The tradition of decorating a balcony with flowers came to us from Western European countries.
Creating a heavenly place to relax on the balcony, its owner fills not only his corner with bright colors. Brings out beauty for all people. Makes the world more beautiful.
There are no universal recommendations for filling the balcony space with green plants. The main decisions are made based on the area of the balcony, orientation relative to the cardinal directions and its type (presence of glazing).
The most important aspect is the load-bearing capacity of the structure. Additional load in the form of heavy boxes with earth can make going out into fresh air unsafe.
Types of flower containers
The container for the balcony has the following design features:
- by mounting method: on a suspended wall (using holders), railings, on the floor or outside the balcony;
- by size - for single and multiple flowers;
- by material: ceramic, plastic, wood, metal, stone;
- color and shape.
Advice! Balcony boxes must have sufficient strength and a long service life under the influence of external factors - rain, wind, sunlight and temperature changes.
Bracket or hooks for plant pots
Hanging flowerpots can be placed on the balcony as follows:
- Place them behind the balcony. For this, special brackets or hooks are used. On one side they are attached to the railing, and on the other they are stands for the box.
- Place pots on the walls of the balcony. For this, rope or metal brackets are used that are attached to the wall.
- Hang the pot from the ceiling. Rope holders are used for this.
If the flowers are placed on the windowsill, then you can use multi-tiered flowerpots.
Capacity requirements
In addition to the criteria described above, it is very important that the boxes conduct heat well and provide oxygen access to the root system. It is better to use lightweight plastic structures as hanging containers. A wooden or ceramic container is suitable for flowers on the floor.
Advice! When calculating the maximum container volume, it is important to take into account the mass of soil after watering.
Not least important is the color of the box. If the balcony is located on the south side, it is better to choose light-colored containers that will repel the sun's rays and prevent the plants from overheating. The selection of a specific shade depends on the design of the room. Accordingly, dark containers that attract sunlight are suitable for northern balconies.
Which mount is better to choose?
The choice of a particular type of fastening depends on where it will be used. If you plan to use it outdoors, then it is better to purchase metal products.
If the mount is used indoors, then you can choose wooden or plastic mounts. The selected mount must meet the following requirements:
Based on the type of design, it is better to choose hanging or basket options. They are easy to use and have an attractive appearance.
How to choose a box for a balcony?
The shelves in which flowers will be stored must provide the ability to care for plants:
- Containers must be equipped with drainage holes with a diameter of 10 mm. This will ensure the drainage of excess moisture and reduce the risk of root rotting.
- The box should be equipped with a tray with 3 cm sides, in which excess water will accumulate.
- The container must match the plant variety. Large flowers will not get along in small pots. A box that is 2 cm larger than the root system with a lump of earth is considered optimal.
- It is not always convenient to care for plants in small containers.
The hanging pot must have appropriate mounting, brackets and a stand. To install the shelf on the balcony railing, rope fasteners are used inside and brackets outside the room.
Fastening materials should be strong and reliable, but not flashy. The leading place on the balcony should be given to the composition, not the pot. If you add decorative elements to the container, for example, a wicker flowerpot, the balcony will turn into a picturesque corner.
Boxes with railings
Such containers are used to place plants on the railings of an open balcony. The boxes are equipped with metal holders, with the help of which they are mounted outside or inside the room. In a narrow container, plants are planted in one row, and in a wide and spacious container - in two.
Article on the topic: We decorate windows with curtains in a new way (+42 photos)
Floor box
In addition to the railings, plants also fit well into the floor surface. First of all, this applies to bushes. The container is located on stands with wheels. It is also good for planting vegetables. In open balconies, absolutely all containers must be well secured so that they do not fall to the ground from a gust of wind or rain.
Wooden boxes
Such structures are fixed on the railings or open partitions of the balcony. Special holders are used for fastening. Sometimes they are mounted into the frame of the balcony itself. Brackets can also be purchased at the store. They are sold both separately and as a set with a pot.
Advice! Even floor boxes should be installed on wooden shelves or wrought iron stands. Such compositions will complement the interior decor.
Boxes with automatic watering system
Self-watering pots are equipped with a water tank. It enters the root system through the drainage layer through capillary tubes. But for the system to function properly, the plants must reach a certain length in the ground. To do this, they are pre-watered in the usual way. Boxes with an automatic watering system greatly simplify plant care. It is enough to fill the tank once and you can forget about the need to water the flowers for three months.
Removable railing hangers
In addition to decorative functions, flower holders help plants give them the desired shape. Removable holders for flower pots are divided into several types.
T-shaped
Attached to the wall by screwing. Advantages: reliable fastening of the pot, durability. Disadvantage: not very beautiful appearance.
U-shaped
Attached to the wall using screws. Pros: strong and reliable type of fastening. Cons: not easy to use, unattractive appearance.
With hook
Attached to the ceiling or to a special bracket. Pros: easy to use, beautiful options available. Cons: not very strong and stable.
