The sun and the heat can make the balcony a hot spot for some plants, but not all. These plants are suitable for a hot balcony.
Mediterranean conditions prevail on a toasty balcony, which you should learn from when choosing plants for a hot balcony.
The leaves of sun-tolerant plants are often thick and waxy, which helps them store water.
The plants should be planted in large pots, where they are not so sensitive to dust, because moisture is preserved longer in a large pot of soil than in a small one.
Plants on a hot balcony can be protected from excessive sun with, for example, shading curtains or awnings. On a glazed balcony, opening the windows and ventilating help with the heat.
On a sunny, hot and toasty balcony, daily temperature fluctuations can be large. During the day, the balcony can be scorching hot, but at night the temperature drops.
Read also: How to cool a hot balcony? We listed 7 tips that keep the temperature under control
Hot balcony plants
From ornamental grasses to a sunny, even toasty, balcony, a decorative sauce is suitable (Calamagrostis x acutiflora), hopeatoppo (Koeleria glauca) and dress (Festuca Glauca-group).
Depending on the size of the pot, ornamental grasses require watering every few days. In summer, nutrient-rich planting soil is sufficient as fertilizer. The species are perennial, so you can try them over the winter by moving them to a cool place.
The thick, waxy leaves of succulents store water in themselves, so the plants survive without constant watering. In case of a rainy summer, it is recommended to plant the seedlings in a permeable, sandy soil, so that the plants do not suffer from excessive moisture. It’s good for me to water the surface deeper and take a break for a few days. Succulents rarely need fertilizer.
Corn lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) thrives in pots on a sunny balcony, as long as it is watered regularly. Watering every few days according to the weather and the size of the pot ensures that the plant does not suffer from dryness. Fertilizer should be added to the irrigation water weekly. Lavender can be tested for winter by moving it to a cool and bright place in autumn.
Blood lily tree (Cordyline fruticosa) thrives in a bright place but not in direct sunlight. On a sunny balcony, place a palm-like seedling on the floor in the shade of the railing. Blood lily trees can be green, red or brown-leaved, and the tassel-like nature brings exoticism to the balcony plants. Water the blood lily tree regularly so that the soil does not dry out. Fertilize every couple of weeks during the summer season. Trout can be overwintered at room temperature.
Summer plants for a hot balcony
Decorative purslane (Portulaca grandiflora) is perfect for sunny balconies. It has thick rounded leaves and flowers can be red, yellow or white. Water ornamental purslane like succulents. As a potted plant, the rock plant does not really need fertilizer. You can try wintering inside in a cool and bright place.
velvet flower (Tagetes spp.) can withstand many types of weather, including roasting. Edible flowers are yellow, orange or white. Water and fertilize like other summer flowers several times a week, but velvet flowers can also survive drying out of the soil. Pick off the withered flowers in time, unless you want the plant to produce a seed crop.
Read also on Anna.fi: Privacy protection for the balcony – 5 solutions that allow you to be safe from prying eyes
Herbs for a sunny balcony
Rosemary (Rosemary officinalis) tolerates heat and drought well. The foliage is needle-like and fragrant. Plant rosemary in soil mixed with sand. Water the soil properly at once and let it dry between waterings.
Nutritious planting soil and a few fertilizings during the summer are sufficient as fertilizer. Rosemary grows slowly, so it should be winterized. A suitable place for wintering is a bright and cool space of 5–10 degrees.
Timjami (Thymus vulgaris) i.e. tarja-juuroo is a sparrow-like herb that loves the sun and roasting as well. Plant the seedling in a pot with sand added to the planting soil – or use sandy herb soil for herbs in dry places. Water sparingly, like rosemary, and there is almost no need for fertilization. Winterize thyme in a cool and bright place or grow the herb as an annual.
Hot balcony plants that can be harvested
Eggplant is an annual useful plant, the cultivation of which is similar to the cultivation of tomatoes. The heat-demanding species can be grown on a sunny and sheltered balcony. Eggplant requires a long time to grow seedlings, so the seeds are sown in pre-growing pots already in spring and winter.
Seedlings are planted outside at the beginning of summer when the danger of frost has passed. Watering and fertilization are needed throughout the summer. The vegetation and flowers should be pruned a little so that the plant can bear fruit. Pollination is ensured by shaking the seedlings during flowering.
An olive tree in a clay pot fits the Mediterranean theme. Especially large olive trees with trunks are expensive, so you should try wintering them as houseplants. It works best in a bright and cool place, the suitable temperature is 5–10 degrees.
Take the plant to the shade on the balcony in the spring and protect it from the frost with growth gauze. After getting used to the increased light, the olive can withstand the sun. Water and fertilize the plant regularly. Even if the leaves have fallen in the winter, the plant turns green quickly during the summer.
Citrus trees are primarily grown as green plants for the home, but they can be taken to the balcony for the summer. Plant the citrus in sandy soil, water and fertilize regularly during the summer.
Bring back to room temperature or even a few degrees cooler for the winter. Reduce watering and fertilization according to the light and temperature of the wintering place. Move the citrus to the balcony at the beginning of summer. Malta waits until the danger of frost is over. Shade the seedlings for the first few days so that the press does not burn.
Source: kotiliesi.fi
