What flowers are best for the balcony. Flowers on the balcony: design, new ideas and photos

Where to start transforming a loggia or balcony into paradise with beautiful flowering plants? For successful cultivation any flower culture It is important to organize conditions that are suitable for her.

It is not necessary to determine the orientation of the future oasis according to the cardinal points. An idea of ​​whether solar or shadow side there is a balcony. This main criterion choosing flora for him.

Sunny side

Most balcony crops are grown on the sunny side. Mainly annuals , the first place among which deservedly belongs.

ON THE PICTURE: Hybrid Petunia is an excellent choice for a sunny balcony.

Thanks to the huge variety of shapes and colors, long-lasting abundant flowering and unpretentiousness, this flower has become super popular among gardeners. It is not difficult to care for, and even a beginner can grow Petunia.

Modern hybrid Petunias are:

• bush and hanging;
• small-flowered and large-flowered;
• simple and terry;
• with fringed edges.

The flowers of various types of Petunias are single-colored, with light or dark centers, with radial contrasting stripes and edges painted in a different color. Erect forms are grown in flower boxes various sizes, hanging - in hanging flowerpots.

ON THE PICTURE: Ampelous Petunia in a hanging pot.

Majority decorative forms resistant to adverse weather conditions: flowers do not deteriorate from rain. Flowering continues from early summer until frost.

By combining various varieties of Petunias, it is possible to create a unique balcony flower garden from this one genus.

ON THE PICTURE: Balcony decorated various types Petunias.

You can purchase ready-made Petunia seedlings at flower shops or grow them yourself by sowing the seeds at the end of winter.

Unpretentious plants recommended for balcony cultivation include. There are many varieties with different shapes and colors of inflorescences: red, orange, white, yellow.

ON THE PICTURE: From Marigolds different varieties you can arrange a wonderful flower garden.

Marigolds are undemanding to soil and drought-resistant. If you accidentally forget to water the flowers on the loggia, tragedy will not happen. But it is better not to skip watering, especially on hot days: the lower leaves will begin to turn yellow and dry, and the plants will lose their decorative appearance.

Marigolds grow quickly and bloom early, within one and a half to two months after sowing the seeds. For abundant flowering, it is necessary to remove faded buds. Otherwise, the ripening seeds will “drain” the vital forces of the plant.

ON THE PICTURE: Wilted Marigold flowers must be removed in a timely manner.

It is better to choose for a balcony low-growing species flowering plants. For the sunny side, low varieties, annuals, etc. are good. On a brightly lit loggia the following are appropriate:

• (Alyssum);
• (Antirrinum);
• (Clarkia);
• (Sage);

You can combine business with pleasure: plant several types of herbs, for example. They comfortably coexist in one container. Read more about growing homemade spices in the article:.

ON THE PICTURE: Spicy herbs in one container.

Stretch the support cords and plant, decorative beans or. This creates a wonderful shady place to relax with a cup of tea or a book.

ON THE PICTURE: Morning glory thickets provide pleasant shade on a sunny balcony.

Useful for balcony plantings biennials : () And . On the balconies and loggias of true admirers of floristry one can also find (Geranium).

ON THE PICTURE:Pelargonium has a wide variety of shapes and colors.

For many years, Pelargonium was completely forgotten. Until recently, it grew mainly on rural window sills and in some provincial offices. But in last years breeders have bred many decorative varieties, thanks to which Geranium received a second life. Bush and ampelous varieties of this plant turn loggias and balconies into real flowering gardens.

Pelargonium can be grown from seeds, but it is better to cut out mature bushes in late winter - early spring. Each cutting should have three internodes. Lower leaves are removed from the shoots, after which the cuttings are dried for several hours.

The shoots prepared in this way are planted in small cups or pots with drainage holes. Light, permeable soil is needed. Planting is done deep into one internode: the formation of roots will begin in this place.

ON THE PICTURE: Rooting Pelargonium cuttings in peat humus tablets.

As they grow, young plants are pinched for better branching. By the time the grown Pelargonium bushes are moved to the balcony, they are transferred to permanent containers filled with loose nutritious soil.

If there is a sufficient area of ​​the balcony or loggia, potted and even large container plants are placed there for the summer. Citrus fruits, succulents and potted cacti feel great on the sunny side.

Shadow side

If the balcony is in the shade most of the day, various bulbous plants will take root on it. Of the large trees, it is worth planting ferns on a shaded loggia.

Of the beautiful flowering plants, it is suitable for a shady balcony.

ON THE PICTURE: Tuberous Begonia is an excellent choice for a shady balcony.

This type of Begonia is decorated with asymmetrical jagged foliage, flowers of various shades of white, yellow, orange, red, pink. They can be large single or small, but collected in clusters; simple, semi-double and terry.

Begonia blooms throughout the summer and continues until October. But it is necessary to remove the plant from an uninsulated balcony before the first frost occurs. Begonia loves fertile, slightly acidic, breathable soil, which should be constantly moist.

