Your shade loving balcony plants will bring beauty to your whole space. This is one area where you can let the “green” germinate. For many people, living in the city means exposure to strong sunlight during the day. If you like color, then you will want to include colorful plants that can survive in shade. In fact, you might even want to grow a specimen plant or two in your apartment gardening.
When you have chosen the shade loving plants, then you need to care for them properly. If they are not properly cared for, then they will not survive. This means you need to provide adequate shade conditions for them. Most shade loving plants can survive in southern exposure provided they get the right kind of support and shelter.
You can start off with perennials like Wallflowers. These plants can live in any part of the United States. You just need to make sure that they get enough water and shade. Wallflowers will bloom all year round. However, you do need to make sure that you prune them accordingly so that new growth appears.
Shade loving annuals are another option. They will usually flower in the late summer or early fall. You need to provide adequate support for these plants. Some annuals, such as Aster, require that you fertilize them every month because they are naturally slow growing.
The best plants for shade loving areas are those that are bushy. Busy plants tend to do well in shade. However, Busy plants may become weed feeders over time if you are not using them properly.
You may also want to try using shrubs and herbs. Plants that come up toward the edge of the sun could help keep the roots cool. Basil and mint are two examples of shade loving plants. Both of these herbs will grow fast and spread fast. Mint is particularly good for using around the base of trees.
For shade-loving plants that will flower in the spring you can consider purple coneflower, purple cardinal flower, and purple daisy flower. These plants will bloom in April, although the colors are different depending on what part of the country you live in. Purple coneflower is a perennial that will grow up to four feet tall. It is a composite plant that is good for the area and does not need much attention.
Most shade loving plants are relatively easy to maintain. You only need to take care of a few things to ensure that they are thriving. Most plants can be used year-round. Just remember that planting them in an area that gets a lot of sun is a good idea because it helps to conserve energy for use in the colder months.
Be sure to water the plants well when you get the first sign of drought. They will dry out much more quickly than if you don’t. Most plants will do best if watering early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Be careful when using sprinklers and hoses because too much water can cause your plants to die.
The sun will also help to keep the leaves of most plants green. You might want to use some sort of shady furniture to help filter the sunlight to prevent overheating. Using furniture with removable, lightweight pillows will help too.
Make sure that you fertilize your plants at least once a month during the growing season. Don’t use too much though. This will tend to burn the leaves of the plants. You should try to fertilize every third or fourth month. If you are using a soil-based fertilizer, you can mix some sand in with the fertilizer to ensure that it really makes a difference.
You can enjoy all of these benefits with just a few plants. It’s fun to grow flowers on your balcony as long as you select plants that love the shade and the temperature. You’ll be glad you did!