Vertical gardens on the balcony. Summer and winter garden on the balcony - technical points and design ideas. Balcony lining from the inside

Unlike the village dweller, who was lucky enough to be close to pure and invigorating nature, it is difficult for a city dweller to find a place, especially near his house, where he could take a break from the round-the-clock bustle and noise, breathe in the purest air and enjoy a marvelous garden, being among flowers and herbs. . Therefore, it is not surprising that he is trying to recreate a similar place at home. The best option in this case is a winter garden on the balcony, which not only decorates the home, but also helps to maintain a decent level of physical and mental health of all household members.

Pedigree of an aristocrat

The history of "balcony" greenhouses is much older than it might seem. Similar winter gardens were equipped in ancient Egypt. However, what kind of winter can be in this arid country? However, according to legend, the Egyptians adopted the principles of decorating balconies with greenery from the northern peoples.

England is considered the European pioneer in terms of arranging "balcony" greenhouses. It was in this country that winter gardens received mass recognition and love. The fashionable foreign trend was also adopted by Prince Grigory Potemkin, the famous favorite of Empress Catherine the Great.

Thus, for the first time, a winter garden on open balcony terraces appeared in rich aristocratic houses, that is, only the "cream of society" could enjoy its luxury.

Today, any city dweller who is in love with nature or who wants to take care of plants in winter. In addition, to equip a decent greenhouse, you do not need to complete anything, it is enough to use a heated balcony or loggia.

The winter garden, according to psychologists, is an effective means of landscape therapy. It is filled with light and purity, it pleases with colors and unique aromas. But most importantly, a blooming garden has a beneficial effect on the mood of everyone around and improves health. This is a unique home oasis that will allow you to stay in the bosom of nature without leaving your apartment.

"Winter Dream" and the conditions for its implementation

In practice, to create an original do-it-yourself winter garden, it is necessary to fulfill three basic conditions: to glaze a balcony or a loggia, and to carry out the necessary lighting. But, of course, the main ingredient of a full-fledged winter garden on the balcony, which determines whether the plants will feel good, is your care for them.

Additional terms:

Reliable tightness. Be sure to seal all cracks and cracks in the walls, on the floor and ceiling through which the wind seeps. Otherwise, the plants will die!
Quality flooring. Whether it's ceramic tiles, linoleum or any other material, you need to take care of its quality. The coating should not be afraid of moisture, which due to regular watering will be enough.
Warm floor. Of course, a warm floor, similar to an additional heating radiator placed on a loggia or balcony, will create an ideal microclimate for tropical plants. Especially if you use a humidifier or air conditioner. Learn more about the device from our separate article.
Shading. The level of light and shading depends not only on the type of plants, but also on exactly where your balcony or loggia is located:

Note: When equipping a heated balcony area with double-glazed windows, even the most capricious plants, for example, tea tree or persimmon, can winter in a warm, humid climate.

Plant selection and composition

Having fulfilled all the necessary conditions and having prepared a room for a winter garden, you can safely proceed to the choice of its future inhabitants. The functionality and originality of winter gardens depend on the competent choice of plants and their harmonious placement.

The beauty of a garden is not related to its dimensions. After all, even the narrowest and most compact room can be designed as a cozy and blooming oasis.

Take note of the successful placement variations:

Mini garden without decor. The easiest and most budget option. The center of the whole composition will be a large plant. Dieffenbachia, palm or ficus often play this role, but yucca and dracaena are also in great demand. They can be planted in the so-called "hidden pot" or in another pot.

In vessels or pots placed around the center, you can plant small plants: spurge, cyperus, calathea, and so on. The window sill is decorated with light-loving decorative Saintpaulias, orchids, hydrangeas, roses or azaleas.

Traditions and the tropic. The composition of the annuals familiar to us - petunias and pelargoniums, combined with tropical plants, looks unusual. Succulents, agaves and regular cactus are great choices for fans of minimalist landscapes.

Tip: When setting up a winter garden, make sure that one large tree does not close access to the sun to another plant.

Care and care

Taking care of the greenhouse, equipped on the balcony, is not for the lazy. The winter garden requires around the clock care and maintenance, especially if you have used capricious plants. Check whether they like the conditions that you have created, whether they feel good.

If there are a lot of plants, get ready for the fact that the time for watering and spraying will go decently. In the process of arranging a garden, it is best to provide the necessary equipment for regulating lighting, temperature and humidity in the room.

It is best to provide for individual watering of each plant. Do not forget to feed the soil - 2 times a week. Conduct regular inspections for pests.

Winter garden design secrets

It is best to decorate the walls in the winter garden on the loggia with natural materials, for example, stone or wood.
Decorate your garden with an unusual mini-pond, and if the dimensions allow, then do not be greedy for the original fountain. Water not only harmonizes with plants, but is also an excellent “moisturizer”: evaporation and moisture will definitely benefit your flowers!
Large plants in solid clay pots look quite original, which can be interestingly placed on the floor and shelves with secure fastening.
The traditional decor option is the use of wicker furniture and a small frosted glass coffee table. Braid not only looks great in greenery, but also perfectly tolerates moisture.
The old rocking chair also looks very bizarre. Such a piece of furniture is perfect for those owners who intend to read and relax in the winter garden.
If there is not enough space to place flowers, buy a functional ceiling rack.

