Cassandra Radcliff has another great article to present today on the topic of the best plants to try for your balcony garden when sunlight isn’t too abundant…check it out:
Beginner Balcony Garden Plants
If you have a black thumb and kill every plant you touch, if you’re new to gardening or if you just don’t want to be out in the garden every day, the beginner balcony garden plants listed below may be for you. They are easy to keep alive and low-maintenance. Just water them and prune them every so often, and you can have an easy-to-keep garden with just a little work!
The most important thing you should do when planning an easy garden is to first assess your space. If you don’t want to fight to keep your plants alive, make sure you choose plants that will thrive in your growing space. Two common types of balcony garden situations are shady balcony gardens, and hot and sunny balcony gardens.
Shade on balcony gardens is very common. Many apartment or condo buildings have awnings or other balconies above the balcony garden, which block light. Many urban apartments are situated next to tall buildings that block light. Five easy plants that will grow well in shade are:
1. Boston fern
2. Pothos or philodendron plant
3. Dracaena varieties
4. Arrowhead plant
5. Spider plant
Hot and sunny balcony gardens are also common. Southern-facing balconies in warm climates may have no shade at all from trees or other buildings. Five easy plants that will grow well in hot, sunny conditions include:
1. Lavender
2. Morning glory
3. Bougainvillea
4. Sage
5. Aloe vera
Morning glory flowers and bougainvillea can easily be trained to grow up a trellis or some other structure, which may eventually help block some light so you can keep other plants that do well in cooler and less sunny conditions. The plants may also keep your balcony and your apartment a little cooler by blocking the harsh sun. Plants under hot, dry sun will dry out quickly. To cut down on maintenance, purchase self-watering containers or make your own (read DIY Self-Watering Plant Containers at BalconyContainerGardening.com for more information). Choosing drought-tolerant plants for hot, sunny spots will also help cut down on maintenance.
If you succeed with these easy plants, you may want to venture out into more plants that will need a bit more care and attention. Good luck getting started on your balcony garden! You will no doubt get addicted to urban gardening. -Cassandra Radcliff