Experienced balcony gardeners can give full-length lectures on the topic of care. Basic measures for beginners in hobby gardening usually go unmentioned. These 3 care tips are intended for beginners and explain fundamental work involved in the successful cultivation of balcony plants.
How do you care for balcony plants properly?
To optimally care for balcony plants, you should water them regularly when the soil surface dries, apply liquid fertilizer after a month and remove wilted flowers. Annual plants can be repotted in summer, while perennials should be repotted in spring.
Watering balcony plants – consistency is key
Immediately after planting, you can start caring for balcony plants by watering your floral plants thoroughly for the first time. From this point on, the substrate should neither dry out nor be dripping wet. We have summarized the most important key points for a professional water supply for you below:
- Water balcony plants as soon as the soil surface has dried
- Water in the morning and evening on hot summer days
- Let stale water run directly onto the substrate
- Do not spray leaves and flowers with water
Please do not water your balcony plants if you suspect them. Beforehand, insert a finger 2 cm deep into the substrate. Don't feel any moisture, it will be watered.
Administer flower fertilizer – replenishment of used energy
The lavish floral display devours huge amounts of nutrients. You can compensate for the high energy consumption of your balcony plants with a liquid flower fertilizer. One month after planting, the reserves in the pre-fertilized substrate are used up. From this point on, add a liquid fertilizer (€12.00 on Amazon) to the irrigation water once a week in the dosage specified by the manufacturer.
Cleaning up wilted things – care for a well-groomed appearance
Withered petals stick together and affect the beauty of balcony plants. By cleaning out everything that has faded every 1 to 2 days, your flowers will shine in new splendor. You can read the correct procedure for popular balcony plant species below:
- Petunias and phloxes: pinch out with index finger and thumb
- Geraniums: break off the withered flower stalk at the base
- Roses: cut off dead flowers with scissors just above the next pair of leaves
While annual balcony flowers bloom nonstop, perennial balcony plants sometimes take a break from blooming, such as lobelias or ice begonias. If you cut back all shoots by a third, a picturesque bloom will appear after a short time.
Tip
Repotting is on par with watering, fertilizing and cleaning out in the care program for balcony plants. Annual perennial bloomers have often completely rooted through the flower box in the middle of summer, so it is advisable to move to a larger container with fresh soil. For perennial potted plants, however, the best repotting date is in spring.