humidity... Daily watering is an important part of home care. If the summer is dry, then water the soil twice a day - in the morning and evening hours. An overdried clod of earth will not contribute to flowering, the leaves will turn yellow.

   When the buds appear, you need to water no more often than the earth dries out. It is recommended to maintain a moderate air humidity, spray flowering bushes, periodically ventilate the room.

2. Lighting... Marigolds are a flower that needs lighting. If there is not enough light in the apartment, then phytolamps can be purchased to additionally highlight the bushes.
3. Temperature regime... They are cold-resistant. But low temperatures will be answered with poor growth and flowering. They should not be overcooled.
4. Top dressing... Flowers need to be fed. For this purpose, balanced complex mineral fertilizers are suitable. During the growing season, it is enough to feed no more than three times.
5. Pruning... It is necessary to cut off the faded buds, otherwise the seeds will ripen in them, and they will delay the vitality of the flower. You can also prune long, elongated shoots and shape the plant into a ball. It is also recommended to prune small buds. The bushes will respond to such a haircut with a new wave of flowering. You can achieve lush flowering if you cut the roots by a third during transplantation.
6. Loosening the soil... It is recommended to loosen the soil from time to time. This will improve the oxygen supply to the roots and the plant will look healthier.
7. Disease prevention... Flowers are disease resistant. Due to the sharp characteristic odor, they repel insects and pests. But, if the soil is systematically waterlogged, or, conversely, there is not enough moisture, they can become infected: spider mites, root rot or black leg. In this case, fungicides will help: Fitosporin, Ridomil Gold.

Important: To prevent the disease from spreading to neighboring bushes, infected plants must be removed.

In an apartment in winter

Marigolds grow successfully in an apartment in winter.... If you sow seeds in August, then by winter there will already be seedlings, and in winter the flowers will bloom. Bright spherical flowers growing in pots on the windowsill will create coziness and a pleasant atmosphere at home in the winter cold.

Marigolds require a lot of light for the growing season, so in winter they cannot do without additional artificial lighting. In winter, the air in the apartment is dry, periodically you need to humidify the air near the flower pots, spray the upper part of the soil with water.

Warnings and Tips

Marigolds on the balcony or on the windowsill are not only aesthetically pleasing, flowers are beneficial... What can you advise, what to look for or what to protect yourself from when growing marigolds:

• Phytoncides released from leaves and buds disinfect the indoor air.
• Insects do not like the sharp spicy smell of flowers: mosquitoes and flies do not fly where they bloom. And aphids and thrips will not harm all other indoor flowers.
• Leaves and flowers can be used in cooking. Add to sauce or marinade.By grinding dry inflorescences into powder, you can make a well-known spice - Imeretian saffron.
• According to popular belief, marigolds will protect the house from the envy of enemies.
• In folk medicine, dried flowers are used in the treatment of cataracts and cardiovascular diseases, cleanse the body of toxins. Treat asthma.

Simple care combined with decorativeness are the advantages of growing marigolds at home. If you follow the simple rules of care, then this plant will create coziness and make your home brighter!