You don't have a spacious garden and still want your own birch tree? Then here you will find the most important points that you should consider when growing a birch tree on the balcony. With a few tricks you can easily plant the trees in a pot.
Can you grow a birch tree on the balcony?
A birch tree can be easily grown on the balcony by planting it in a pot with sufficient drainage and soil. It requires plenty of sun, moderate fertilization and regular watering, but grows without pruning or repotting.
Birch in a pot – yes or no?
The birch tree is known to be extremely frugal. As pioneer plants that conquer even barren areas as habitats, the resilient trees don't need much to grow well. So if you can offer them as much sun or sunny partial shade as possible, you will have no problem growing a birch tree in a pot on the balcony. The picturesque trees are among the most light-hungry species of all, which is why this requirement is the only binding one.
Planting instructions
In fact, a pot about the size of a cleaning bucket (€1.00 on Amazon) and any soil is sufficient. Whether you use a seedling as a cutting from a free-standing birch tree, grow a birch seedling yourself from seeds or from a shoot, or whether you buy a young birch tree with a root ball, depends on your taste. Plant the tree in the pot as follows:
- Line the bottom of your planter with a layer of pebbles, sand or small pieces of pottery. This way you ensure optimal drainage and harmful waterlogging has no chance.
- Place plenty of soil on top.
- Place the seedling or finished young birch tree as straight as possible in a prepared planting hole.
- Simply fill with soil, tamp down well and water.
Caring for the birch tree on the balcony
Basically, you don't have to cut or repot the birch tree. In fact, the aim on the balcony is usually to keep the readily growing tree as small as possible so that it does not exceed the available space after a while. However, the better the roots can spread, the faster and more intensive the growth will begin. You should keep this motto in mind, especially if there is a lack of space.
The birch only needs fertilization very moderately or not at all. For efficient watering, the bucket can be placed in an immersion bath twice a week in summer until no more bubbles appear in the water.