Another beautifully flowering plant that is ideally suited to the conditions of a shady balcony is.

ON THE PICTURE: Fuchsia tolerates shade well.

It is impossible to take your eyes off Fuchsia with its buds in full bloom. Unusual shape and color of flowers, lush flowering literally mesmerizing. Particularly decorative are ampelous species grown in hanging pots.

To get an elegant flower cascade, take three to five Fuchsia cuttings, depending on the size of the container. They are planted together, closer to the edge of the container, at a slight angle.
.

ON THE PICTURE: Wind-resistant Alyssum exudes a pleasant aroma.

Winter Garden

On a glazed balcony or loggia you can organize a real winter Garden. This best option for upper floors.

ON THE PICTURE: The choice of plants for a glazed balcony is much wider than for an open one.

If there are additional light sources on a glazed balcony or loggia, the choice of plants for them is almost unlimited. If you insulate the walls and floor, install double-glazed windows, install electricity, hang lamps, you can grow whatever your heart desires there.

ON THE PICTURE: A glazed balcony or loggia, turned into a winter garden, is a great place to relax.

1. Make sure flower boxes and climbing supports are securely attached to the balcony railing.
2. Flower containers with drainage holes require trays to drain excess moisture.
3. Choose containers for the sunny side light color, to avoid overheating of the roots. For shadow it is better to use dark ones.
4. When growing plants with different colors on the same loggia or balcony, it is important harmonious combination colors and shapes.
5. In balcony flower arrangements they combine without fail different shades one color.
6. Plants on fresh air watered either in the morning or in the late afternoon. Periodically they should be fed with fertilizers, according to the recommendations for a particular species.
7. The glazed balcony must be ventilated for the comfort of the flora growing on it.

Not all of us, flower lovers, are lucky enough to live in a private home and not all of us have dachas where any gardening fantasies can easily come true. However, even in an ordinary city apartment you can create your own mini-flower garden. Balconies or external window sills (those located on the street side) are great for this. Garden flowers on the balcony will feel no worse than on the flowerbed, if you approach the issue of choosing them wisely, and then the rules of care. So what flowers should you plant on the balcony? To a large extent, the choice will depend on the degree of illumination of your balcony.

It just seems that the longer the sun visits your balcony, the better. Firstly, the scorching rays of the sun can cause burns to the tender leaves of many plants. Secondly, on the southern balconies in the summer there is a withering heat that does not subside even at night. In such conditions, flowers need very frequent watering and spraying. Even a day without watering can lead to the death of green spaces.

Flowers for a southern balcony must withstand direct sunlight and not suffer from drought. Let's look at the best options.

Geranium (pelargonium)

Tolerates abundance very well sun rays pelargonium, especially zonal and ivy-leaved (ampeloid) varieties. Geranium can be exposed to the open sun and not worry that its leaves will burn. On the contrary, with an abundance of light it will intensify its flowering. Some gardeners call geranium a semi-succulent plant for its ability for a long time do without watering. We emphasize that all these qualities are most pronounced in zonal flowers and ampels; royal pelargonium is more capricious and needs to be shaded at midday.

Geranium - unpretentious plant, blooming profusely on sunny balconies

Purslane

Excellent flowers for a southern balcony: they tolerate heat without loss, direct sunlight, and do not need frequent watering. The fleshy leaves of purslane accumulate water, so even in drought they do not wither or lose their appearance.

Another argument in favor of purslane: its flowers are always bright, rich colors and will create a truly sunny mood in balcony boxes.

Purslane opens its flowers only towards the sun

Calendula

Another “sunny” flower that can show itself in all its glory only in very light areas. Modern varieties with simple and double flowers in red, yellow, orange and white colors will help create interesting compositions in balcony boxes.

Calendula is a flower that is not only beautiful, but also useful.

Petunia

- the most beautiful flowers for a sunny balcony that love an abundance of light, without direct midday rays. The only thing that overshadows the presence of petunias on southern balconies is the need for moist soil. This flower will have to be watered often, in summer - at least twice a day.

In order to reduce the need for frequent watering of petunias on the southern balcony, select deep boxes for this flower and mix hydrogel into the soil

In addition to the above plants, the following plants take root well on sunny balconies: , , sweet peas, kobeya, godetia, aster, canna, gatsania, mignonette, sweet tobacco, zinnia, phlox, dahlias, sedum, succulents and cacti.

What flowers to grow on a western and eastern balcony?

To the eastern and western balconies the sun comes in early or late afternoon. These lighting conditions are excellent for most indoor and garden plants. Therefore, if you have such a balcony, we can say that you are lucky. Here you can afford almost everything, with the exception of outright “sun lovers”, for example, cacti, which will grow, but there will almost certainly be problems with flowering.

