How Do I... Choose Plants for My Balcony?

You can create a beautiful balcony garden with even the tiniest amount of space – here's how to pick the right plants

Georgia Madden 3 November 2017

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In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning design and decorating questions. Here, Mark Paul, director at The Greenwall Company, reveals how to choose and care for balcony plants.

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Not having a garden doesn’t prevent you from enjoying a connection to nature – simply create an outdoor oasis on your balcony instead. Beautiful planting is good for the soul and can detract attention from even the blandest or most unsightly of views.

The key is to choose plants that suit your balcony’s aspect, and a planting layout that maximises floorspace so you can move comfortably around whatever space you have available.

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Do you need a huge balcony?
Not at all. If your balcony is small or awkwardly shaped, the key is to minimise mess with planting that won’t crowd out the space and create unnecessary clutter. A greenwall – or vertical garden – is one of my favourite options, as it makes use of your wall space without taking up any floorspace.

Alternatively, consider a series of long narrow pots framing the perimeter of the balcony that will take up a minimal amount of room, while adding a touch of nature to your alfresco area. Having them at different heights will give you a sense of an enclosed garden space.

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What to consider
Your balcony’s aspect is the main thing to think about when choosing plants. Your balcony has its very own microclimate, so you need to assess how much sunlight and wind your space receives. A windy balcony, for example, is not the best spot for hanging plants as they will simply blow around, while certain plants won’t cope well with too much sun or shade.

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You should also be realistic about how much attention you’ll be able to give your plants, as some require more care and watering than others to thrive.

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Other factors to consider
Irrigation: How and when you will water your plants. Is there a tap on your balcony where you can connect a hose? If you’re time-poor, automating your irrigation system is a great idea and doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Drainage: If you’ve decided to water manually, assess whether your balcony has suitable drainage – the last thing you want is for water to drip onto the neighbours’ balcony below. You should also consider drainage in the plant pots themselves. Ones made of porous materials, such as terracotta, offer better drainage than plastic pots.

Potting soil: Be sure to choose potting soil that suits the plants you’ve chosen in order for them to thrive.

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Best plants for balconies
My top four plant picks for balconies are:

bromeliads
aroids
begonias
epiphytic cacti

They are all hardy, wind-resistant, relatively low-maintenance and have low water requirements.

Succulents such as epiphytic cacti are a particularly appealing option if you lead a busy lifestyle, as they will survive missing the odd watering.

A splash of colour
If you’re looking to add colour and punch to your balcony garden, one of my favourites is brachychiton, a native deciduous plant that boasts beautiful red flowers over summer and plenty of thick green leaves.

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Tell us
Have you mastered the art of the balcony garden? Tell us about it in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.

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