Do you have an apartment with a beautiful balcony with slats, but aren't sure how to make it cozy? You're not alone. A slatted balcony offers a wonderful open view and plenty of light, but it also presents challenges for your balcony plants . The wind often blows through it more strongly, the sun can heat things up considerably, and traditional planters often hang unsteadily from the railing. Fortunately, there's a way to transform your balcony into a green oasis without these frustrations. In this article, we'll tell you all about the best plants for your balcony and how to best display them.

The challenge of a slatted balcony

Before we delve into the world of balcony plants , it's good to consider the surroundings. A balustrade balcony is often more open than one with a solid parapet. This means your plants will catch more wind, but also that they'll get light from all sides. For many plants, this is a blessing, provided they're firmly planted.

That's why at Vercony, we've developed a special planter that doesn't hang from the railing, but stands firmly on the ground. The planter is designed to protrude precisely through the bars. This keeps your plants safe, low to the ground (out of the strongest winds), while still allowing you to fully enjoy the greenery peeking out through the bars. This creates a lush effect without sacrificing valuable walking space on your balcony.

Ivy and climbing plants: Natural privacy between the bars

One of the most frequently asked questions is how to create more privacy on a railed balcony without sacrificing its open character. The solution? Ivy (Hedera) . Ivy is perhaps the most versatile of all balcony plants .

When you plant ivy in a Vercony planter on the ground, you can easily weave its long tendrils through the railings of your balcony. Here are a few reasons why this is a winning combination:

• Green all year round: Unlike many flowering plants, ivy retains its leaves in winter. So your balcony will never look bare.
• Custom privacy: You decide how densely you let the trellis grow. Weave the vines horizontally along the bottom trellis for a green skirting board, or let them climb all the way up for a completely green screen.
• Soundproofing: Do you live on a busy road? Ivy leaves can help to slightly dampen ambient noise.

Besides classic ivy, you could also consider clematis or honeysuckle for some added color and fragrance. However, these climbers do need a bit more sun and lose their leaves in winter.

Sun-drenched balcony: Colorful sun worshippers

Is your balcony facing south or west? Then you're lucky with the amount of light, but your balcony plants do need to be resilient. Temperatures in planters on a sunny balcony can get quite high. The following plants are true sun worshippers and thrive in the Vercony planter:

• Geraniums (Pelargonium): The classic among balcony plants. They're incredibly hardy, sun-tolerant, and bloom all summer long in vibrant colors.
• Lavender: Not only a beautiful purple, but also wonderfully fragrant. Lavender loves sun and needs little water, which is ideal for the windy environment of a slatted balcony.
• Petunias: These plants create a cascade of blooms. In our planters, they can grow beautifully down between the bars, creating a truly luxurious look.

Shady balcony: Green resting places

Do you have a north-facing balcony? Don't worry, there are plenty of balcony plants that thrive in the shade. Because our planters are on the ground, they also catch the necessary indirect light.

• Fuchsias: These plants come in hundreds of varieties and colors. They prefer a spot out of the bright midday sun and bloom well into autumn.
• Begonias: A very easy-care plant that requires little maintenance. They are available in upright and hanging varieties and thrive in the shelter of trellis.
• Busy Lizzies: As the name suggests, these plants bloom tirelessly, even in the darkest spots on your balcony.

Edible greenery on your balcony

Who says you need a garden for a vegetable patch? Our planters are perfect for growing herbs and small fruits. Consider a combination of mint, basil, and chives, for example. These herbs grow compactly and are also very decorative. Looking for something sweet? Strawberry plants thrive on a balcony. The fruits hang between the trellis, keeping them out of the moist soil and preventing them from rotting.

Maintaining your balcony plants

Choosing the right balcony plants is step one, but keeping them looking beautiful is step two. A lattice balcony requires a bit more active watering. Because the wind is free to blow, moisture evaporates more quickly from the leaves and soil.

Always use good quality potting soil in our planters and consider adding hydroponic pebbles to the bottom. This helps the roots avoid standing in water after a rain shower, but also maintains a reserve for hot days. Water your plants preferably early in the morning so they're saturated before the hot day. And don't forget: because our planters are on the ground, they're much less susceptible to being blown over than those perched high on railings. That'll save you a lot of cleanup after a summer thunderstorm!

Conclusion

Whether you choose the privacy of ivy, the color of geraniums, or the flavor of home-grown strawberries, the right balcony plants make all the difference. By cleverly utilizing the space around the railings with Vercony's unique push-through planters, you can create a professional look that's both functional and aesthetic. Your plants stay safe, your railings remain undamaged, and you have more space to relax.

Which plants will you plant in your Vercony planter this season? With the right care and a little attention, you'll enjoy a beautiful green view all summer long, right through your balcony railings.