The balcony has long ceased to be a storage room, where"Zealous" owners exposed a variety of trash. Today, more and more people are striving to turn a balcony or loggia into a beautiful flower garden. Our article will help you, finally, do it Spring cares related to plants, more and more begin to attract even people who do not have their own local area. A resident of a metropolis also has the opportunity to provide himself for the whole season such a pleasant "headache" as the hassle of caring for his own mini-garden on the balcony or loggia. In fact, this is not so difficult, and in the simplest form, you just need to water your pets. If you are a real enthusiast, then the matter will not be limited to watering, it will take much more effort and time, but the effect will be worth it. We will tell you about the simplest and most spectacular plants, the presence of which on your balcony will give it a completely new quality. Abundant flowering and greenery will delight not only you, but also passers-by on the street. And the neighbors will envy, and by next spring one of them will take an example from you and also decorate the balcony with flowers. When to start gardening? There is only one recommendation here: when the threat of return frosts disappears. As soon as flowering plants or their seedlings are exposed outside in garden centers, this is a signal to you. Its time to begin! In the Crimea and Stavropol - in early May, in Arkhangelsk and Tomsk - almost a month later. Here are brief characteristics of the most popular due to the high decorativeness of annuals and some perennials, which will most effectively transform the balcony at minimal cost. 
Ways of landscaping the balcony
Depending on the size of the balcony (loggia,terraces), climatic conditions, the amount of sun and the amount of enthusiasm and knowledge, even the smallest balcony can be turned into a real miracle. Obviously, the larger the area, the more opportunities for arranging a real mini-garden right outside the windows. Conceptual approaches can be very different - from a stylish Japanese-style garden (something like a miniature alpine slide or stone landscape) to wild eclectic country style: a riot of flowers in the literal and figurative sense. Even from the simplest and most "everyday" flowering plants, you can get a real jungle. Annual plants, including bindweed vines, will transform the balcony beyond recognition in a few weeks! Not only abundantly flowering plants can decorate a balcony, but also their decorative deciduous counterparts, the main beauty of which is in the variegation and brightness of the leaves. We are not talking yet, because this is a separate topic for an in-depth conversation. 
Petunia
Petunias are indispensable inhabitants of flower beds,flower beds, rabatok, borders, vases, balconies and windows. They give bright fragrant cascades of flowers of all shades of the rainbow, from early summer to frost; sometimes the flowers completely cover the foliage and shoots. Modern hybrid varieties are very decorative, in which the diameter of the flower can reach 12 centimeters. Ampel petunias, which are called surfinia, bloom especially powerfully and irresistibly. The color of large (up to 6 cm in diameter) flowers of surfinias is different, mainly in rich tones with a dark or light pharynx. Petunia is very photophilous (tolerates only weak shading) and thermophilic, it develops better on fertile, light, slightly acidic soils. With the onset of prolonged cold weather and rains, petunia stops flowering, and when good weather sets in, it restarts it again. Petunia is drought-resistant, but with regular watering, it will thank you with more lush beautiful bushes and abundant flowering. Reacts very well to accurate and timely feeding. 
Coleus
Coleus is completely unique in terms ofdecorativeness and ease of care of a plant with fast growth. Coleus are distinguished by an extraordinary variety of shapes and colors of the leaf plate, for which they are appreciated. The lush foliage is the more abundant, the more carefully the owner pinches the peduncles. At the same time, the lateral buds wake up, and a separate bush with good soil turns into a huge bright curtain. The only drawback is weak stems, which are poorly lignified. However, this is useless for an annual plant. Coleus can be called an ideal plant. This species combines brilliant beauty, endurance and unpretentiousness and the ability to grow both indoors and outdoors. Sunlight is the main parameter that greatly affects both the color of the coleus and their growth - choose the most illuminated place for them. 
Our opinion: - When arranging seats for your pets, you need to be extremely careful and produce the fasteners very carefully, especially in the case of hinged boxes and pots. Consider the high windage of plants - the wind should not overturn pots and structures.
Balsam
Balsam with bright pink or red flowersliterally burns the green foliage of the bush. It blooms in natural conditions in warm weather from July to September or even before the first frost. Does not like cold, as it comes from the tropics and subtropics. Its popularity among amateurs is confirmed by the presence of several names: Ogonyok - because of the brightness of the color; Vanka-wet - as a hint of its moisture-loving nature and dew drops, which sometimes appear on the leaves; Impatient - because at the slightest touch of a ripe fruit-box, it bursts. Balsam does not tolerate the cold at all, so you need to plant it on the balcony later, and thanks to its growth rate, in a couple of weeks it will become one of the most noticeable decorations in your mini-garden. 