Plants should not only harmoniously complement each other: make sure that not a single bush covers the leaves of a neighboring flower. Do not forget to consider the compatibility of plants. Specific species can be planted in one pot: for example, cordilina and calathea.

Completion

The winter garden is a great place for rest and relaxation. However, the greenhouse itself will not survive: it needs high-quality care, because a flower is a wonderful living organism, which, like people, wants to live in favorable conditions. Provide the winter garden with the necessary amount of light, heat, moisture and, of course, love, and it will delight with its flowering and charge with endless energy of life!

winter garden photo

In this section, we suggest you look at a small collection of photographs on the topic of our article "How to make a winter garden on a balcony and loggia with your own hands."

The space of a balcony or loggia is increasingly being used as a place for relaxation, turning from a warehouse for unnecessary things into a cozy nook for privacy. Complemented by blooming greenery, this square acquires a special relaxing atmosphere.

You can arrange a garden on the balcony both in the warm season and in the winter, when the body especially needs bright colors and positive emotions. But just beautifully arranging indoor plants on the balcony is not enough, especially for the winter version. To create a truly blooming greenhouse, it is necessary to provide for many features, such as: microclimate, harmonious combination of plants, colors and composition.

Summer garden on the balcony creates an atmosphere of comfort

Summer garden

A great option for beginner flower growers to try out the idea of a garden on a balcony in practice is to decorate the space with greenery in the summer. Low requirements for the design features of the site, the ability to use indoor and outdoor plants, simple maintenance - all this greatly simplifies the task.

Requirements for a balcony

You can organize a summer garden on a glazed and open balcony. The most important thing is to take into account the exactingness of plants to sunlight and resistance to atmospheric phenomena.

It is also important to assess the condition of the slab, if it is not very strong or has damage, then it is better to use small and light containers for planting flowers so as not to create excessive pressure on the site.

Humidity, temperature, light conditions in summer are completely conducive to the growth and development of vegetation, so no additional equipment is required. The only thing that should be paid attention to is the ability to shelter the garden from excessive sunlight and precipitation. If the balcony is glazed, you can cope with this with the help of blinds or curtains, on an open balcony it is better to arrange flowers that love light and tolerate mechanical effects of natural origin well: hail, wind, heavy rain.

Plants

If a balcony or loggia will turn into a garden only in the summer, there are several convenient options for decorating with vegetation:

Perennial plants. Outdoor flowers will feel good on the balcony. When the period of flowering and growth is over, the pots need to be covered and put away for storage, and simply re-arranged in the spring. Best suited: carnation, penstemon, delosperm, armeria - they all tolerate cold well and will delight with their appearance until late autumn.
Annual plants. Using these plants, every year you can decorate a balcony in a new style and color scheme. In the fall, containers for planting just need to be freed from the remnants of greenery and removed. Not demanding in care: marigolds, petunia, pelargonium, begonia.
Houseplants. For the summer greenhouse on, which are located in the apartment, the air temperature allows them to be taken outside without compromising growth and development. The main thing is to protect them from direct sunlight, to which most indoor plants are not adapted, and prepare them for the move gradually, that is, first take them out only during the daytime. Feel good on the balcony: palm trees, orchids, hydrangeas.

Plant species can be combined, new ones added annually, or experimented with placement options.

Annual flowers are well suited for a summer garden.

Arrangement of a balcony for a summer garden

Flower arrangements can be arranged in different ways. For example, place pots on the floor, parapet or ceiling, or dilute dense greenery with decorative figures, furniture and lighting.

Particular attention should be paid to the organization of the irrigation system on the open balcony. To prevent excess water from flowing down, you can build home-made drip irrigation structures or provide stands to collect liquid.

It is recommended to equip pots with climbing plants with a support in the form of stretched ropes or let long shoots along the railing. Small flowers are best placed on the windowsill, large ones on the floor. Falling plants will look beautiful suspended from the ceiling.

Winter Garden

In order to create a green island on a balcony or loggia for relaxing in the winter season, it is necessary to carefully prepare the space and choose the right plants. Maintaining the appearance and caring for vegetation when the temperature is below zero is a complex and painstaking work that requires knowledge and constant monitoring.

For a winter garden, the balcony must be insulated with high quality

Requirements for a balcony

The winter garden on the balcony needs a favorable microclimate. You need to start from the balcony itself, the success of the work begun will depend on its technical characteristics.

Temperature.

Frost-resistant plants will feel great in conditions above 5 degrees, for exotic plants it is necessary to maintain a mode above + 18. Optimal performance can be achieved through high-quality PVC profile glazing with double-glazed windows, insulation of walls, floors, ceilings and railings and additional heating, for example, underfloor heating or electric radiators.

