Ideas for arranging a balcony, what flowers to plant and design rules
Apartment owners can become happy owners of a mini-garden. It is equipped on a balcony or a loggia. In order for the flowers to show themselves in all their glory, you need to choose them, arrange them, take proper care after them. More information about balcony landscaping, popular flower varieties, as well as recommendations for caring for selected plants.
Features of the choice of plants in the cardinal points
Each culture has its own requirements for the conditions of detention. Some flowers love abundant sunlight, some bushes need partial shade. If the grower positions the plant correctly, it will show itself in all its glory.
South
On the south side there are flowers that prefer an abundance of sunlight. Good lighting is necessary for petunias, bacopa, nasturtium, brovallia, marigolds, purslane, viola, coleus. Many ampelous plants love sunlight.
West and East
Some flowers prefer shade most of the day. They only need bright lighting in the morning or evening. Such conditions of detention are necessary for dichondra, chlorophytum, fuchsia, asparagus, myrtle, sour, lobelia, pelargonium.
North
There are plants that tolerate shade. Under these conditions, they will not only grow well, but also bloom. Shade-tolerant plants include astilba, balsam, begonia, primrose, calceolaria, torenia, cyclamen, fuchsia, ivy.
To note! In addition to ornamental crops, you can grow healthy greens on the balcony: arugula, parsley, salad.
How to choose between annuals and perennials
The peculiarity of annual flowers is that their buds form abundantly and for a long time. But every year they need to be sown again, and then transplanted into many containers. Flower growers who don't want to do this should look to indoor perennials. Having planted such plants once, they can only be transferred annually to a larger pot.
Popular varieties
Florists sell annual and perennial flower seeds, bulbs, roots. From a large assortment of plants, the florist can choose those that are most suitable for his balcony.
Ampelny
Florists offer a large number of plants with cascading shoots.
Cascading Petunias
There are many varieties of ampel petunias suitable for landscaping.The flower grower is guided by his own preferences, focusing on the color and shape of the buds. He should pay attention that small-flowered petunias bloom longer and more abundantly.
decorative loach
Various species and varieties of loaches have been bred by ranchers. Buds can be pink, lilac, blue, white in color. They open on sunny days and close on cloudy days.
Leap
It is a perennial plant. Hops have long roots, so you need to choose a large container for it. A support is built for the rods. In autumn, cones form on the shoots, which can be dried and used for medicinal purposes.
Lobelia
Cultivated as an annual plant. The shoots are not long, but numerous. Numerous small dark blue or lilac flowers form on it. Culture loves diffused light, frequent watering.
Bellflower
Due to the bell-shaped flowers, the plant is called a bell. Cascading shoots reach a length of 50 centimeters. It is best placed on the east and west orientation windows.
Without pretention
There are plants that will survive even if not well cared for.
Worry
Low-growing varieties of culture are suitable for keeping on the balcony. Several shrubs can be planted in one pot. Yellow-red inflorescences can be admired from June until the first frosts.
calendula
For pot planting, select marigold varieties with a height of 20-30 centimeters. After the first wave of flowering, the stems are shortened. Soon the grower will again be able to admire the yellow-apricot calendula inflorescences.
Geranium
This is one of the most popular plants for arranging balconies and loggias.The culture is distinguished by the variety of species and the color scheme of the buds. Compact bushes and shoots of cascading culture will look spectacular.
Snapdragon
Breeders selected ampelous and dwarf varieties. Therefore, you can grow snapdragons both in pots and in hanging planters. Seeds are planted in March. Flowering begins in June and lasts until late autumn.
Continuous blooming begonia
There are varieties with erect and numerous cascading shoots. They have single and double inflorescences. The color of the buds is varied: it varies from delicate white to brown.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium has a thick, juicy stem with large, round leaves. Single, double or semi-double inflorescences are colored in yellow, red, orange. For the balcony and loggia, dwarf and ampelous varieties of culture are selected.
Flowering all summer
Very popular are flowers, in which buds bloom all summer.
Mattiola
Small matthiola inflorescences are colored, depending on the variety, creamy yellow, blue, red, purple. A peculiarity of the culture is a fragrant aroma, which significantly increases in the evening and at night.
Alissum
The height of the plant does not exceed 20 centimeters. Shoots hang down under the weight of white or purple inflorescences. Due to the abundant flowering, the leaves and branches are almost invisible. A rich aroma of honey emanates from the bushes.
Brachycoma
Brachycoma flowers are similar to non-double aster flowers. The color of the buds: white, pink, blue, purple. A dense bush can form from a small shoot. Up to 100 fragrant buds bloom on it.
To note! In spring, the flowers must be taught to open gradually. Otherwise, a stressful situation can cause leaf fall.
How to make continuous flowering
For plants, the balcony and loggia conditions are a bit extreme. But even in this environment, continuous flowering can be achieved. To do this, choose unpretentious, abundantly flowering plants with different periods of bud formation, create suitable conditions for them. Buds that begin to dry out should be removed. This will contribute to the formation of more and more new inflorescences.
For wintering on the balcony
Some flowers can safely winter on a glazed loggia or balcony. Also, after an active growing season, it is vital for them to spend this period resting.
Cactus
These plants need cool content in winter, a complete lack of watering. But, if the air temperature on the balcony or loggia exceeds 15°C, the land is irrigated once a month. The decorativeness of the plant during this period does not decrease.
Fuchsia
It is the perfect flower for east and west facing balconies. Shoots are cut for the winter. Watering during this period is moderate, feeding is not done. In the spring, shoots with inflorescences similar to a ballet tutu will begin to grow abundantly.
Chrysanthemums
At the end of autumn, the flowering of the chrysanthemum stops. After that, the shoots are cut off, leaving stumps about 10 centimeters long. From time to time, the earth needs to be moistened. With the onset of heat, young shoots will begin to grow.
