All efforts to choose the best balcony plants for the winter will be in vain if the floral beauties freeze. Statements about frost hardiness in stores lull balcony gardeners into a false sense of security because the information always refers to bedding plants. This guide explains how you can overwinter your balcony plants intact with little effort.
How can you overwinter balcony plants in winter?
To overwinter balcony plants in winter, you should remove withered flowers and dead leaves in late autumn, cover boxes and containers with insulating materials, place them on wooden blocks or Styrofoam plates, spread a layer of leaves, straw or bark mulch on the substrate and Continue to water regularly if necessary.
Winter protection begins in autumn – tips for preparation
In late autumn, a check-up is on the care program to prepare balcony plants for the rigors of winter. Withered flowers and dead leaves must now go. Inspect each plant for pests and diseases using a magnifying glass and cut off affected shoots.
Effective and uncomplicated – cold protection for boxes and buckets
In time before the first frost, equip your balcony box with a warming coat and an insulating base. The following precautions will ensure that your balcony plants overwinter he althy and happy:
- Cover the box and bucket with several layers of fleece (€49.00 on Amazon), jute ribbons or bubble wrap
- Place containers on a block of wood or Styrofoam plates
- Spread a layer of autumn leaves, straw or bark mulch on the substrate
- Put a breathable fleece cover over woody balcony plants in the first two years
Please do not turn off the water supply in winter. Drought stress is by far the most common cause when balcony plants do not survive the cold season. Check the soil surface regularly using a finger test so that you can water promptly if necessary.
Tip
Before planting your balcony plants in boxes or pots, please fill the container with drainage. An approximately 5 cm thick layer of inorganic materials reliably prevents the formation of waterlogging caused by rain, snow or irrigation water. Clay shards, pebbles and expanded clay are well suited for this purpose.
