High rise balcony (flowers, grow, strawberries, tree)

[hellopity]

We moved into our condo in a high rise last fall, and I'm excited to try my hand at planting a few potted plants. I just purchased some oriental lily bulbs, potting mix, and plastic pots from Amazon. I'll probably put these pots in a fiberglass planter. I'm also looking into lavender and daylilies.

Will be interesting to see how the lilies do in our balcony. It's exposed on three sides (N/E/S) and has a fairly constant breeze, and a few days of heavy gusts a year. We're in USDA hardiness zone 8, but will see what happens in a high rise!

Love to hear from other people who have had success with small potted plants in high rise balconies.

[B87]

Typical lapse rate is 0.6c/100m, but the main issue will probably be higher wind speeds.

[Basilide]

Originally Posted by hellopity

We moved into our condo in a high rise last fall, and I'm excited to try my hand at planting a few potted plants. I just purchased some oriental lily bulbs, potting mix, and plastic pots from Amazon. I'll probably put these pots in a fiberglass planter. I'm also looking into lavender and daylilies.

Will be interesting to see how the lilies do in our balcony. It's exposed on three sides (N/E/S) and has a fairly constant breeze, and a few days of heavy gusts a year. We're in USDA hardiness zone 8, but will see what happens in a high rise!

Love to hear from other people who have had success with small potted plants in high rise balconies.

I am on a south facing, unprotected third story balcony, and the problems I ran into were wind (both causing damage and drying out soils faster in basket and containers) and too much sun/heat at the warmest times of the year. I am also in zone 8. I had a lot of sunburning, and needed to water plants twice a day to keep them from withering, or move them into shade, on some of the hottest days. I moved containers into the corner of the balcony to protect them from wind during storms (one side of the balcony is walled off). The plants that did the best were my hardy thyme and catnip.

This year, I am going with some more heat and drought tolerant flowers so they don't need quite so much attention. I would come homefrom work to wilted flowers and dry soil even when I watered them that morning!

[gentlearts]

Perhaps you could try something that will provide a bit of shade to lower plants, like a small banana tree or patio lime, elephant ears, etc.

https://www.longfield-gardens.com/pl...FcW3wAodcSAIFw

[FlowerDarling]

I grow strawberries on my balcony It is sunny and I got about 5 liters strawberries during last season. I am going to plant more this year to increase my harvest

[hellopity]

I agree that wind and the soil drying out is going to be a problem year round. In the summer, the pota getting baked in the sun could be a problem. I'll come upwith a solution as I go along. The oriental lily bulbs are arriving today per Amazon. Excited to start the project when I get home!

[gentlearts]

For about $12. I ordered some tips that go on pop bottles that you fill with water and invert in planters. I'm trying this for my planters to keep them wet.

[hellopity]

Great idea! I've seen those self-watering gadgets. Will see if it gets the soil all soggy if just wet enough. I read asiatic lily bulbs can rot easily if the soil is too soggy, needs well-draining soil. Thanks for the suggestion gentlearts.

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by B87

Typical lapse rate is 0.6c/100m, but the main issue will probably be higher wind speeds.

I was thinking the same thing

[Basilide]

Originally Posted by FlowerDarling

I grow strawberries on my balcony It is sunny and I got about 5 liters strawberries during last season. I am going to plant more this year to increase my harvest

I'm going to try that this year. What kind of strawberries do you grow?

Hellopity, let us know how it all goes!