Features of growing flowers on a sunny balcony
The scorching midday sun creates problems for many balcony plants, which without a canopy are at risk of sunburn. Plants are especially dependent on a good substrate to retain water and fertilizer and release it quickly to the roots.
How to water flowers correctly? The difficulty that potted plants face most of the day in the sun is a constant lack of moisture. Water is the main thing for them on the south-facing balcony. Soil in containers dries out very quickly as the heat increases water evaporation. In summer, it is better to water the flowers twice: in the morning and in the evening.
Pots in which flowers grow on a sunny balcony play an important role. They should be light, so that they heat up less in the sun than dark ones. Soil in dark containers dries out much faster. Metal containers are also not suitable, as they heat up on their own and can damage the roots. Wooden containers work very well.
Note! Pots should have holes in the base to allow water to drain. This reduces the risk of root rot or leaves and flowers falling off due to excessive moisture.
Plant nutrition. All flowers for a sunny balcony have a high need for fertilizer. The stock of nutrients in the soil is consumed quite quickly. If the plants show signs of their deficiency, in the form of light green leaves, a little liquid fertilizer is added to the irrigation water every week.
Water-soluble fertilizers have better solubility. In this way, nutrients are better absorbed, and the likelihood of root burns is reduced. From the very beginning of cultivation, granular fertilizer is also added to the plant substrate.
Note! Fertilization helps plants have greener foliage and longer blooms. Use a fertilizer containing more nitrogen when lush vegetation is needed, and a fertilizer for flowering plants containing more phosphorus and potassium to produce more flowers.
Flowers planted on a sunny balcony are better able to tolerate periods of heat and drought if the soil is mulched. This treatment is effective in reducing moisture evaporation and the development of weeds. To encourage plants to re-bloom, remove dried and overripe flowers at the end of summer.
South side of the balcony. What flowers to choose?
How to choose flowers for a sunny balcony and how to provide these plants with the right conditions for healthy growth and beautiful flowering? It is important to choose hardy plants to create your own balcony garden.
Often recommended for sunny balconies include:
- geraniums;
- petunia, surfinia;
- verbena;
- lobelia;
- nasturtium;
- sage, lavender;
- bells;
- gazania;
- purslane large-flowered;
- daisies;
- zinnias;
- hibiscus.
Geraniums are typical flowers for a sunny balcony. They bloom almost throughout the season, and have flowers of different shapes and colors. White, pink, red, yellow geraniums adorn the balconies. Not only do they love the sun, but they are also relatively resistant to temporary water shortages.
Hibiscus loves the sun and heat very much, so place the plant in a pot where it receives a lot of light. In sunny places, hibiscus blooms more abundantly with large flowers, and in semi-shady places, the appearance of flowers is limited. It blooms almost throughout the season and has flowers of different shapes and colors: white, purple, red, orange and pink, which appear in summer and autumn.
Additional Information! Numerous flowers last only 1-2 days, Hibiscus is sensitive to low temperatures, as it sheds foliage and freezes when the temperature drops to zero, but it is resistant to drought.
The low and compact lavender is especially suitable for planting in balcony boxes and pots. Lavender is planted in full sun in well-drained soil and requires little maintenance. To keep lavender blooming profusely and staying healthy, it should be pruned regularly.
Daisies are popular balcony plants. Perfect for the sunny side of the balcony. Needs regular and abundant watering, especially in the hot season. Blooms from April to August.
Pansies are perfect for planting on a balcony. One of the reasons for their popularity is long flowering, low maintenance and compact growth. Pansies are much more demanding on soil conditions.
Purslane can withstand direct sunlight on the southern balconies and has a long flowering period (from June to September). It is characterized by impressive flowering with single or double flowers in shades of yellow, pink, orange, red and white. The average height is 30 cm. Purslane care comes down to regular watering. It does not make special demands on the soil, although it prefers fertile soils with good drainage.
Verbena with small flowers of white, red, yellow, purple, blue and pink blooms profusely from early spring to late autumn. Verbena, with creeping shoots, is suitable for planting in pots and planters in hanging baskets.
Petunia is not only the most popular flower, but also resistant to extreme heat and prolonged exposure to the sun. The undersized plant is characterized by compact lush vegetation with rich flowering. There are many varieties of petunias that you can choose to plant. Creeping varieties are suitable for hanging baskets.
Surfinia is a variety of ampelous petunias that is suitable for growing on a balcony. Hanging stems can reach 2 meters in length. Surfinia requires a lot of light and abundant watering, and with proper care is dotted with small bright buds.
Lobelia is an ampelous plant, has a stem, 50 cm in height. It blooms with small blue, orange or purple flowers. It is not unpretentious, but re-flowering gives immediately after cutting off the faded part.
Gatzania – “African chamomile” have good drought tolerance, grows well on the south side of the balcony in direct sunlight. The flower grows up to 30 cm in height. Flower baskets up to 9 cm in diameter are painted in warm colors. Up to 30 inflorescences can form on one plant. Blooms from early July until the first frost.
Turkish or bearded carnation is another plant for a hot southern balcony. Unlike tall garden varieties, this plant has an aerial part from 20 to 60 cm. Carnation perfectly tolerates direct sunlight and does not need special care.
Zinnias pair well with other sun-loving balcony plants or as a showy flower in pots. They cope well with drought, but not at all with waterlogging. They love fertilizer. If you regularly cut off faded inflorescences, zinnia will bloom all summer. The colorful flowers come in white, yellow, orange, pink, purple, red, and even bicolor.
Tips for caring for flowers in the sun
Flowers exposed to direct sunlight overheat and should not be watered with cold water. Plants can get sick or die. Water the flowers with warm or the same temperature as the environment with water.
In strong sunlight, moisture evaporates quickly. Water the flowers only in the morning, in the evening or on a cloudy day. Drops of water falling on the leaves create a lens effect and can cause burns. Spraying of plants is also carried out only before sunrise and in the evening.
If you loosen the ground on a hot day, then the already overheated roots will receive an additional “dose” of heat. The soil will dry out faster and a crust will immediately begin to form. It is necessary to loosen the substrate and remove weeds only at a time when the sun’s rays do not fall on the flower pot.
Choose ornamental plants for your balcony that love the sun and are easy to care for.
