In addition to geraniums and petunias, the forget-me-not is also very popular as a balcony and container plant. What you need to consider if you want to grow forget-me-nots on the balcony or terrace.
How do I care for forget-me-nots on the balcony?
The following steps are important for caring for forget-me-nots on the balcony: Choose a location without direct sunlight, prevent waterlogging with sufficient drainage and water drainage, water regularly and avoid fertilizer. Perennial plants need winter protection.
Keep forget-me-nots as an annual
Although forget-me-not is a biennial or perennial plant, it is usually kept as an annual on the balcony. After flowering, the spring bloomers are discarded to make room for summer flowers.
Unfortunately the flowering period only lasts a few weeks.
Buy plants from the gardener
Preferring forget-me-nots for the balcony is very time-consuming and usually not worth it. The seeds must be sown the previous year. Alternatively, you can cut cuttings in summer, let them root in a glass of water and later put them in pots. The young plants must be overwintered frost-free.
In specialist shops or hardware stores you can buy pre-grown plants for little money that just need to be placed in the boxes.
The right location on the balcony and terrace
Forget-me-nots are undemanding when it comes to their location. They just don't like direct sunlight. Forget-me-nots are therefore ideal for north and east balconies.
Prevent waterlogging at all costs
- Prepare the planter
- Planting distance approx. 15 centimeters
- water regularly
- do not fertilize
Forget-me-nots are usually planted in balcony boxes. The planter, whether a bucket or a box, must have a sufficiently large drainage hole so that the water can drain away. The forget-me-not does not tolerate waterlogging at all.
When caring for it as an annual plant in a box, normal garden soil (€10.00 on Amazon) or potting soil is sufficient.
Grow the forget-me-not as a perennial on the balcony, use pots filled with rhododendron soil.
Water enough
Care on the balcony primarily consists of watering the plants regularly. Fertilizing is not necessary.
For perennial potted plants, you can give some liquid fertilizer once or twice a year. But it is better if you put the forget-me-not in fresh soil in spring.
Tip
When caring for it as a perennial in a pot, you must ensure adequate winter protection. Unlike outdoors, forget-me-nots in pots are not hardy. Cover the pot with foil and place it on wood or Styrofoam in a protected corner on the balcony.