Slip-on
Equipped with hook-shaped fastenings. With their help, the pot can be hooked onto the railings inside or outside the balcony. Snap-on mounts also allow you to hang pots from the ceiling or wall.
Advantages: large assortment, reliable fastening, beautiful appearance. Disadvantages: high cost.
Basket
Attaches without screwing. Attached to the wall, ceiling, outside and inside the balcony. Advantages: different design options, the pot sits tightly in such fasteners. No deficiencies were identified.
What flowers can be planted on the balcony?
Large boxes are used for planting single plants, which will be located in the corners of the room. Plants are planted in groups in rectangular containers. In a box 1 m long you can plant 8-10 plants of five species. It is important not to mix fast-growing varieties with slow-growing ones. Because, for example, petunia will not allow other plants to sprout.
Tall flowers (about 40 cm tall) should be placed in the background, medium-sized flowers should be placed in the middle, and the front part should be filled with climbing varieties. With this arrangement, the end surface will be covered with vegetation, and the shoots will hang down by 30-40 cm. Such a composition can fill the space under the containers.
Advice! In summer, indoor flowers can be placed in a pot without replanting.
The shelves should be located at the same level so that watering is uniform and the water spreads over the entire area of the pot.
How to select plantings?
Plants are living organisms that need proper care. As mentioned earlier, the overall appearance of the composition depends on the arrangement of the flowers in the pot. Therefore, you need to know some features of planting selection:
The placement of plants depends on the type of balcony (glazed or open) and the side of its location (sunny or shady). Only hardy plants can be placed on an open balcony. Flowering plants should be placed on the sunny side. But it is important to remember that direct rays have a detrimental effect on any plantings. That is, even a light-loving plant will dry out in direct sunlight.
Canna and African agapanthus grow well in large pots. Phlox, zinnia and tobacco can be placed in one container. Petunia from July to October stands out among other plants. You can also place herbs on a bright balcony: mint, basil, coriander, sage, parsley.
Climbing plants look amazing on a balcony located on the south side. Honeysuckle, Chinese lemongrass, ornamental beans, sweet peas, and nasturtium darken the windows from the scorching sun on high floors.
The sun shines well in the morning on the balcony on the shady side. Therefore, balsam, begonia, fuchsia, tagetes and others should be placed here. Hanging plants should be placed in hanging containers that are not very heavy. These are shade-tolerant plants.
Related article: DIY mirror decor: creating an original element to decorate a room
Brackets for balcony boxes: varieties and recommendations
Flower lovers living in the city often have problems with growing them. There is not always enough space in the apartment for flower pots, so the balcony has become a favorite place for gardeners. You can safely secure flowers on the balcony using special brackets, which are available in almost any hardware store.
Homemade pots
If you are not satisfied with standard vases, then you can make your balcony flower bed exclusive using homemade pots. They can be made from a wide variety of materials: wood, plastic, plywood, metal, chipboard. The main advantage of homemade pots is their low cost. You can, of course, buy a ready-made solution in a store, but it’s better to make an original box yourself. Such products are versatile, practical and will fit into any design.
Pipes
Metal can be used not only for fastening, but also for making a pot. You need to cut a rectangular hole in the pipe using a grinder. Its side parts should be sealed or soldered. Such a pot should be placed on a stand in the form of a regular shelf so that it does not tip over.
Advice! Using the same algorithm, you can make a pot with your own hands from a plastic pipe.
Bottles
Plastic bottles of unusual design can be used to make cashlos with your own hands. It is enough to cut off the top of the bottle, split or twist the edges. Make small holes on the sides through which you can stretch the rope.
Advice! A cough made of painted plastic looks more impressive.
Shoes
You can make unusual balcony galoshes from old rubber shoes. To do this, just decorate the sock with glitter.
Dishes
You can make an enamel pot with your own hands from a saucepan. To do this, you need to make holes in the bottom through which the remaining moisture will escape, and then decorate the surface of the pan with paints or draw a design using stencils.
Wooden box
To make a box for storing flowers with your own hands, you will need wooden shelves, nails, glue and varnish, and tools - a grinder and a screwdriver. The shelves need to be treated with a special impregnation and then varnished. Only in this case will the pot serve for a long time. After the preparatory work, you can coat the surface with enamel of any color.
Advice! An ordinary bucket can serve as a container for a large and heavy plant.
To make a wooden pot, you will need:
- dye;
- metal corners;
- stain;
- screwdriver;
- pieces of foam;
- drill;
- wooden slats and shelves, 2 centimeters thick;
- glue;
- saw;
- roulette;
- ruler.
Advice! Before starting work, you need to calculate the dimensions of the container. It is not necessary to match the product drawing to the dimensions of the container. But when increasing the volume, all coefficients should be multiplied by an equal amount.
Work algorithm
First you need to prepare two rectangular shelves. The minimum height of plywood is 20 cm. The length is selected according to the dimensions of the future product. It depends on how many pots will be installed inside. The holder of the structure will be another rectangle of the same height, but shorter in length.