Lighting.

In winter, daylight will not be enough. In order for the plants to develop well, additional sources must be provided, they will also serve as decorative elements.

Humidity.

Humidity indicators in the presence of additional heating will tend to go down, in order to maintain a level that is comfortable for flowers, you will need to install special devices - humidifiers, or place water containers throughout the area. Alternatively, you can use decorative waterfalls and fountains.

Air exchange.

In order for the plants to constantly receive an influx of fresh air, it is necessary to ventilate the room, but it is absolutely impossible to do this due to an open flow through the balcony sash - the plants can get sick. It is best to use a ventilation system or air conditioning.

To monitor the constant level of indicators, the winter garden on the balcony must be equipped with special devices that will reflect the microclimate of the room.

It is important to constantly control the indoor climate

Plants

It is necessary to select vegetation for the winter garden, taking into account the characteristics of the balcony. If the windows face south, and the area has a good source of heat and a constant temperature of +18 degrees is provided, you can create a composition of tropical plants. Citrus fruits, palm trees, orchids will live well in such conditions.

The winter garden on the loggia on the north darkened side can be furnished with ivy, ficus, shefflers, chlorophytum and equip the space with artificial light sources. These plants will feel comfortable at a temperature of +5 degrees. Some of them are able to withstand slight frosts.

In order for the winter garden on the balcony to always have an attractive appearance, you can choose plants with different flowering periods for the composition and evenly distribute them over the entire area.

Vegetation must be regularly watered, loosened and fed with complex fertilizers, as the root system grows, transplanted into larger containers. It is advisable to provide pots with soil for drainage so that the plants do not dry out.

Schefflera is great for growing in a winter garden on a balcony

Interesting design ideas for the winter garden

The greenhouse, which will decorate the apartment all year round, can be equipped more thoroughly and in more detail than the summer one.

Composition in a single thematic style. For example, in Japanese or tropical. Vegetation can be supported by appropriate interior elements, furniture and decoration.
Natural style. The natural beauty of flowers can be supplemented with details made of wood: dry twigs, bizarrely shaped snags, panels of colorful autumn foliage. On such a balcony there will be a feeling of a real forest or park.
Unusual forms. You can use a variety of vine support structures to create an arch or to mimic dense rainforest growth.
Accents. Lighting elements at certain points in space, furniture, accessories will emphasize the individuality of the room and give a feeling of warmth and comfort.

The balcony area is often used as a living room or storage place, but if you free it from unnecessary things and decorate it with flowering plants, you can find your favorite place to relax after a hard day. Greenery soothes, the smell of flowers relaxes, and fresh and humid air improves the general condition of the body, so a winter or summer garden is the best solution for this area.

Psychologists have proven that the greenery of plants soothes and relaxes, sets in a good mood and simply pleases the eye. Happy owners of balconies can afford to enjoy the greenery even in winter by making a winter garden. In this article, you will learn how to bring this idea to life.

Types of landscaping balconies

For landscaping balconies, you can use different ways of planting plants, using them both singly and skillfully combining with each other, which will give the winter garden individuality and originality.

Horizontal landscaping - as the name suggests, more attention is paid to horizontal lines. Plant pots are placed on the floor around the perimeter of the balcony. You can use low narrow shelves, racks, flower stands and put plants on them in lines. An excellent option would be to install a bar along the entire window or around the entire perimeter. Planters, balcony flower boxes are hung on it and plants are planted there.

Vertical gardening - here the wall should be fully involved. In this case, weaving plants are indispensable. Along the wall, you can use long narrow pots or flowerpots installed directly on the floor, in which vines are planted. You can install high racks with shelves, and put flowers on them. Phytowalls are also used - special modules where flowers are planted in a composition.

Phytowalls are a new fashion trend in indoor landscaping. And it is worth giving preference to it due to its compactness, automatic watering technology and aesthetics. The phytowall is a structure, the most popular dimensions of which are: thickness about 15 cm, height 2 m and length from 1 m. Plants are planted in special pockets with peat without soil. It turns out a solid "green wall".

Mixed gardening - partial use of horizontal and vertical gardening of balconies. This is the use of linearly placed pots, phytowalls and racks in the overall composition. The main condition is the harmony of space.

We create conditions for plant growth

To create a winter garden, you need a glazed warm balcony without drafts, so you need to close all the cracks, insulate concrete fences with heat-insulating material, and then decorate with PVC panels, moisture-resistant plasterboard, etc.

Heating needs to be considered. You can, for example, install an electric heater and decorate it with a drywall screen. If possible, install an air conditioner to control the temperature of the balcony.

Attention! For good development, indoor plants require a temperature of 15 to 22 ° C.

The concrete floor also needs to be insulated, especially if you are going to use the balcony as a rest room. To do this, make a heated floor or lay an insulated coating.

Attention! When choosing a floor covering, take into account the increased humidity of this room, caused by the need to spray plants.