Most garden and indoor plants can be grown on western and eastern balconies

List of plants for bright balconies where the sun shines in the morning or evening: , sweet peas, dolichos, verbena, nasturtium, calendula, marigolds, viola, daisies, lobelia, gillyflower, heather, matthiola, pelargonium, dahlias, asters and etc.

On western and eastern balconies you can even grow shade-loving plants. Of course, they should not be planted in balcony boxes, but in the depths of the balcony, where it is light enough, but not sunny.

Flowers for the northern balcony

Shady balconies often become a headache for gardeners. Plants planted here stretch out, bloom weakly or even forget to bloom. Growing flowers on a north-facing balcony requires careful selection shade-tolerant plants, which will not suffer from lack of light.

Flowers on the northern balcony can be like this:

Fuchsia

For abundant flowering and the formation of a luxurious fuchsia bush, the amount of light that penetrates the northern balcony will be sufficient. This plant does not like direct sunlight and heat. Optimal temperatures for fuchsia – 20-25°C. A prerequisite for its cultivation is abundant regular watering without drying out the earthen clod. Fuchsia is very easy to dry, after which it dies.

Ampelous fuchsias on the northern balcony require coolness and constant watering

Mimulus (lipstick)

Mimulus blooms its variegated, elongated flowers even in the shade, on glazed northern balconies. Direct sun is contraindicated for mimulus. This flower on the balcony requires moist, even damp soil, so when growing, special attention should be paid to abundant watering.

Mimulus develops quickly, the first flowers appear 6-8 weeks after sowing

Calceolaria

Calceolaria does not tolerate high temperatures, direct sunlight and even short-term drying. That's why the best place for her - light partial shade on a northern, well-ventilated balcony. Constantly moist soil for calceolaria is not a whim, but a necessity. However, you need to be careful when watering it. Try to keep water away from the leaves and stem, as this will cause the plant to quickly rot.

Decorating your balcony with calceolaria flowers adds a touch of originality to the design of your entire apartment. This plant is not yet very common, so a balcony or window sill in calceolarias looks very unusual.

Calceolaria loves coolness very much. To reduce the harmful effects of hot dry air on this flower, it is recommended to place pots with calceolaria on a tray with wet pebbles

Torenia

Torenia flowers resemble gloxinia bells, only smaller in size and blooming in more. Torenia loves bright, but diffuse light, so it will have the right place in the balcony boxes of the northern balcony. Requires regular watering with constantly moist soil.

Abundant flowering of torenia must be maintained by regular application of fertilizers.

Begonia everblooming and tuberous

Any type of begonia grows well in semi-shady and shady areas with fertile acidic soil. The plant needs intensive watering and fertilization.

A semi-shaded balcony will be an excellent place for growing balsam, viola, ivy, mignonette, nasturtium, cyclomen . Modern variety series (minitunia, fortunia, surfinia, etc.) also withstand the lack of light on northern balconies, although they bloom a little less profusely than in the southern areas.

WHAT FLOWERS ARE GREAT TO GROW ON YOUR BALCONY!

In our city apartments, it is the balcony that often becomes the oasis where constant summer reigns - plants turn green and flowers bloom. Let's figure out how to choose the right flowers for a balcony or loggia.What kind of care do they require? How to protect them from diseases and pests?

IN southern regions In Russia, a constant assortment of perennials can be maintained on balconies, but in the middle and northern regions it is better to prefer annuals. However, a glazed and heated balcony will significantly increase your possibilities in choosing plants.

Flowers on a sunny balcony

If the balcony faces the south, sunny side, the vast majority of balcony plants will bloom well and for a long time, with the exception of fuchsia and begonia: excessive sun suppresses them, they wither and sometimes do not bloom at all.

They show a special “greed” for the sun and warmth purslane, kobea, morning glory, dorotheanthus and dimorphotheca .

On cloudy days, the grandiflora purslane will not open its flowers, and in cool summers it blooms sparingly even on a southern balcony.

Daisies, asters, mignonette, dahlias, godetia, gatsania, heliotrope, ageratum, balsam, lobelia, verbena, violas, sweet peas, morning glory, ampelous pelargonium, petunia, nasturtium- an excellent set for a sunny balcony.

They do well in tubs or large pots. African agapanthus and Indian canna .

Place in one container grandiflora tobacco, graceful zinnia and Drummond's phlox, and you will get a lovely mini-flower garden.

In order to please your balcony with flowering as early as possible, you should plant daisies, violas and evergreen begonia.

And so that flowering continues until the end of October, use asters, kobeya, petunia, gazania, lantana, tuberous begonia and sedum.

Flowers on a shaded balcony

They will bloom well in partial shade begonias, lobelias, fuchsias, mignonette, violas.

Will come to terms with the lack of light marigolds, pelargoniums, nasturtium and petunia . Quite comfortable in partial shade calceolaria and ageratum.