Slat length = Slat length + Drawer bottom
Wood glue is used to secure the future box. The wooden edges are folded into a square product. The slats are attached to the corners first with glue and then with self-tapping screws or self-tapping screws. To fasten the product from the inside, metal corners are used, which are mounted with screws. Next, you need to drill drainage holes in the bottom and connect it to the main box. A drainage system made of pieces of foam plastic and tiles is already laid out in the finished product. The whole thing is sprinkled with coarse sand on top.
Related article: Ceiling false beams: decor and installation features
Homemade hanging box
For lovers of floral design, a standard solution for arranging flower pots will seem inappropriate. But plants can be placed not only on shelves, but also pots can be placed on brackets or suspended from the ceiling. Such products can also be made by hand. The main secret of this idea is to use a paint container or the same box as a container.
Additionally, you need to prepare the following tools:
- jigsaw;
- two colors of façade paint (for example, red and black);
- nails and hammer;
- thick plywood;
- varnish;
- 4 pieces of wide mirror in a frame.
All frames should be painted red and then dried. You need to cut a square product out of plywood. It will serve as a pallet. In size, it should extend beyond the mirror by 1 cm on each side. The bottom needs to be nailed to the mirror. In this case, the mirror part should look outward. Repeat similar steps with the sides. Using a holder in the form you need to knock down the side walls of all the mirrors.
The final touch is decorating the frames with paint of a different color. You can choose any design you like, but preferably one with an oriental theme. Such a pot will look laconic in any garden or on the balcony. The result of the work should be secured with a layer of varnish. The holder for such a pot can be an ownerless rope.
Material: metal, forged and others
Brackets are made from different materials: wood, plastic, veneer, etc.
- Metal or forged ones are the most expensive. Do not deteriorate when exposed to sunlight. There are different types of models: horizontal (from the wall) and vertical (from the ceiling).
- Plastic holders are an economical option. Durable to use. Their service life is up to 7 years. Not very beautiful in appearance. They do not tolerate exposure to sunlight.
- Wooden fasteners are durable in use. They have a reasonable price. They do not tolerate exposure to moisture. They are only attached to the wall.
Plastic VS Wood
Plastic pots are versatile products. They can be painted and decorated. But such material quickly deforms in the sun. The greenhouse effect from heating negatively affects plants. Finished products have standard sizes. They may not fit on a small balcony. Wooden shelves do not have all these disadvantages. They are durable, comfortable and versatile.
Balcony dimensions
Read more in the article “standard balcony size“
Loggias and large balconies
They allow you to use not only perimeter fencing, but also area horizontal containers. Stepped frames are placed near load-bearing walls. The ceiling surface is used for hanging flowerpots.
Standard designs
Fencing is activated. Light plastic pots and containers are used for hanging on balcony railings and building a horizontal green perimeter.
Small size
The emphasis is on structures mounted on a vertical load-bearing wall. Light containers for growing ampelous plants are attached to it (from the German die Ampel - hanging flower vase).
Improvement of the plastic pot
Holders for pots made of plastic, although they have a universal shape. But you can decorate them yourself.
To decorate the pot you will need:
- waterproof paints: the brighter the palette, the more interesting the result;
- to give a homemade pot a glossy shine, you will need a paint fixative;
- the mosaic effect on the creation will be created by tiles, and it will be attached to putty;
- some decorative elements can be fixed with glue;
- Pots made of natural wood need to be protected from rot and parasites with special impregnation.
- primer, sealant and facade matte varnish.
First, the pot must be covered with acrylic-type soil. After it has dried, you should cover it with white facade paint completely from the outside and 4 cm inward from the top of the box. The next layer is a means for forming craquelures. The final touch is beige paint. Within a few minutes after its application, white cracks will appear on the surface of the pallet. After complete drying, the pot should be coated with varnish in two layers and the stucco molding should be attached. This is how you create original flower holders with your own hands.
Cooking with your own hands
A self-made holder will be more functional and will fit better into the interior.
Before making the holder, you need to determine the location of the flower. If the plant will be placed on the wall, then you can take small boards and connect them in the shape of the letter T. One of the boards is fixed to the wall, and the other is a stand. The support can also be made in the shape of the letter P.
It is easy to make a hanging structure for potted flowers.
To make it you need: several wooden shelves, a strong rope and a drill.
Instructions for making a shelf:
- Drill two holes on each side of the shelf. The diameter of the holes and the diameter of the rope must match.
- A rope is passed through the holes.
- Fix the rope using knots at the required level.
- The stand is secured using a rope.
This stand option is well suited for a window sill or loggia.
The video shows two more options on how to make a metal pendant and holder yourself:
Conclusion
Choosing the right flower box is not difficult. Plantings can be placed in plastic, wooden and ceramic containers. The location of the containers depends on the size and color of the container. The overall appearance of the composition depends on the correct placement of the plants in the pot.
