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spectacular one-plant balcony?
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Posted by rross NSW Aust (My Page) on Fri, May 20, 05 at 21:20
| I've been trying to grow a whole lot of small plants in small pots on my balcony for 4 years now, and the whole thing looks pretty unimpressive. I wonder whether I'd be better off planting just one climber - something showy like a bougainvillea or a rampant climbing rose, and giving away all my timid little nothing plants to friends and strangers.
My balcony is very sunny and warm, even in winter. Could anybody tell me what size pot I'd need to look at for my dream? Any comments from people doing something similar would be greatly appreciated. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| I'm sorry I have no experience on what plant to choose, but I think you have a very good idea. One (or several) larger pots will look much more impressive than lots of untidy little pots. And probably be easier to look after too! A rose would be nice . . . . and you could still underplant with nice things to clothe the soil spill over the edge. |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| If it's one huge planter you're after, try a 24 inch pot or larger. This is what I put in mine last year- center- tall spikey green plant(forgot the name!)and a red/green caladium. Planted around the center 2 plants were all trailing varieties, as follows: Samantha Lantana(yellow bloomer); 2 red petunias; creeping jenny(chartreuse)and blackie sweet potato vine. The pot was very full, with lush foliage and big beautiful blooms! This year, I'm using 4 window boxes for color. Planter #1 will contain- Orange Calibrachoa(Million Bells), White Wave Petunia and Midnight Blue Lobelia. Planter #2- Aztec Red Verbena, White Bacopa, Samantha Lantana(Yellow blooms). Planter #3- White Nemensis(smells divine!), Hot Pink Calibrachoa, Pink Nemensis. Planter #4 Deep Red Calibrachoa, Pink Petunia, Yellow Calibrachoa. I'll have Million Bells trailing all over the balcony railing! I wanted to squeeze Creeping Jenny in somewhere, but the GH was sold out today. I still may add her somewhere if the GH restocks it. There's nothing like chartreuse to bring out all the colors in a container. If I can't find her, I'll use Margeurite Sweet Potato Vine. Oh, there is one shade pot to be filled with Caladium(pink/green) and hot pink and white impatiens. I still feel the need to add a spikey plant somewhere for effect, but it won't much matter in the window boxes. I want all the people below to see my beautiful flowers trailing over the balcony railing. HTH GrowHappy |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| I'm gonna try the one plant thing myself. My first thought was bougainvilla, then Mandevilla. However, I saw a variegated pink bower vine and bought that. We'll see how it goes. |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| Its a start. As I live with this decision I think I should have gone with the mandevilla.  
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RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| vinelover - I like that variegated bower vine! Definitely a bring-in vine here. I bet it will eventually out-do the mandie. Especially give the added interest of the leaves. |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| Pot's a bit small though isn't it? |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| Anyone trying a huge foliage plant, like elephant ears? Don't know if they'd thrive in a climate without a cold winter, but surely there are some showy foliage plants that would. |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| This is my 3rd year with my EEs. I overwinter the pot of them in my cool bedroom and they usually hang onto a few leaves all winter. They are dying to get outside right now. Have to find a spot. LOL |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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| Why not first get a large pot, large enough to combine many of your small plants into one nice planting. You need something for height toward the back, and something to trail over the sides nearer the front. You can plant the Vinca Vine with it's gray green leaves with ivory edges, it will trail down the sides adding an interesting pattern and color contrast to your plants..you can also mix in some ivies like Boston or English. You can also plant also mix some veggies and herbs as long as light and water req. are the same. I plant things together like Curly Parsley and White Daisies. Or you can even plant some large leaf greens (from seeds or young plants) among your flowers to fill the space if you don't have enough to fill the pot. Another thing I am doing this year..I am planting seeds of Purple Hyacinth Bean Vine in a huge pot with with shallow rooted plants. The vine roots will go deep and won't compete with the shallow rooted plants. When the vines spring up I will train them to run along the deck rails and their flowers will be a gorgeous privacy covering from outside eyes. Don't know how much space you have, but you can plant a rose with a trellis or freesstanding, and plant Prostrate Rosemary beneath..they have been compatible since the Greeks and Romans...and there will be some fragrance from your rosemary when the rose is not blooming. Also make sure you put plants together that have compatible light and water requirements. Would not want a Lantana with an Impatiens..for instance. |
RE: spectacular one-plant balcony?
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Hi Jenny! I see you are still here doing your thing.
Yeah I saw that vine and all my previous selections just went out the window. The pot is a bit small but it'll be okay. Its still in the nursery pot. It'll be okay for a year or so. Thats been my experience. |
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