Air humidity greatly affects the appearance of plants. Due to its excess or deficiency in plants, the decorative properties of leaves are reduced. For a good microclimate, install a humidifier on the balcony (set the humidity control to 80%, this will be enough, as this is the average for many types of plants).

An alternative option is to install pallets with expanded clay under the pots. Pour water into the trays, it will evaporate, and the necessary humidity will be created around the plants.

Lighting on the balcony must be considered regardless of whether you have a sunny side or a shady one. In winter, short daylight hours and plants can stretch due to lack of light. Daylight lamps are suitable for lighting the winter garden. Narrow long lamps can be hung along the ceiling, can be mounted on the wall, but not lower than 2/3 of the height of the balcony. On average, 4 fluorescent lamps will be enough for a standard balcony. The main rule for balconies on the shady sides is more artificial light! It's too hot on the sunny sides in summer, so put up blinds or curtains. Use them during hot hours on sunny days.

Design options for a winter garden, equipped on a balcony

It is important to think over the design of the balcony and style your winter garden. Here are some options for stylistic solutions, choose your style or experiment, make your dream of a winter garden a reality.

The classical style is characterized by harmony, nobility and aristocratic taste. Beautiful stucco columns, artistic parquet, marble, graceful carved chairs, noble expensive finishing materials will create a classic style for your winter garden.

Use large plants such as ficuses and palms in beautiful earthenware or ceramic pots. Install them in a line in cascades. Hang curtains, they will emphasize the aristocracy of the classic style. Furniture suitable antique or elegant forged.

Hi-tech style translated from English "high technology". This is an interior similar to a production room, where communications are paraded. But they are aesthetically pleasing. This style is distinguished by a lot of space and light.

As practice shows, this is the most successful style for balcony gardening. Choose pots of the correct geometric shape, smooth metal surfaces that resemble an intergalactic ship. Use ventilation pipes as supports.

The Japanese style implies the obligatory use of the four elements of the universe - these are water, stone (wood), earth and air. Here everything should cause peace and nothing should overload the attention. The whole interior sets up reflections and philosophy.

Separate a small area on the floor of the balcony, use decorative pebbles on it. Arrange characteristic plants - bonsai. Use bamboo to decorate the wall. Install a water source - a mini-waterfall.

Rustic style (or country) - implies a simple, quiet country house with a beautifully flowering garden. All kinds of wickerwork, natural finishing materials will be characteristic here.

Make a cozy rustic interior on the balcony using wicker furniture and finishing materials that are close in color and texture to natural ones. Pots for flowers can be used clay. Put wicker baskets, and in them flower pots. You can install a decorative fountain - a mill. Choose flowering plants from plants - violets, fuchsia, Kalanchoe.

Wildlife style involves creating a corner similar to natural. It can be Amazonian nature, forest or taiga, or maybe steppe. In this style, many plants and their thickening are welcome. It's like no human has set foot here.

Create an atmosphere of wild Amazonian nature by installing a miniature waterfall on the balcony. Paste a photo wallpaper with an appropriate image or paint the wall yourself. Place plants close to each other so that they create thickets. Try to use different vines and direct them to neighboring plants. To simulate a forest, use numerous trees for the house (thuja, cypress, etc.). Now there are a lot of them for sale. For your "steppe" on the balcony, pick up various cereal plants.

Modern is a style that uses simple forms. Here it is important to emphasize the mobility and functionality of each item. Stucco molding, various carved forms are not typical at all. Welcome the contrast in everything.

Take advantage of the simplicity and conciseness of the Art Nouveau style, using smooth plain surfaces, geometric pots. Play on contrasts in color, texture, size of objects.

Remember! The wall and floor can be the backdrop for the plants, so take the time to decorate them. You can, for example, order and make a background with a 3D effect.

When arranging plants, consider the following rules:

Install all weaving plants along the walls and use trellises for weaving.
It is advisable not to place greenery along the window, as this will impede the passage. If you still want to place some plantings there, be sure to leave the approach to the window so that you can open and close it. Railings can be used with pots mounted or suspended.
If you have conceived a certain composition, then remember about its central part. It should be a dominant (a large, beautiful flower, a mini reservoir, an artificial stone) around which there are less spectacular, but complementary compositional elements.
Make the most of your balcony space. You can install hanging flowerpots with ampelous plants.

Do not forget about spot lighting - it will help to effectively highlight and shade the plants. But don't get carried away, lighting can highlight an average of 1-3 compositional elements. To add a special atmosphere to the garden, use LED lighting.

Sunny side, which plants to choose

Plants for sunny windows are bougainvillea, adenium, cyperus, cacti and succulents, various types of euphorbia. Amaryllis: clivia, hippeastrum, nerina, amaryllis are also photophilous. Pelargoniums, balsams, fuchsias, anthuriums, hibiscus will delight with their abundant flowering on the south window. Sunny places like hoya, jasmine. From orchids, choose Cattleya, who loves bright light. Unpretentious chlorophytum and sansevieria are also suitable. From large plants of monstera, dieffenbachia, dracaena, palm trees, ficuses. To prevent sunburn, hang a light curtain on the windows or use blinds during the hottest hours.

