Many apartment dwellers might find it inappropriate to plant roses in their balcony. They would rather put more attention on flower boxes for balcony railing instead. However, there are other ways to get the same aesthetic look in your apartment garden planting as is achieved by planting climbing plants. Climbing plants can be used to emphasize the architectural details of a balcony furnishings or even to create a small section of the balcony that is devoted entirely to flowering shrubs or plants. You should consider some of the following guidelines before you select any particular flowering plant for your balcony.
In general, flower boxes for balcony railings should contain three main elements – a flower box, a stake or anchor, and a trellis or railing. A good rule of thumb is that a flower box should be placed at least six to ten feet away from a balcony railing. Since the flower box is usually located directly in the center of the frame of the flower box, it can be an effective way to draw the eye of visitors towards it while they are standing directly behind it.
Most flowering plants that are used to decorate flower boxes for balcony railing are annuals. These plants should be planted and placed in the flower box in the spring, and they should be dug up and stored during the summer. This ensures that new plants will be available to enjoy throughout the winter. There are, however, some perennial plants that can also be planted and placed in a flower box on the balcony railing, although these plants do not last long.
One of the most popular perennials that is used to decorate flower boxes for balcony railing is the California poppy. The California poppy can be given as a single stem plant in the spring, and it can grow up to six or eight leaves as a later season plant. The California poppy is one of the few plants that are capable of growing in both soil and soilless conditions. This makes it suitable for balcony gardens that are not located on a foundation.
Another variety of perennial that is useful in a flower box for balcony gardens is the rambling roses. Rambling roses, which are native to Central and Western Europe, are ideal plants to include in flower box arrangements. They are low maintenance, and they can survive even with minimal amounts of fertilizer. They are best planted in groups of three to five.
Speaking of fertilizer, you should only use a mild brand of fertilizer when planting roses in a flower box. A commercial brand of fertilizer may contain chemicals that can be harmful to the plant. A good quality organic brand of fertilizer that contains copper, sulfur, and manganese is preferable. Gardeners with sensitive gardens may find it helpful to purchase a non-chemical organic fertilizer. If you are concerned about toxicity, you may use a liquid fertilizing agent instead.
If you are interested in using flower boxes for balcony railing plantings, you may want to consider using container gardening. Containers are less expensive than growing plants from seed, and you can have many plants from just one box. To begin your container garden, select several short-growing plants with strong, durable roots that are known for resistance to frost. These plants will provide you with year-round flowers. Continue to supply them with fertilizer, and within two years, your container garden will be blooming.
Do not be afraid to use flower boxes for balcony railing because they provide an inexpensive way to provide year-round flowers for your home or office. Flower boxes can be a great place for you to experiment with indoor gardening. With a little bit of know-how, you can create beautiful flower boxes filled with flowers to accentuate any area of your home or office. You will need some special flower boxes for balcony railing plants, which often come in kits, including a planter base and a stake. After you decide which types of plants will work best with your balcony railing, follow the directions for your particular type of flower box to get started.