If the balcony is heavily shaded, limit yourself tuberous begonia, daisies, violas, and nasturtium capable of decorating a balcony until frost, if not with abundant flowering, then with beautiful rounded leaves.

On high floors where it is windy and there are constant drafts, it is better to use daisies, low growing marigolds, ageratum, gatsaniya, sedum and evergreen begonia.

Suitable for vertical gardening inside balconies and loggias ampelous varieties of lobelia, petunia, winged thunbergia, fuchsia, pelargonium and tuberous begonia.

Interesting balcony flowers and caring for them

And in conclusion, a few words about plants, sometimes undeservedly unclaimed in balcony floriculture.

Tuberous begonia is the queen of balconies.

The color range ranges from pure white to pink, yellow, salmon, bright red and crimson. Flowers are simple, semi-double and double on one plant.

Varieties with a height of 15 to 30 cm are suitable. Flowering from late May until October frosts. For the winter, the tubers are put into a cool room and stored until March in sand or peat chips at plus 8-12°C.

Kobeya climbing

Kobeya climbing is distinguished by large bell-shaped flowers of an exotic shape on long stalks, first colored green and later bluish-violet. There is a variety with white flowers.

Thanks to tenacious and strong tendrils on its pinnate leaves, this fast-growing summer plant rises up several meters even along plastered walls, although it is more reliable to strengthen it on a thin wire mesh or relying on balcony box.

Blooms from June to October. It is afraid of cold weather, so it is planted after the end of spring frosts. Kobeya quickly greens up large areas, although from a distance it looks much more modest than calceolaria or salvia. Propagated by seeds, which are sown in March.

Seedlings are planted at a distance of 30-50 cm from each other.

Verbena

A low-growing plant with small, very beautiful flowers, similar to primrose. The flowers are fragrant, with white eyes inside. When the plant reaches a height of 12 cm, you need to pinch the top.

Coleus

Coleus attracts with its luxurious “mosaic” leaves and is easily propagated by cuttings.

Small-leaved balcony forms form a dense bush 20-40 cm high. The brightness of coleus leaves and its showiness in the near or distant plans outshine the brightly colored balcony flowers. Plants are planted in May at a distance of 20-30 cm. In August, coleus are cut and left to overwinter in bright room. Reproduction by seeds is possible in February.

Calceolaria

Calceolaria blooms profusely and tirelessly yellow flowers, resembling bright balls. Plant height 30 cm.

It is enough to buy one plant to further provide a spectacular contrasting bright yellow tone for red pelargonium, salvia, petunia, blue and purple violas, blue ageratum and blue-violet heliotrope.

Propagates well in mid-summer by cuttings in cool, bright room. They overwinter, like pelargoniums, in a room or frost-free room, and in mid-May they are planted on the balcony.

Erika

Erica (Erika carnea), sometimes incorrectly called "heather", reaches 15-30 cm in height, has needle-shaped leaves and is recommended for southern regions and insulated balconies and loggias.

Various varieties bloom from January to March with white, pink and red flowers abundantly covering the tops of the shoots. For autumn flowering, the species Erika gracilis is recommended, blooming from September to November.

Early-flowering Erica is grown on calcareous soil, and late-flowering Erica is grown on a slightly acidic substrate, preferably a mixture of bog soil and peat.

Eriks winter in middle lane in the basement, in frost-free loggias and even in open ground under spruce branches and snow; V southern regions- in open ground.

Gatsania

Gatsania is notable for its radiant, shiny, orange-red (to bronze) flowers with a diameter of 7-8 cm with a dark spot at the base of the petals and a white eye.

Flowering from June to October. Unpretentious, resistant to winds. Height 20-40 cm. Seeds are sown in the room in March, seedlings are planted on the balcony in May. Close-up decoration.

Petunia

An annual plant up to 25 cm high, it has a compact bush shape and very abundant flowering. Thanks to its unique bright colors it can be a decoration for any garden. Perfect for growing in balcony boxes. In March, petunia seeds are sown in cups or pots; they are not covered with soil, but only pressed down, then covered with glass or paper. Germination time is 1-2 weeks at 18-20°C. Dive into loose, not very nutritious soil, keep at 10-14°C. They are hardened off and planted in mid-May at a distance of 25x25 cm in balcony boxes. Blooms until November.

Geranium.

From mid-February to early March, geranium seeds are sown at 20°C. Maintains optimal hydration. It is best to cover cups and boxes with seeds with film or glass. Germination time is 6-8 days. After the first leaves appear, the seedlings dive into pots 8-10 cm high. Planted in pots or boxes with nutritious soil in late May - early June. For a box 1 m long, 5 plants are enough. It has been noticed that plants growing next to geraniums are not damaged by spider mites.

Alyssum

An annual plant 20 cm high. Forms a white cloud of small flowers. Blooms throughout the summer. The aroma is reminiscent of honey. In March, the seeds are sown in a box, lightly sprinkled with soil. At a temperature of 16-20°C they germinate in 8-12 days. Plant 3-5 plants together in a box on the balcony in May at a distance of 10-15 cm. When flowering decreases, the plants are cut to half. They soon grow back and continue to bloom.

