Balcony gardeners can rely on an almost inexhaustible pool of suitable balcony plant species for every season. The selected flowers, perennials and trees only meet the high expectations if they are planted correctly. These instructions explain how to do it professionally in 6 steps.
How do I plant balcony plants correctly?
To plant balcony plants correctly, create drainage, prepare the plants, place them in flower boxes or pots, fill up the substrate, press it down and water generously. After 6-8 weeks, start fertilizing.
Step 1: How many plants fit in a balcony box?
Flower boxes come in a variety of shapes and different lengths. Regardless of the huge selection of plants, the following rules of thumb have proven themselves in practice for planting:
- Box length 80 cm: 4 to 5 plants
- Box length 100 cm: 6 to 8 plants
- Box length 120 cm: 9 to 12 plants
In the pot you create a decorative appearance with a dominant leader plant in the center, with small and drooping plants at its feet.
Step 2: Create drainage
To protect against waterlogging, flower boxes and pots have holes in the bottom. Drainage prevents the openings from becoming clogged with soil. Therefore, spread a 3 to 5 cm high layer of pottery shards (€6.00 on Amazon), pebbles or expanded clay on the bottom of the container.
Step 3: Prepare plants
Your balcony plants will grow better with a well-moisturized root ball. Place the still potted bales in a container with water. If no more air bubbles appear, the substrate is sufficiently saturated with moisture.
Step 4: Insert flowers, perennials or trees
Fill the flower box or pot halfway up with potting soil. Then pull the culture pots from the root balls and place the plants evenly distributed on the substrate. Please take this opportunity to carefully pull apart heavily compacted root balls to give the roots more space.
Step 5: Fill substrate
Use your hands or a hand shovel to fill in the soil around the root balls and press them down. The substrate surface should extend two finger-widths below the edge of the vessel. This watering edge prevents water or rainwater from spilling over later.
Step 6: Water generously
Finally, water your balcony plants generously. Please let the water run onto the substrate until it runs out of the bottom openings.
Tip
Freshly planted balcony plants can enjoy a rich nutrient buffet in the pre-fertilized substrate. The supplies of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and trace elements are completely sufficient for a period of 6 to 8 weeks. The flowers, perennials and trees are only fertilized for the first time after this waiting period has expired.
