Shady apartment living has its advantages. You don’t have to run the air conditioning as much. You don’t have to worry about weeds. However, shaded balconies can pose problems, especially for apartment plants for shady balconies. While your plants will do well in an apartment garden, there are few guidelines that will help you make the most of your backyard space.
The first thing is to use hardy, durable plants for your balcony. Sunflowers, such as the California poppy, are very good for balcony gardens. If you don’t have a problem with too many pine needles gathering and don’t want to constantly removing them, gardenias, hostas, astilbes, heuchedra, Columbine and any other perennials would fit in fine in a shady balcony environment. Sunflowers can grow up to 18 inches tall and have a deep green foliage. They tend to grow slowly and you can place them almost anywhere.
Ferns and creeping vines are also very suitable plants for shady areas and are a good choice of plants for shady balconies. Ferns, such as the creeping indigo, will grow happily in almost any kind of climate, from cool, shady areas to hot, sunny ones. They can grow up to six to twelve inches high and have bushy leaves. Ferns don’t tend to have leaves that fall off, so you can leave them hanging over a flowerpot or other small structure in your apartment.
Speaking of flowering plants for shaded balconies, remember that most flowers need partial shade in order to bloom. Rose pedals and catkins are two plants that are often planted in window gardens, but their main appeal lies in their ability to bloom year-round. These easy-to-grow plants are a great choice if you want plants for shady balconies. Plant roses on the side of a rock wall or in a depression in your yard, and keep your catkins out of the rain.
A variety of climbing plants are also very useful if you want to shade your plants from direct sunlight. Since they grow taller than your plants, they provide a nice barrier between the ground and the sky, preventing heat buildup. Ivy is a good example of a climbing plant. In addition to its height, ivy will grow thicker than other plants, which makes it a better choice for your balcony. Make sure to prune your ivy regularly, or else you’ll end up with a lot of dead growth on your wall.
Another great choice of plants for shady balconies is the evergreen shrub. Many varieties are available, including spirea, which is a perennial herb with dark green foliage. Prune the spirea regularly to maintain a dark green canopy over your plants. Some of these annuals may start growing in the spring and bloom all summer long. Some plants for shady balconies are evergreens that are not perennials, so they’re not quite right for all climates. Check with a nursery to find out which plants are best suited for your climate.
One of the easiest, yet most rewarding plants for shady balconies is the bird of prey. These birds love to feed on berries and seeds from sun-loving plants, so your plants for shady areas should show signs of berries and seeds soon after they sprout. You can move plants around after they begin to bloom, but it’s best to put them in their permanent positions as soon as you can. Try to protect young seedlings from harsh winter winds by putting netting over the plants, but don’t cover the entire area; instead, allow an inch or so of open space at each nook and crook.
Don’t be afraid to mix exotic plants with plants for shady balconies. A sunny window will provide the ideal conditions for many flowering plants, so feel free to bring in some of your favorite flowering plants or trees, such as orchids, azalea flowers, and boxwood. Be sure to water them well in the morning when they are new, and keep in mind that you should move plants often during the winter to ensure proper humidity. These tips will help you find the best plants for shady balconies and will help your plants to grow into beautiful blooms.