Godetia

Annual plant. This beautiful flower attractive to flower beds. Its large silky inflorescences of different colors (white, pink, red) are a decoration for any balcony. If you cut off faded inflorescences in time, the plants will bloom again. Sow in March-April in pots and replant in mid-May. The plant prefers sunny or semi-shaded places and loves fertile soil. Requires moisture. Cold-resistant. Blooms early and until frost.

Mini-garden for the balcony

Despite the very limited area, it is advisable to find a place on the balcony for a fragrant mini-garden, for which it is enough to plant two or three plants of mignonette, verbena, tobacco or heliotrope with a distinct aroma of vanilla.

It is useful to have a corner of herbs on the balcony: watercress, salad mustard, catnip, lemon balm, chervil, parsley, dill, savory, chives.

On the balcony in early spring It’s quite easy to get perennial onions (onions, chives, chives), parsley, celery, parsnips, beets, and rhubarb to grow.

Plant compositions for balconies

When placing flowers in balcony boxes, the main thing is not to get carried away with the variety of colors: no more than two colors that harmonize well. Beautiful and laconic monochromatic red pelargoniums, fuchsias or salvias, pink petunias, white daisies, yellow or lilac violas.

Successful two-color combinations red salvias (petunias, zonal pelargoniums) from the side of the apartment and blue, white, purple petunias paired with yellow marigolds, mignonette, blue ampelous lobelias from the street side.

Instead of hanging plants in the outer row you can place low-growing red and white fuchsias, pink everblooming begonias, blue petunias or ageratums , and from the inside - respectively red tuberous begonias and yellow calceolarias . These options are suitable for semi-shaded and shady balconies.

To create a bright floral spot that attracts attention from the street, they are good red and white pelargoniums, red salvias, yellow marigolds, calceolarias, nasturtiums.

Expressive up close ageratum, mignonette, kobea, beans, lobelia, daisies, sedums and balsams .

Some plants are good only in the same type of planting: purslane, gazania, godetia, celosia, erica, dimorphotheca, doronicum, nemesia, aster, dahlias, coleus, chrysanthemums and lantana.

Microclimate and seasons on the balcony

On insulated, frost-free balconies or loggias, you can carry out successful early spring forcing of bulbous plants - crocuses, tulips and daffodils .

Autumn row ornamental plants from the garden it will migrate to the balconies and will delight you with flowering all autumn (asters and chrysanthemums) .

In summer, the balcony will also be decorated with indoor plants that benefit from being in the fresh air: azalea, cyclamen, bromeliad, hydrangea, ficus, clivia, oleander, hippeastrum, agave, aloe, crassula, pomegranate, monstera, aspidistra, aucuba and cacti.

But indoor plants native to the humid tropics and subtropics do not tolerate open ground conditions well ( Saintpaulias, or Usambara violets, peperomia, anthurium, royal begonia, philodendron, sansevieria and dieffenbachia), they only benefit from a glassed-in “dacha” and high humidity air.

Soil for balcony plants

For most summer gardens, compost soil rich in humus with the addition of peat chips (10-20%) and liming material (ground egg shells) is suitable. Summer plants such as sweet peas, asters, and chrysanthemums are especially sensitive to a neutral or slightly alkaline soil reaction.

Melissa, catnip, and bluebells prefer slightly alkaline soils (pH up to 7.0-7.5); azaleas, heathers, hydrangeas - acidic soils (pH 4.5-5), they are fertilized with superphosphate or potassium sulfate.

In general, the soil must have moisture permeability, for which river sand is added; be sufficiently moisture-absorbing, which is achieved by adding peat chips, and must be fresh and free from pathogens; in addition, the soil for balcony flowers must be changed annually.

It is important to remember that earthen mixtures are not suitable for balcony flowers. indoor flowers containing too few nutrients. A three-meter balcony requires about 30 kg of soil mixture.

For summer gardens, you can use peat chips from briquettes, enriched with nutrients: it will provide easier care, retain moisture for a long time, weigh less and is free from pathogens. For perennials grown in tubs and pots, humus lumpy soil with turf and clay additives is preferable.

Unlike annuals, which require replacing old soil with fresh soil every year, perennials are transplanted into new soil after 2-4 years, with the exception of agapanthus: they prefer to remain in lived-in old pots for as long as possible, content with adding fresh soil.

Fertilizing balcony plants

Taking into account the limited feeding area and the rapid depletion of the soil substrate, balcony flowers need more frequent fertilizing compared to garden ones. Complex mineral fertilizers with microelements (manganese, boron, molybdenum) are excellent for these purposes.