Shadow side, which plants to choose

Nephrolepis and maidenhair (hair venus), zamiokulkas and unpretentious plants - chlorophytums or sansevieria (mother-in-law's tongue) grow well on the shady sides. Ferns are also shade loving plants. Aspidistra can grow even away from a window. Deciduous begonias, dieffenbachia, alocasia, syngonium feel good on the shady sides. Anthurium and Aeschinanthus will grow, but most likely they will not bloom. Palm trees can also be grown on the shady side, for example, bamboo palm, chamedorea, grows well in the shade. Of the large plants, hibiscus (Chinese rose) is suitable. Shade-loving climbing plants are ivy, hoya and cissus (indoor grapes). If you have artificial lighting on the balcony, then you can try and experiment with even more plants. Do not forget about top dressing, they also give a good effect.

Accessories for balcony gardening

To decorate your winter garden, use various additional accessories:

all kinds of pots;
pots-stands;
devices for irrigation, stuck in the ground;
signs-pointers;
stands for flowers floor and hinged;
various supports and fastenings for them;
mini-reservoirs, mini-fountains;
tables and chairs.

Having arranged a winter garden on the balcony, do not forget that indoor plants are a living organism that requires proper care and constant attention.

In this article, we will offer you ideas that will allow you to organize a real garden right on the balcony of your own apartment in order to create a green corner in the center of the metropolis, to please not only guests of the house, but also passers-by.

Petunias are a recognized leader in "balcony" gardening. Unpretentious, bright, pleasing to the eye with a variety of shades, they bloom almost all summer, growing and hanging down with picturesque flower "waterfalls"

Today, inexpensive, lightweight plastic flowerpots are the most popular.

The side walls of the loggia can also be used to organize a home garden. A variety of hanging planters will help create beauty on a previously inexpressive wall.

You can complement the overall picture of a picturesque home garden with figurines, African masks, Chinese bells and other decorative details.

Experts advise choosing plants from the liana family for "balcony" gardens, such as girlish or fragrant grapes, honeysuckle honeysuckle and clematis

Of course, such large flowerpots should be used only on fairly spacious balconies, where shrubs will look great. The only problem is that in our climate, many perennials will not survive the winter, so you have to take care of this separately.

Simple and tasteful - wooden shelves on the side wall of the balcony with colorful pots. Perhaps this garden will not be as noticeable from below as the hanging "waterfalls" of petunias, but it will definitely please the guests of the house

And in this case, the design with glass doors serves as a real greenhouse in which you can grow flowers from the earliest spring, without fear of frost or strong winds.

The hanging garden on this balcony is successfully complemented by an imitation of a lawn, because the more greenery, the better.

Such a green rug, which has become the center of an outdoor recreation area, can also help to simulate a lawn.

On this balcony, brightly flowering plants are perfectly combined with an equally cheerful tablecloth and armchair upholstery. After all, the garden on the balcony is not only flowers, it is also an atmosphere of relaxation, which should take you from the city to nature.

Large flowerpots on legs can hold a variety of flowers, which can be grouped by flowering time and shades, creating a composition that delights the owners throughout the warm period. In addition, it is quite possible to plant greens and spices in such flowerpots, combining business with pleasure.

The owners of this garden chose colorful pots and took the trouble to sign each flower in order to know exactly where it grows and how to care for a particular plant.

Fragrant or girlish grapes over time may well move from the balcony to the roof or windows of a neighboring apartment

Evaluate all the advantages of this invention - pots that are securely attached to the balcony railing. True, they are not too roomy, so you can’t plant large flowers here. But the traditional geranium - please

Even on such a narrow balcony, you can create a picturesque flower arrangement by simply placing pots along the walls and railings. True, the railings themselves were left unused - apparently, the owners simply did not know about the existence of special pots from our previous idea.

There are four levels of flowers in this garden on the balcony, which managed to be placed in a relatively small area.

There are two principles for organizing such a “hanging” garden on the balcony - choose flowers of different shades to create a bright palette, or plants in the same color scheme to achieve a more restrained, but no less beautiful result.

An example of how original a composition of flowers of one shade can look. Looking at this balcony on the wall of an old house, you understand that there are a great many shades of red, and they were created by nature itself.

And here the owners went the second way and chose petunias of all colors of the rainbow for their "balcony" garden

Choosing furniture for a garden on a balcony is a rather difficult task, because you don’t want to disfigure a beautiful flower arrangement with a banal white plastic chair. The owners of this balcony managed to pick up a cute sofa and an armchair, not too bright, but eye-catching colors. And be sure to pay attention to the artificial tree on the wall. Nice, isn't it?

On the balcony, it is recommended to grow shrubs such as common juniper, black broom, Thunberg barberry, American maple, Weymouth pine (eastern white), Fortune's euonymus, whole-leaved willow and dwarf lilac

A real canopy, which over time will completely encircle the vines of grapes, will become a source of shade on this small balcony. And the owners decided to complement the overall picture with classic stucco on the wall and sansevieria (aka “mother-in-law’s tongue” or “pike tail”)

If your house has a snow-white facade, petunias should be chosen in such a juicy, bright shade that will look especially attractive against such a background.

