Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

Better balconies

A recent wander around inner city Sydney reminded me just what can be done to beautify even a small balcony. With a bit of imagination and a few dollars to spend a balcony can become a haven of green and restful tranquillity.

Balconies in sunny, windy positions are the hardest to landscape and the focus should be on tough plants that don't need watering every day. Species with leathery leaves such as agaves, aloes, echeverias and sanseverias are the obvious choice because they can tolerate extremes of heat, cold and drought. There are enough different shapes, sizes, colours and textures to create an interesting combination that will require very little maintenance for years ahead. The watchpoint with these plants is of course during periods of extended wet, when it's important to make sure their potting mix is draining properly and to empty their drip trays regularly.

If you've got sun for half a day your options are widened to those plants with broad glossy green leaves such as philodendrons, monsterias and umbrella trees. Again, much variety is now available within this range of plants, with variegated and dwarf varieties recommended for contrast and control (umbrella trees for instance can get huge). These plants are all excellent for screening out neighbours, noise and dust.

Gardeners with a shady balcony have the most choice when it comes to containerised plants. Bamboos, ferns, bromeliads, epiphytes and orchids will all thrive in this microclimate. If space is really at a premium, bonsai are ideal because you can position them on shelves and have a whole forest of tiny trees in a very small area. Plants that like shade also like moisture and humidity, so sit their pots in trays filled with gravel to meet their climatic needs.

Large pots can be heavy when full of plants and wet potting mix, so check that your balcony can support their weight before making any purchases.