An e-mail from Ellen:
Hello AT, Sooo, I got a new condo with a nice big balcony. I thought: plants! But the selection at Home Depot is despairingly overwhelming and I am racked with indecision. What kinds of plants/flowers arrangements work well on SoCal balconies? California wildflowers? Creepy viney things? Herbs? What about pot selection (hanging, round, rectangular)? Please give advice. Thank you!
(NOTE: This is NOT Ellen's balcony, but I'm sure there are plenty of AT:LA readers that have experience in this- Chime in guys!)
Plants are a wonderful way to add character, a little bit of nature, and softness to any outdoor space. We think the first thing you should consider is if you get a lot of sun or shade on your balcony. Succulents are always a nice easy to care for option, and gerraniums seem to do well in our So Cal climate as well. Herbs can be wonderful and are great in containers, but they do need attention. As for type of containers, we think it all depends on what type of style you are going after. French provincial garden vibe? Urban modern oasis? Do you like the look of many little pots grouped together, or perhaps a few raised ones in square modular pots maybe more to your taste? There are a lot of choices available. If you hurry, Ikea might still have some cool and more contemporary containers left over from the spring/summer sale. Here is nice site with some tips on conatiner gardens. What does everyone else think?
Hey, Ellen. Please elaborate a bit... Which direction does your balcony face; and how much sunlight does it get during the day? Wherever you decide to buy your plants, explain to the salesperson what type of light you get. Also, Jon brings up a good point: How do you plan to use the space; and what kind of vibe are you going for?
When I lived in a place with a long but narrow balcony (south-facing with all-day sun exposure), I used the space as a chill space to look out on (but not visually fight) an unobstructed 180-degree city view. So I kept things minimal: simple white modern outdoor cafe table and chairs, simple, rustic-looking reclaimed teakwood chair and sidetable, one large, clean-lined palm plant, and a small storage locker topped with a hearty African succulent plant. Both of these plants were hearty and thrived in full sun.
In comparison, I currently live in a space in which the shaded north-facing patio only gets partial sun during the Spring/Summer months. So I chose other varieties of palms that were better suited to shaded conditions. Since there was no direct sun, the horsetail reeds and succulents I had originally chosen for the space didn't do well under those conditions at all.
So it really comes down to the specific conditions of your patio.
I'm from vermont originally so when I moved here I tried all manner of planters and plants on the balcony. My balcony faces west so it only really gets sunny in the afternoon...
Herbs seem to work best. Basil, dill, and scallions will pop right up. I grew one good tomatoe but that's it for the vegetables.
I'm just not sure there is enough sun for much more than an herb garden...
Loewe's sells nice wrought iron hangers and pine boxes that will work on the balcony. They are as elegant a solution as I was able to find and do not obstruct the view at all. Good luck!
Sydney's weather is very similar to SoCal.
When I had a gardenia dying on my balcony, I phoned the advice centre at the Botanical Gardens. The guy I spoke to made me feel like a serial killer. He told me there is no such thing as an indoor plant; and asked me one questions: Does the gardenia get wet when it rains. Wind is another killer; also salty air.
My balcony is bay shaped and the bay gets scalding hot in summer & is in deep shadow in winter. Succulents are the only plant I can't kill easily. Anything else I treat as an annual.
Hi, I know this is an old post, but I hope someone reads my question. I love the design of that balcony's floor in the image above. Does anyone know where I can get those little wood platforms, and if they have a technical name that I can use to search for them?
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