Delicate, cute violets are appropriate to plant in pots hung on the railing - so they will be at eye level and not get lost against the background of other, more lush and climbing plants.

Creating a garden on a balcony is not so difficult - often it is enough just to move the flower pots from the room to fresh air. However, if you approach the arrangement of a “balcony” garden with imagination, listen to the advice of experts, you can become the owner of a very beautiful and unusual corner for relaxation and even take part in the competition for the most beautiful balcony, which are held today in many cities.

Anna Sedykh, rmnt.ru

September 27, 2016
You can talk about the canons in design for a long time, but every day the existing canons become less and less stable. Aesthetics and harmony, balance, colors, materials, brought together in order to get such a long-awaited result are the essence of your knowledge, practice and self-development. My motto is to learn, see, touch something new every day, and I am sure that this is the only way to keep the right course in “high design”.

I want so much that summer does not end ... And it will not end if you organize a winter garden on the balcony. Today I will tell you about how to equip a piece of paradise in your apartment, pick up plants and provide them with proper care.

2 winter garden rules

Rule #1 - sunshine

Plants love sunlight. Yes, you can organize a balcony winter garden in conditions of poor lighting, but in this case there are restrictions on the choice of plants, not everyone will agree to live in semi-darkness.

Rule number 2 - nursery

Purchase balcony pets from a nursery that specializes in growing plants native to your area. Exotic shrubs and palm trees are certainly attractive, but in most cases, their cultivation requires considerable knowledge and a huge amount of fertilizer and top dressing.

Well, well, if you are ready, we can start arranging a balcony garden.

Lighting and temperature

The place for the garden should be as lit as possible. If we are talking about a classic balcony in a multi-storey building, you will have to significantly expand the windows or dismantle the walls by installing transparent partitions.

If you have several options for location, choose the south side. The eastern and western balconies are less lit, although they will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the sunset.

When arranging, you can capture part of the living room, so, in a bathroom with a balcony, which are often found in private houses, tropical plants will take root perfectly.

Plants need a place to winter, if the balcony is not insulated, set aside a separate room for pets, in which the temperature will vary from 14 to 20 ° C, depending on the selected plants and the necessary conditions for their cultivation.

Garden style and plant type

The first thing you need to determine is the style of the garden, which will set the direction in choosing plants and accessories.

Indoor gardens are classified on the basis of microclimatic zones, divided into subtropical and tropical. I have a special trepidation for orchards, which exude an invigorating citrus aroma.

Give a window seat to subtropical plants, away from direct sunlight - to tropical ones, and place a mini-reservoir here, which can be assigned a decorative and practical function, used as an air humidifier.

Plants can be grown both in individual pots and bulk tubs for several seedlings. I consider the first option more successful, since you have the opportunity to separate the diseased plant from its neighbors.

Since we are talking about the “immunity” of domestic green pets, remember that seedlings grown from seeds that are originally adapted to the conditions of a closed winter garden are the strongest.

In the photo - a Japanese garden on the balcony

Style	Description and instructions for creating
Japanese	Our compatriots fell in love with it for its unusual exoticism, simplicity and sophistication. If your eyes fell on Japanese restraint, you can not do without a miniature waterfall, a fountain and a couple of cobblestones.
Tropical	This style does not put forward requirements for design, but is extremely demanding on the selection of plants. It can be various varieties of begonias, flowering plants, dracaena, ficus, dieffenbachia.
Minimalism	This is the best solution for a garden that has to be located in a small area. Choose medium-sized plants in the same color scheme, arrange them asymmetrically in groups.
High tech	It is organized on the podium in several tiers of simple plants of a strict form and uniform color.
Rustic	Bright flowering plants, herbs and even potted vegetables are suitable for organizing a garden. A useful vegetable garden can be obtained thanks to a tub with dill, basil, parsley, cucumbers and tomatoes, decorative berry bushes.
Country	Of the plants, the planting of ivy, tradescantia, geranium is relevant. Be sure to choose the right size decor: an old chest of drawers, a garden lamp, plaster figures.

Plants: selection criteria

The main purpose of the winter garden is to create a good mood and favorable conditions for life.. The last point requires special scrupulousness in the selection of plants.

So, oleanders and some types of magnolias are poisonous, but devils are so beautiful, tiny primroses can cause eczema or hives, and injections from overseas cacti often end in abscesses.

To purify the air in the apartment, plant conifers, for example, dwarf fir. No less benefit from juniper, cypress, araucaria. It is possible to reduce the negative impact of electromagnetic radiation thanks to a cactus with long needles or tradescantia.

If you often get colds, be sure to plant plants with volatile properties, it can be monstera, aspargus, chlorophytum, thuja, begonia, lemon tree, geranium.