Fertilizing is carried out every 7-10 days, alternating with watering, using weak solutions (2-3 g per 1 liter of water). The first feeding is carried out 4-6 weeks after planting and rooting of seedlings. Feeding continues until the end of August.

Minimal fertilizing (once every 2-3 weeks) is given to nasturtiums, gatsania, purslane, sedums, godetia and dorotheanthus: on heavily fertilized soil they form many leaves to the detriment of flowering, or even do not bloom at all; purchased soil for them is diluted by 30% river sand.

How to plant balcony flowers

It is important not to thicken flowers when placing them in boxes: optimal distance between seedlings of dahlias, chrysanthemums, salvia, gatsania, petunia, pelargonium, asters, lantana, tuberous begonia, fuchsia and celosia - 20-30 cm; for verbena, heliotrope, balsam, godetia, Drummond phlox, violas, zinnias, daisies, mignonette, marigolds and ever-flowering begonia - 12-15 cm; for fiery red beans and sweet pea- 10 cm.

It is important to remove flowers immediately after flowering, preventing the formation of ovaries, unless you need to collect seeds. When the flowering of ageratum, lobelia and nemesia weakens, it is important to trim the upper part of the plant, leaving only stems 3-5 cm high: they will soon form young shoots and flower buds.

Diseases and pests of balcony plants and how to deal with them

Provided the right location is chosen and proper care is taken, balcony plants are rarely affected by disease.

Reddish or yellow coloring of leaves at the edges occurs when the soil is severely waterlogged (lack of drainage) or overdrying.

Poor flowering may indicate an excess of nitrogen in the soil, and in combination with suppressed growth and yellowing of leaves - a lack of nutrients.

Plants can be damaged by pests.

Ugly, bent shoot tips and leaves covered with sticky sap indicate an aphid infestation, which occurs during dry, warm summers. Don’t rush to the store for pesticides, but don’t put off fighting pests: they multiply at an unprecedented rate and can quickly eat your entire flower garden. Sprinkle the affected plants with an infusion of garlic, nettle, or, at worst, soap or washing powder.

Sometimes the leaves are eaten by caterpillars - remove them and destroy them. A mini-garden of spice herbs and planting marigolds will help repel pests. Finally, a tiny ladybug will complete the job.

In dry, warm summers, sometimes the leaves and stems become covered with white powdery coating- true powdery mildew. Sprinkle the plants with a strong solution of potassium permanganate (15 g per bucket of water) or fermented infusion of fresh chopped garlic (40 g per bucket).

The most effective means protection are, contrary to popular belief, not strong poisons that destroy pests and pathogens, but simple and generally available preventive measures that stimulate the plant to effectively defend itself.

Do not over-moisten the soil and do not thicken the plantings - your asters, marigolds, and lobelias will not get sick with blackleg and fusarium. Do not use acidified soils - get rid of rot. Every year, change the soil in the boxes with fresh soil - there will be no soil fatigue and pathogens.

Decorating a balcony or loggia in an apartment with flowers is a great opportunity to create a beautiful green corner for relaxation in the city. You can also put a small one here 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 are the best flowers to grow on the balcony in boxes.

1. Marigolds

The heat-loving yellow heads of marigolds 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. Removing spent flowers prolongs flowering.

In addition, if you are thinking about what flowers to plant on the sunny side, then these are marigolds. They like sunny places. The only thing is that during drought you need to water regularly and not overdry the soil.

The most popular varieties marigolds are rejected hybrids. Varieties can be bushy, in which case you will only need a couple or three plants for the balcony box. So that these yellow flowers looked beautiful on the balcony, choose low types 15 - 30 cm. Double or semi-double inflorescences with a diameter of up to 5 cm are perfect for a balcony box.

2. Calendula, marigolds

A flower that does not require soil. These are flowers for the balcony sunny side or light partial shade. Completely unpretentious, can be amazed powdery mildew and aphids. Refers to plants that bloom all summer. Flowering time is from June to September. For long-term flowering, you need to remove faded inflorescences.

The original type is calendula officinalis, for balconies and loggias you need to choose low-growing variety Fiesta 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.

While creating unusual design It is better to plant calendula on a balcony together with other flowers - pansies, bulbous flowers (daffodils, tulips), hanging petunias, ornamental cabbage, ornamental and spicy herbs.

3. Nasturtium

Annual nasturtiums are flowers for a southern balcony. Blooms from July to September. Sow seeds immediately permanent place. These flowers for balconies are unpretentious and almost always grow from seeds. Unique garden plant, flowers of different varieties are completely different from each other:

There are vines for draping walls, that is, you can choose varieties and grow climbing flowers for the balcony;

Ampelous flowers for balconies and window boxes - nasturtium peregrinum, the length of the vines reaches 3 m;

Bush-like dwarf varieties for flower beds.

foreign nasturtium

climbing nasturtium

4. Petunia

The most popular flowers to grow on the balcony in boxes are petunias. Thanks to the variety of colors, long flowering, the variety of varieties and species they create unique design on the balcony.

