BALCONY GARDENING

The basis of gardening is the soil, the environment! Only really healthy plants can be grown in balcony boxes or pots, because in many cases the garden soil is infected, of poor quality, with low nutrient content, compacted, or just too loose in structure.

The quality, composition, and structure of the soil significantly influence the success of cultivation. The soil in balcony boxes and pots can compact significantly as a result of regular watering. Root acids of plants also promote the degradation of the structure. In order to prevent this, buy high-quality potting soil. We can also use coconut fiber to improve the water retention capacity, but this can only be a maximum of 20% of the amount of soil. As a sponge, it absorbs and stores water, if it is mixed with potting soil in larger quantities, it can cause rotting of the root system. Phosphorus is released during its decomposition, which has a favorable effect on flowering and fruit setting.

The choice of balcony boxes and pots make sure to use deeper balcony boxes and higher tiles if possible. If you have space, it is worth using patio boxes for larger vegetables or fruit-bearing plants. This is important because if there is more soil in the pot, the water balance is much more balanced. A common question is whether we answer plastic or ceramic, earthenware pots. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Plastic pots are easier to move, easier to clean, and cheaper. On the other hand, the salt accumulation appears on the sides of the clay pots, and more attention should be paid to their watering. The pot absorbs a significant amount of water from the potting soil, so it may require more frequent watering, but due to evaporation on the surface of the pot, it cools the entire ball of earth, thereby providing a more favorable microclimate around the plant.

Regular watering is essential for the proper development of plants nutrient supply. The high-quality flower fields are approx. they contain enough nutrients for three weeks. Also, due to frequent watering, there is significant leaching of nutrients, especially nitrogen that is easily soluble in water, which is necessary for growth. We can ensure a uniform supply of nutrients with controlled nutrient release fertilizers, but we can also use nutrient solutions on a weekly basis. Anyone who wants to apply natural nutrient supplementation in an environmentally conscious way can access more and more nutrients of organic origin: pelleted fertilizers, plant extracts and juices.

THE for variety selection in the case of each plant group, we will discuss separately what aspects must be taken into account. In addition to their growth potential, they are influenced by many environmental factors that we would not even think about. One of these is solar radiation reflected from the walls, as well as heat. Often, plants planted in gardens in the sun can burn on a south-facing balcony, this is all due to reflected heat and solar radiation. This is why even more attention must be paid when choosing the varieties, but we can also improve the microclimate with one or two humidifying irrigations per day.

They can also often appear on the balcony pathogens, pests. A common problem is that they move from the vegetation on the street to the balcony plants. In this case, we can choose from the plant protection products used in the garden, but their application requires a lot of attention. Make sure that the chemicals do not drift onto the neighboring balcony or onto the street. In the case of ornamental plants, we can also use insecticidal sticks, which are easy and safe to use. It destroys pests by entering the sap circulation of the plant.

Happy gardening!