Cultivating a balcony garden can be cathartic and rewarding; it can also easily be frustrating and disappointing if you don’t do your research before you start planting. The reality is that even if you have prior gardening experience, gardening in a balcony setting comes with its own unique set of obstacles and limitations. Factors such as sun and wind exposure, the height of your building, and even your lifestyle will all come into play when planting on a balcony. Luckily, combatting those factors is as simple as acknowledging them and then selecting your buds and blooms accordingly.
Begonias
If you have a shady balcony, begonias are a feasible pick. They are easy to maintain and will thrive and bloom in light shade.
Geranium
In addition to being notably fragrant and user-friendly for novice growers, geraniums only require four to six hours of sunlight a day. They make great container companions, even during the wintertime, when they can be kept indoors.
Impatiens
This cheerful annual are actually partial to deep shade, making them a good pick if you live in a building with an inverted or semi-enclosed balcony.
Verbena
On the other end of the sun-exposure-spectrum, verbena comes in either annual or perennial form, and are of the heat and drought tolerant variety. This bloom should be planted in late spring or early summer, and will do well if your balcony gets ample persistent sun.
Rosemary and Thyme
It may come as a surprise, but herbs will do surprisingly well when grown in a balcony setting, given their reputation for being sun and drought, as well as wind, resistant. They also won’t take up much room, making them a great choice for small balconies.
Fuchsia
Morning sun or a mix of sun and shade make ideal growing for fuchsia. That said, it’s germane that the roots of the bloom say hydrated, so if you live in a high rise and your balcony gets heavy wind, ensure you are frequently watering your fuchsia to prevent the roots from becoming dry.