What flowers to plant on the petunia balcony:

Ampel varieties of petunias are planted in large garden flowerpots or hanging planters for balconies, loggias and summer verandas(these varieties need to be sown for seedlings earlier than bush varieties - in early - mid-February);

Tilling 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 from the pot with several flowers at the top

Scheme for planting petunias in a balcony box 15 by 15 cm. Single-row and double-row planting of petunias in a box on the balcony is possible.

How to create flowers on the balcony design:

For single-row planting, plant 3 pink and 2 purple petunias, alternating them by color;

When planting in two rows in a box, place upright flowers in the background and hanging varieties in the foreground.

5. Pelargonium

Most often, pelargonium is called geranium, which is grown in pots as a houseplant. Pelargonium is one of the most unpretentious plants to care for; it grows quickly, blooms well and profusely. By the way, when proper care pelargonium may bloom all year round. It has a pleasant spicy aroma, which is emitted not by flowers, but by leaves. A wonderful plant for a balcony in warm periods.

In addition, with pelargonium you can create wonderful flower arrangements, complementing them with other colors. Here is one of the schemes for planting flowers on the balcony:

pelargonium white and red;

immortelle.

6. Nemesia

Nemesia flowers come in one, two and three colors. Blooms early; in hot summers flowering may not last long. A second wave of flowering is possible, closer to autumn. To do this, you need to trim the stems after the first wave of flowering. If you want to achieve autumn flowering, then plant nemesia seeds for seedlings in early June, then your balcony will look great in November.

Nemesia seeds are small, so you need to sow them on top, without covering them with soil. Then spray well with water and cover with glass. As the glass fogs up, you need to open it slightly, and remove it after green shoots appear.

When transplanting into flowerpots and pots, maintain a distance of 20 cm between flowers. When planting flower seedlings, pinch the stems.

Decorating a balcony 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

Usually snapdragons are grown in the garden, but if you take the shortest variety, Rainbow, you can grow the flowers of the most different colors and shades. On the plus side, it is worth noting the smell of snapdragon, it exudes such a fragrance! And for this you only need 5 - 6 bushes.

In autumn, when frost sets in, this plant freezes, the flowers do not change color and it looks great. The flowers last as if they were alive all winter. Therefore, if you are choosing which flowers to plant on the balcony, be sure to add dwarf varieties of snapdragons to your list. They bloom in the second half of summer, from July to October.

8. Begonia everblooming 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 colors 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. Grows well in humus-rich soil and in partial shade. Therefore, when planting, you need to add compost.

9. Fuchsia ampelous

There are 3 main groups of fuchsias. What flowers are best to plant on the balcony? So these are delicate heat-loving ampelous fuchsias with weak flowing stems in hanging baskets. The name of the ampelous fuchsia variety is Swingtime. The stems grow up to 50 cm with red and white flowers.

Fuchsias are great blooming flowers for the northern balcony. They only need a small amount of light to bloom and grow. Be sure to water regularly and abundantly. Make sure that the earthen ball does not dry out. After a drought, fuchsia will die and will not recover.

10. Pansies or Vitrok's violet

There are many hybrids of Vitroka violets with a height of 15 - 25 cm. These flowers on the loggia are of two types:

Winter-flowering (November - May) varieties that are grown as biennials are dominated by the Universal series;

Summer flowering (June - October), grown as annuals.

Viola can be grown on the balcony, but it must be planted in a place with proper lighting. The sunny side with shading during the midday hours is optimal. On the southern balcony it will quickly lose its decorative effect. Already in July it will fade and look dried out and unattractive.

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Who doesn’t dream of having their own flower garden, but not everyone has their own dacha. There is an exit! An incomparable flower garden and even an amazing miniature garden can be created without leaving your home, right on the balcony. And thereby allow the sun, summer and a piece of wildlife to always be nearby.

Flowers are living organisms that require certain conditions - appropriate humidity, temperature, lighting. In many ways, the choice of plants determines the area of ​​the room. A small balcony is landscaped in a completely different way than a spacious loggia (not to mention a terrace), and the arrangement of an “oasis” on a glass heated one is fundamentally different from the spring-summer landscaping of its open version.

Which flowers to choose for growing on the balcony depends not only on our preferences. In this matter, an important role is played by which side the balcony faces. As you know, there are four cardinal directions. From the point of view of floriculture, only three are good - east, west and south. They allow, with sufficient nutrition and watering, and required quantity heat to grow any ornamental flowering and climbing plant.

Annual flowers for the balcony

It's easiest to breed on the balcony annual plants– they are easier to plant, and there is no need for complex agricultural technology. They go through the entire development cycle in one season. In the fall, you can collect seeds from plants to sow next year.
If annuals are sown in May, they will begin to bloom in July. Typically, the vast majority of annuals peak flowering around July-August. But depending on what flowers are planted and the method of planting, you can “make” them bloom much earlier, so that already in June you will have the opportunity to admire the wonderful view of flowering plants on the balcony.

