Stylish ideas for plants to grow and blossom

For your plants to reach there full potential they need water, nutrients, care and the perfect position. They should be placed in suitable climatic conditions that will favor their growth. Plants are sensitive to light, temperature, wind and rain. Some plants require sunny conditions others require semi-shady, while some can only thrive in the shade

A Sunny Position for Your Plants

Balconies and patios facing the south (in the northern hemisphere) receive the most sunlight and heat during the day. There is little air circulation and sensitive plants are most likely to burn here. Thus ideally there needs to be continuous slow irrigation.

South east or south west facing positions do not receive extreme heat. Sensitive plants can thrive on a south facing position if there is a tree or a house wall providing shade this is a perfect example of a shady position.

An exotic blend of flowers

Here there will be a combination of plants from hot, dry climatic zones. The plants do well in conditions with heat and sunshine. They can do with little water due to their unique ability to store water for prolonged periods of time.

Gazania, Dorotheanthus and Portulaca produce different colours in a single pot. A Convolvulus sabatius can be planted at both the front and the back of the bottom of the basket. In the top section of the basket either plant Gazania or Dorotheanthus. Water the plant basket and keep it moist. Add fertilizer weekly and cut out any dead flowers and foliage. Protect the plant arrangement from excess water during the rainy season as these plants react negatively to too much water.

Choice of colours

Plants that come from sunny regions are normally very bright coloured. These plants can be combined with complimentary colours to create a colourful splash of rainbow on the balcony or patio. These plants will suite smaller containers with little compost. They are suitable for summertime planting in ceramic hanging containers or half-bowl shaped containers made of Terracotta. Of course they also do well in the main garden too.

An aromatic herb basket

Plants that have a wonderful aroma always add life to the surrounding environment. Examples of plants with scented flowers and leaves include Honey melon sage, lemon thyme and curry plant. It is good practice to hang the basket with scented flowers at nose level so that the perfume easily flows where it is most appreciated.

You can grow your own herb garden using kitchen herbs such as Basil ( Ocimum basilicum), marjoram ( Majorana hortensis), dill (Anthemum graveolens) or parsley (Petroselinum crispum). The herbs above also add flavor in the cooking. It is quite possible to turn hanging baskets into vegetable gardens.

Strawberry Fair

Growing strawberries can be very rewarding as they produce a harvest of delicious fruit. They are also very attractive with beautiful flowers and are self propagating. They do this by producing lengthy runners which form small new strawberry plants.

Plant between 1 and 5 strawberry plants in a 30 cm container,

The tiny Alpine strawberries are eye-catching and produce delicious fruit. Fake strawberries can be grown and they look just real strawberries but have no taste. A perfect example would be Duchesnea indica.

A Semi-shady Position

Semi shady positions receive less sunlight tan the sunny positions. The sites are not in direct sunlight while at the same time there are not in full shade. They are normally east or west facing. West facing balconies are exposed to harsh weather for most of the time and thus there is need to secure hanging containers well.

Semi shady positions are suitable for most plants because the compost does not dry out quickly when compared to that which is in a sunny position. Plants that can be propagated in semi shady position include:

  • Forget me nots (Myosotis sylvatica)

  • Pansies ( Vida wittrockiana)

  • Brgonia ( Begonia semperflorens hybrid)

  • Heather

Most climbing plants thrive in semi-shady positions. When purchasing plants take a lookout for the following symbols on the label

  • white circle with no shade : this means that the plant thrives in sunny conditions

  • half while-half shaded circle ; this means that the plant thrives in semi-shay conditions

  • full shaded circle : these plants grow best in shady places

You can place in a 70m box

1. 1 hanging pelargonium (pelargonium peltatum hybrids)

2. 1 bidens ferufolia

3. 5 nasturtiums ( Tropaeolum majus)

4. 1 Scaevola saligna

Visual Screens

A cascade of flowers can create an eye catching visual screen. They do this by completely covering the hanging basket in growing plants with lengthy shoots and tick foliage. Nasturtiums and varieties of Asarina barclaiana form beautiful visual screens having there trailing edges hanging down over the edge of the containers

If you want a much bushier look for your visual screen, trim the tips of the first shoots to encourage the growth of numerous lateral shoots.

A hanging vegetable garden

It does not matter whether you have limited space. A vegetable garden can be propagated I a painted fruit box. The box can easily be built using locally available material from the builder's yards. The box can also be filled with flowering plants.

You can grow tomatoes, cress and lettuce on a hanging bed. Lettuce produces creamy-coloured flowers which are beautiful and ready-for the plate as well.
Shady positions.

Shady sites are normally in the north facing slopes. They do receive inadequate or no sunlight at all and thus the compost is normally very moist. This is because there is very little evaporation taking place. A shady position is ideal for plants that require a lot of water but a lot of water usually has negative implications such as water logging.

Too much water will damage the plants roots as they will rot.

Examples of plants that thrive in shady positions are Tradescantia, Chlorophytum and autum asters (Aster)