Chlorophytum absorbs formaldehydes and toxins, so it can safely bear the title of air purifier. Aspargus is able to cope with heavy salts, phenols and formaldehydes, and dracaena cleans the air from benzene, which is released by linoleum.

Aloe, prickly pear or crassula can be placed in the corners of the balcony, which will protect the room from fungus.

The maximum amount of oxygen is produced by sansevier, an adult flower can replace 2-3 plants in terms of its efficiency.

A comfortable level of humidity is supported by ferns, cyclamen and violets; from unexpected guests in the form of flies, moths and mosquitoes, lavender and sage will protect.

If you have heavy smokers in your family, be sure to plant a clivia that cleans the air from cigarette smoke.

Pelargonium, rosemary, lemon balm, mint, dracaena have a calming effect, but lemons invigorate.

Geranium has a specific aroma that not everyone likes, but this plant can rightly be called green Aibolit. If you suffer from high blood pressure, cardiovascular insufficiency, liver and kidney disease, be sure to set aside a corner for geraniums.

Plants are "wizards"

Plants have the power to clear geopathic zones. The most powerful energy purifiers are palm, myrtle, ficus. Negative energy is well absorbed by tradescantia, cissus and ivy, in addition, these weaving plants are very unpretentious and grow well. Calla lilies, fern and cypress can repel the "attack" of evil forces.

Violets, geraniums, ficus, begonias, echmea and cacti will be taken to strengthen family relationships. It is worth noting that plants with red flowers are capable of concentrating positive energy.

flowering plants

The eye is especially pleased when the plants in the winter garden bloom. Unfortunately, not many potted wards bloom in the winter.

The most affordable and hardy variety of orchids is phalaenopsis. It reaches a height of 1 meter, can bloom 2-3 times a year. I advise you to place them in a conspicuous place, next to a miniature fountain.

Cyclamen and Schlumberger cactus bloom in December, and saintpaulia - throughout the year. Azaleas, poinsettias, anthuriums and some types of aphelandra will please with color in winter.

As an alternative, plants with brightly colored leaves can be considered. It can be Wilks' Akalifa with reddish-purple foliage, red-green coladium variegated and coleus.

Please to the table

A garden on a balcony can be not only beautiful, but also delicious. Among flowering potted plants, find a place for oregano bush, arugula, curly lettuce, parsley, dill, basil, sage, green onions, hot peppers and ornamental strawberries.

A tub or a pot?

Before planting, decide which of the plants will grow in pots, and which will require a deep tub. In my winter garden, I have planted tubs for araucaria, bright-blooming red anthuria, money tree, sansevier and dieffenbachia.

In addition, separate plants that require increased attention and meticulous care. I do not like whimsical flowers, but I could not refuse the pleasure of having gummi eucalyptus and laurel. They need to form a crown, this is also worth remembering when arranging a home greenhouse.

Special care for special plants

A separate category is fast-growing plants, for example, chlorophytum and tradescantia. The latter must often be fed and pinched. Otherwise, it will have a unkempt appearance and small leaves. I recommend putting it in composition with other contrasting varieties.

Be sure to get some curiosity, I chose the phalaenopsis orchid, which is quite unpretentious and will grow in a transparent glass vase.

If the garden on the balcony is adjacent to the bedroom, be sure to plant a lotus and callas. They symbolize family happiness.

Few people know that in nature, orchids grow on trees, so you can safely plant them in pine bark. The only problem with the composition will be the need for watering from below. A fountain must be located near the phalaenopsis.

Outdoor trees can also be grown at home. If you start with a stone, it will take several years before the plant no longer fits on the loggia.

In order not to be excruciatingly painful to destroy an adult green comrade, choose frost-resistant varieties that can be planted outside. Palms include Rhapidophyllum hystrix and Yucca Elata.

I choose

Saintpaulia. Uzambara violets belong to the category of exotic plants, are very unpretentious and fit perfectly into any garden. If you are decorating a winter garden in country style, take a closer look at Helena or Medison varieties with terry edges. For more restrained styles, the laconic monochrome variety Mix is relevant.
In order for Saintpaulia to please you with abundant and long flowering, provide it with regular watering and a cool place without direct sunlight.

Saintpaulia does not bloom until it fills the entire pot with its root system, so when transplanting, choose a container commensurate with the plant.

When choosing a pot, opt for a plastic container with a wide rim.

orchids. The opinion that orchids are capricious is only partly true. There are varieties that do not require much effort to grow. Oncidiums and phalaenopsis bloom in my winter garden. Why these particular varieties? Unlike vandas, they are unpretentious in terms of lighting.
The orchid pot should contain a substrate of bark and moss. From my many years of experience, I do not recommend using unglazed ceramic pots, very often the roots of the plant grow to the walls. It is better to give preference to smooth glass or plastic.

Large sizes. Without them, the garden would not be a garden. If a corner is reserved for a large plant, choose a shade-loving species, for example, monstera, philodendra, ficus, spathiphyllum. Among the sun-loving ones are dracaena, codiaum and cordelina.

