Fresh greenery, colorful leaves and colorful flowers bring life to the winter balcony. A variety of hardy plants are available for creative winter planting in the flower box. With the courage to combine, imaginative creations are created, beyond all the dreariness of the cold season. Let these tips inspire you.
Which plants are suitable for a balcony box in winter?
Hard plants such as winter heather, red carpet berries and purple bells are suitable for a creative balcony box in winter. Place bulbs of early bloomers in the substrate, protect the plants from cold and water them regularly.
Top 3 creative winter plantings
The harsh living conditions on the winter balcony leave little scope for gardening experiments. Therefore, rely on tried and tested classics that have been proven to bravely stand up to the bitter frost in the flower box. The following winter triumvirate is equally suitable for planting alone and in combination:
- Winter heather (Erica carnea 'Whisky') with orange-bronze-yellow needle leaves and ruby red flowers from February; 15-20cm
- Red carpet berry (Gaultheria procumbens) with evergreen, oval leaves and red berries; 10-20cm
- Purple bells (Heuchera hybrid 'Plum Pudding'), plum-colored leaves with a silvery shimmer; 20-30cm
Think about a flower-filled transition from winter to spring when you plant in autumn. Place the bulbs of early bloomers in the substrate between winter plantings. When winter heather, carpet berries and purple bells pay tribute to the hardships of winter, snowdrops, marshmallows and crocuses take over the floral baton.
Don’t forget cold protection and watering
Statements about the degree of winter hardiness always refer to perennials planted out in the garden. In the flower box, the winter plants are in an exposed position, which makes the root balls vulnerable to severe frost. Therefore, cover the plant containers on the balcony with bubble wrap. Wrap colorful jute ribbons, coconut mats or fleece over it, decorated with stickers and other decorative elements.
The evergreen foliage continually evaporates moisture, even in winter. The sunnier the location, the more water is lost. Therefore, water your plants in the flower box regularly as soon as the substrate on the surface is noticeably dry. Winter drought stress is the most common cause of total failure of winter plants in balcony boxes.
Tip
The bar is set high when it comes to creatively planting the flower box on the north side in winter. You can solve the design problem with winter-attractive, frost-resistant ornamental grasses. A prime example is the magical forest marbel (Luzula sylvatica 'Solar Flair'). The yellow-green summer stalks turn a furious golden yellow in winter, so that the grass harmonizes wonderfully with the shade-tolerant Christmas roses (Helleborus niger).