In this case, plants are planted using seedlings. This method is great for plants with a long growing season, that is, quite a long time passes between their germination and flowering, like, say, aster and lobelia.

At the same time, there are also annuals, for example, marigolds, whose growing season takes only a month, but they take root well and bloom, even if they are planted early enough in the spring. That is, if every year in April marigold seeds are planted in small pots, then in May the seedlings with flower buds that have already formed can be planted in the ground. Marigolds, thus, begin to bloom at a time when there is practically no greenery yet, and continue to bloom until late autumn.
Or, for example, aster, it can also be grown through seedlings. Aster is sown a little later, around mid-April. Grown in this way, they bloom after three months, in mid-June, and continue to bloom until October.

So, the seedling method of propagating plants allows you to achieve flowering much earlier and makes it possible to enjoy flowering plants not only throughout the summer, but even in the autumn months.

In this group of plants they are the most unpretentious. They are undemanding to soil and care; some cope well even with a lack of light. At the same time, they are ways to short time create amazing decorative effect- ampelous.

Ampelous

Balconies with a beautiful cascade of colorful leaves and flowers immediately attract attention. These plants (they are called ampelous) with long flowing shoots, completely strewn with flowers, are grown in hanging vases, baskets, flower pots, and containers. By the way, the German word “ampel” translates as hanging vase.

Lobelia is exceptionally good for planting on balconies in a hanging container. It's amazingly beautiful perennial grown as an annual. Its shoots with small dark green leaves and flowers of blue, pink, purple and white colors with a diameter of up to 15 mm, hanging from hanging containers or baskets, form a sort of living waterfall. Lobelia can be sown as seedlings in early spring, March-April, and planted in May; it will then bloom in June.

Among the most popular hanging flowers it is worth noting petunia, pelargonium, surfinia, fuchsia, nasturtium and verbena. These flowers can be planted individually or in combination - choosing plants of different lengths and a variety of colors.

There is only one point to pay attention to - plants may need moisture in different ways. Therefore, it is better to choose ones that are less demanding on watering.

Ampelous flowers have a number of other advantages. Their location can be easily changed. It is enough, say, to move the pot from one corner to another, and the balcony will acquire new look. It is worth noting that ampelous flower You can also hide some finishing imperfections.

The best varieties

Flowers on glass balcony they choose not only according to their taste, but also taking into account the microclimate of their content, exposure to the sun during the day, the degree of its protection from wind and sunlight, and so on.

Let us note several types of plants that are often used when landscaping balconies.

Nasturtium

Modern varieties of nasturtium amaze with their diversity. Among them are compact plants (height 15-20 cm), and mid-sized ones, and giants, the length of which exceeds 2.5 m. They differ not only in their size, but also in their shape - bush, climbing or climbing.

Nasturtium loves warmth and sun, although it can be satisfied with light partial shade. Its climbing varieties are most often used for vertical gardening, while its creeping varieties look better in boxes. As for dwarf varieties, they are grown in pots, and when planted in boxes they are combined with companion plants.

Petunia

This light-loving and heat-loving plant is unlike any other annual. Its graceful funnel-shaped flowers cannot be confused with any other flower. Petunia can have almost any color, and hybrid petunia flowers are also striped.

It is grown as an ampelous or creeping plant, directed downwards, upwards or collected in one dense flowering bunch. Petunia seeds are quite small, so when planting, they are simply sprinkled on damp soil and the flower pot is covered with glass until seedlings emerge.

Brachycoma iberisolifolia

Although the flowers of this plant are small, due to their large number and beautiful color, white, pink, blue, blue and violet, they look great against the background of leaves that have a pinnately dissected shape. Brachycoma shoots up to 30 cm long form a kind of cascade of flowers, gracefully hanging from the edges of a basket or container like a small balcony, and a wide loggia.

Brachycoma is very sensitive to the frequency of watering. It can hardly tolerate both dry soil and excessive moisture. Its condition is easily determined by the leaves and stems - their sharp yellowing indicates a violation of the normal moisture balance in the soil. Pots help to decorate flowers in an original way.

Daisy

The peduncles of the daisy are long and straight. They bring up baskets of reed and tubular flowers of white, soft pink, or carmine red. The daisy begins to grow in the spring and blooms profusely in early summer. Many of its varieties differ in the shape of the baskets, their size and color. Daisies are an unpretentious plant that grows well in both sun and partial shade.

Ampel tomatoes

This variety was developed relatively recently. Ampel tomatoes are ideal for hanging baskets. Dwarf tomatoes do not require special care: watering and fertilizing if necessary. To avoid accidentally “flooding” the plant, the container must have holes and a drainage layer.

When choosing flowers for a balcony, you need to take into account that partial shade and diffused light are more suitable for most flowering plants.