If the plant has variegated leaves with veins and spots, it will need a lot of light.

And one more tip: when planting large plants, immediately purchase a pot with automatic watering. Such foresight will allow you not to think about the fate of green pets in your absence in the future.

succulents. This category of plants from dry, hot places, so they do not require frequent watering. This is a great option for forgetful home plant lovers like me. For my garden, I chose brachychitum, pachypodium, adenium and zamiokulkis.

If your garden is decorated in country style, give preference to ripsalis and schlumburgers.

Upside down: equipping a vertical winter garden

If the balcony area is negligible, you can equip a vertical garden, which has become mainstream in design and landscaping.

Let's start with the basics. What is a vertical garden? Many mistakenly believe that plants growing vertically fall under this concept. But after all, a traditional ampelous planter is far from a vertical garden.

To bear the title of vertical, the garden must consist of plants planted in a single system. The latter is mounted on the wall.

What is important when arranging a vertical garden? All plants should have similar living conditions. You will not be able to separate one flower and move it to a more lighted/cooler/shaded place.

Classification of vertical gardens

Vertical gardens are divided into two categories, the first are created on the basis of hydroponics, the second - on the ground. If this is your first time taking up the arrangement of such a structure, I recommend choosing the second option, the plants receive the necessary nutrition when placed in the ground. But for hydroponics, the choice of plants is significantly reduced, leaving only the most unpretentious.

This method involves the complete cleaning of the root system from the soil and placing it in a special substrate of expanded clay and sphagnum moss. Expanded clay is a guarantee of oxygen supply, moss is a humidity regulator. Plant nutrition is provided by watering.

Plant selection

Ideal plants for vertical gardening: aglaonema, scindapsus, monstera.

Scindapsus is a climbing vine that climbs up thanks to its aerial roots. Prefers a moderate temperature within 15-18 °C, in winter - not lower than +12 °C.
Scindapsus does not require a lot of fertilizer. From the beginning of April to October, during the period of active growth, the bushes are fed once every 2-3 weeks with liquid fertilizer.

Interesting fact! Scindapsus has a positive effect on metabolism and creates a comfortable psychological environment in the room.

Aglaonema (Aglaonema) - has large oblong-lanceolate leaves sitting on a short stem. For a vertical garden, I recommend paying attention to the varieties Silver King and Red Diamond.
The plant is quite thermophilic and even in winter it will hardly endure temperatures below +18 ° C. During the period of active growth requires top dressing 2 times a month.

Aglaonema purifies the air, saturating it with air ions, and kills streptococcal infection.

Monstera is a long and well-known indoor resident. For a vertical garden, choose Monstera deliciosa. In winter, the temperature should not fall below +12 ° C, in question, partial shade or diffused bright light is preferable.

Beneficial features! Monstera enriches the air in the room with ozone, oxygen and air ions, absorbs formaldehyde emitted by furniture made of laminated chipboard and polystyrene foam.

Spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum) is a heat-loving plant that feels comfortable at a temperature of 22-23 ° C, does not tolerate drafts very well, and requires frequent spraying.
Fertilizer is applied 3 times a month in summer and once a month in winter.

Interesting fact! Do you know what people call spathiphyllum? Woman's happiness. He is strongly recommended to be placed in the kindergarten for girls who have not yet married.

Dracaena (Dracaena) - Dracaena deremensis, Dracaena marginata, Dracaena sanderiana, Dracaena fgagrans, "Song of India" and "Song of Jamaica" are suitable for vertical cultivation.
Likes a moderate temperature not lower than +12 ° C and diffused bright light. Quite resistant to dry air, but requires frequent spraying. Top dressing in the form of liquid fertilizers for indoor plants is applied 1 time in 2 weeks.

Anthurium (Anthurium) - Anthurium scherzerianum with bright red flowers is suitable for home cultivation. The difficulty of growing in our latitudes lies in the love of anthurium for the bright sun in winter and shade in summer.
Guzmania (Guzmania) - has orange or red inflorescences, is demanding on temperature and will not tolerate it dropping below +25 ° C.

Construction type

You can place the selected flowers in a "carpet" design, panels or modular elements.

"Carpet" gardens are created from a textile fabric with many pockets. From personal experience, I advise you to use a reliable and practical canvas, for example, polymer felt.
Plant panels and paintings are suitable for medium-sized plants. The design is assembled from a metal or polymer mesh and plastic containers. When choosing a mesh, be guided by the size of the panel and the total load of plants and earth.
Modular elements are more often sold assembled and consist of separate metal / plastic boxes or felt pockets.
Wooden bases are classic pallets in which plants look through the transverse slats.

Summing up

The winter garden on the balcony is an art that captures and does not allow you to stop. First, you just take the flowers to the balcony, then you create compositions and slides out of them, then the idea is born to green the walls.

And that's all ... You are in the power of plants. If you, like me, suffer from a "green" disease, be sure to watch the video in this article.

What grows on your balcony? Let's arrange a flash mob in the comments and choose the most exotic balcony "resident".

September 27, 2016

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