Hydrangea
In the fall, the leaves of the hydrangea dry up and fall off. If the bush grew in the garden, it can be dug up, placed on the balcony for the winter. They also contain a flower that grew in a pot.Shoots are cut, when stored on an unglazed loggia, they are wrapped in agrofiber.
dwarf roses
In winter, roses have a dormant period. They stop blooming, lose their foliage. Culture can also overwinter on an open balcony. But the pots should be wrapped in burlap, burlap mat or cotton blanket. From time to time the soil should be moistened.
Clematis
With the help of clematis, decorative green walls are created on the balcony. In summer, large white, pink, purple and blue inflorescences appear. In the fall, the shoots are cut from the clematis growing in the pot. The container is wrapped to prevent freezing of the root system.
For an open balcony
If the balcony or loggia is not glazed, vines can be grown there. Their whips are sent along the interior walls, sent out of the room.
Decorative sweet peas
Dwarf cultivars with a height of 20 centimeters and cultivars with shoots 3.5 meters long were created. The plant quickly fills the space around it. Flowering from June to late fall. A honey aroma is emitted from the plants as the buds unfurl.
multicolored beans
Cultivation is suitable for balconies facing south. Beans serve not only as decoration, but also as a source of shade. If you run the eyelashes along the strings, they will create a flowery curtain. The culture blooms before frost.
Curly
Plants with long shoots protect the loggia from heat and serve as filters. In addition, they can be used to create a romantic corner. For climbing plants, special devices are selected, for example, bamboo trellises, or they leave shoots along the ropes.
How to organize with your own hands
There are many options for making plant stands.The florist chooses the most suitable option for himself.
Exterior drawers
To grow flowers, you can make wooden structures, equip them with a support. To do this, the boards are cut to the required size, connected. A film is laid on the bottom, above which a net is installed as a drainage.
Hanging pots
Such constructions are necessary for ampelous plants. To attach them, a hook is driven into the ceiling or a crossbar is installed. Often flower growers of ampelous plants use pots made in the macrame technique.
Small tubs
Baths, as a rule, are made of wood or concrete with their own hands. Wooden structures are treated by impregnation. Small planters are suitable for growing ornamental trees and shrubs.
Shelves
Craftsmen can use the materials at hand. Shelves are easy to make from wood, metal, glass, plastic. They are attached to the wall, to the window frame. Small flowers are placed there.
Jumpers on the frame
In the window opening, depending on its size, you can install 2-3 jumpers. They are installed on a frame pre-fixed to the slopes. Jumpers can be glass, wood, plastic.
Light shelving
For smaller plants, shelves can be made from rope and plywood sheets. For larger flowers, a disused aluminum stepladder will do.
Tapestry
They are necessary for climbing plants. Tapestries are vertical supports made of bars and slats, bamboo and cords. Long lashes of flowers are thrown over them. Without support, the stems will grow chaotically.
Booths
Using tiered stands, the maximum number of flowers is grown in a small area. If casters are attached to the structure, it can be easily moved.
Modules
A modular flower garden is a composition based on a repeating element in the form of a geometric figure. It can be made from wooden boards, plastic edging, concrete. Annual or perennial flowers are planted in each segment.
Shelf
To build a rack, metal frames or wooden beams are installed along the wall. Painted panels or laminated chipboard are placed on it in several tiers. If the shelves are only to be used in summer, they can be tilted.
Important! Weather conditions vary, so you need to choose unpretentious varieties of flowers to keep on an open balcony.
Use landscaping to decorate and hide flaws
With the help of flowers, they refresh the facade of the house, create a small cozy corner for relaxing on the balcony. If the loggia is glazed, a florist can even arrange a greenhouse there. Selecting plants with different bud burst dates results in a continuously flowering garden. If there are flaws on the wall, they can be hidden with abundant crops.
General rules of care
To make plants as decorative as possible, they must be properly cared for.
watering
There is a small surface in the pot, the earth dries quickly. Therefore, watering is done often. But at the same time you need to make sure that the top layer has time to dry. Irrigation water is used warm, settled.
top dresser
Top dressing is applied every 7-14 days. They use complex mineral fertilizer for beautiful flowering plants. Nutrients are applied to moist soil.Foliar feeding can be carried out periodically.
Protection against insects
To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, the flowers are sprayed with soapy water or garlic infusion. If insects appear in large numbers, the plants are treated with insecticides. When doing work, you should open the windows, protect your face and hands.
Microclimate
When kept on the balcony and loggia, the leaves of plants become covered with dust over time. As a result, flower development is slowed down. To remove dust, the plants are sprinkled with clean water. The procedure is carried out in the morning or in the evening to avoid burning the foliage.
Additional design tips and tricks
Experienced florists give the following recommendations for growing plants on the balcony:
- Choose crops suitable for long-term exposure to open space.
- Choose pots according to the root system of the flowers.
- Do not plant crops with different requirements to maintain conditions in the same container.
- Buy special soil for growing ornamental plants.
- Water the flowers in time.
- Permanently eliminates drying buds.
Following the recommendations, the florist will be able to decorate his balcony, turn it into a corner of relaxation.
Examples of interesting ideas
Thinking over the design of the balcony, you need to take into account the size of the room, the color of the walls and the flow. The flower arrangement should be in harmony with the interior. Unusual designs such as flower pockets can be installed. For this, a sewn canvas with holes is attached to the wall. Earth is poured into these pockets, abundant plants are planted.
To save space, you can buy special pots that can be mounted on a rail.In addition, you should pay attention to the color of the exterior wall of the house. For example, if it is yellow, it will be nicely set off by plants with purple buds. All flowers are suitable for white walls.