Verbena
Due to long and abundant flowering,unpretentiousness, a variety of species and varieties, resistance to diseases and pests, verbena is widely used by amateurs and professionals to decorate balconies. The flowers of verbena of hybrid varieties are large, variably colored - from white through pink to red, from lilac to blue; they have a delicate, pleasant aroma. The most intense aroma of verbena manifests itself in a sunny and hot place. The spreading form of verbena bushes with drooping stems allows you to grow it as an ampelous plant. On the balcony, in hanging baskets or in outdoor boxes, verbena gives a real waterfall of greenery and flowers. 
Chlorophytum
Who doesn't know chlorophytum?This is one of the most common indoor plants that perfectly purifies the air. When planted on a balcony, chlorophytum can form a monstrous bush in power (it looks most impressive in a hanging basket) with dozens of drooping yellow arrow stems with numerous rosettes of children on them. The layering can reach several levels - older children also throw arrows with daughter plants. At the same time, the abundance of light allows the chlorophytum to look as bright and elegant as possible due to the white-yellow stripes on the leaves. Hybrid varieties are even more decorative than the usual "wild" form - they have wider twisted leaves of a bright color. We value chlorophytum not at all because of the plain flowers, but for the elegant leaf and exuberant disposition. Doesn't need any maintenance at all, just watering is enough. But when feeding, he responds with gratitude and becomes even more magnificent and luxurious. 
Fuchsia
Due to unpretentiousness, ease of reproduction,The wonderful shape and color of fuchsia flowers have long been a favorite and very common indoor plant. Fuchsias can be planted in hanging baskets (ampelous forms), they can be formed into standard trees or beautiful bushes. It is clear that in our climate, plants must spend the winter in an apartment - either in a glazed and heated loggia (balcony). Flowers, depending on the species and variety, have a wide range of colors - white, pink, red, purple. There are varieties with a double color, terry. It blooms for a long time and profusely, especially modern hybrid varieties. On one plant there can be many hundreds of drooping flowers, for the most part resembling an inch in crinoline. 
Begonia
Begonia is one of the finest plantsdecorating our lives with very beautiful leaves and abundant double flowers. Many species, a huge number of hybrids - hundreds and hundreds. Among them, almost all tolerate the European climate - initially begonia grew exclusively in greenhouses. Today, a variety of hybrid forms and varieties of cultivated forms of begonias are widespread throughout the world. The most popular begonia can be called a tuberous ever-flowering with loose double flowers that delight the eye all season. In addition, it is also unpretentious! And with proper storage of tubers in the spring, you will not need to buy new plants. 
Geranium, Pelargonium
The genus of geraniums (pelargonium) unites about 250species of herbaceous and shrub plants. Under natural conditions, pelargonium grows on mountain slopes, on dry, infertile soils - which is very "useful" for placing it on balconies on the south side. The long-term popularity of pelargonium is facilitated by its unpretentiousness, an abundance of beautiful flowers, ease of reproduction and a long flowering period - from early spring to late autumn. Geranium is ideal for landscaping balconies: it loves fresh air, tolerates both heavy rains and direct sun, it is drought-resistant even in a dry wind (draft). Due to the fact that it is a perennial, for the winter it is necessary either to bring geranium into the house, or to provide its protection from the cold directly by glazing it and heating it with an electric heater. 
Sweet pea
Sweet peas are one of the most beautifulclimbing plants, which is usually used for vertical gardening of balconies and windows, terraces, gazebos and other small architectural forms. Sweet peas gained such popularity due to the unique aroma, exquisite structure of flowers, abundant and prolonged flowering, the richest spectrum of colors: from pure white through all shades of pink and red to dark burgundy and from pale blue and lilac to dark purple and even cherry chestnut. Its additional advantage is that it is an annual, so there will be no problems in the conditions of an open balcony and winter. You just plant new specimens in the spring. The number of varieties exceeds a thousand, so there is plenty to choose from. Naturally, the peas need support in the form of a lattice or guide cables, mesh. The plant forms a translucent flowering "wall" that is very decorative. 
Our opinion: - For beginners, we recommend a choice of soil. It is suitable for universal light soil for flowering plants. Pots should be rather broad than deep, good drainage is required. Fill is not recommended: all plants are easier to bear a short "drought" than even a brief "flooding".
Convolvulus
For some reason forgotten, but once very popularbindweed is distinguished by its rapid growth and long, throughout the season, flowering. Luxurious gramophone in selection varieties have a diameter of 10-12 centimeters and are simply irresistible. Their wonderful property is to close in the evening, that is, your balcony will look different in the early morning than in the evening. If you once plant a bindweed on the balcony, there will be no problems with the sowing material - after each gramophone you will have 67 large seeds-lobules with excellent germination in your hands. Like all the other plants presented, it practically does not require maintenance - except that the lashes are directed in the right direction and watered. 
