Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:53 pm
If you value a beautiful balcony and grow various plants and flowers there, the flower box is the most important foundation. You fill it with soil and the plants absorb vital nutrients through their roots.
Do you think that simply filling the flower box with soil is enough? If so, this would be as simple as possible, but problems could arise in the course of the season. Waterlogging, for example, would be a fatal consequence if the flower box is not filled correctly.
How to fill the flower box correctly, so that your plants enjoy the best health, you will learn in this guide.
Contents
Choosing the right flower box
Before you get started filling, make sure you’ve made the right choice. After all, with an unfavorable flower box you will not be happy on the balcony. Problems will constantly occur and growth will be impaired.
Therefore, make sure that the flower box is the right size. Especially if you put several flower boxes, you should make sure that there is some space so that the plants have enough distance from each other.
Also, the appearance should match the rest of the design of the balcony. A wooden box on a metal railing looks really coherent in the fewest cases. Therefore, use the material that is also increasingly used in the railing and on the balcony. In addition, you should also decide whether you prefer an elegant or rustic design.
Likewise, the assembly should be easy to manage. If you have problems with this, you can use a bracket. For this it is not necessary to drill, so you as a tenant do not violate your obligations. You can install such a flower box bracket without any problems, because it does not interfere with the fabric of the building and can be removed later.
Step 1: Prepare the bottom of the flower box.
You have now chosen a flower box that meets all your requirements. But what about the bottom of the flower box or pot?
As previously indicated, you need to make sure that there is adequate drainage. If you water your flowers too extensively, the waterlogging could cause the plants to die quickly. This may be hard for you to notice at first. The plants seem weaker and to be on the safe side, you water again. However, by doing so, you will cause just the opposite and the flowers will not be able to recover from this excess of water. They literally suffocate and replanting is inevitable.
Such a mishap can happen even to the most conscientious gardeners. To avoid such serious consequences, it is enough to make holes in the bottom of the flower box. Through them will drain the water, which can not be absorbed by the soil. Thus, the formation of waterlogging is not possible, and watering the balcony plants is much easier.
So that the soil does not come out of the flower box unhindered or clog the hole, you can cover it with a piece of clay. This measure is sufficient so that the water escapes but the actual content of the flower box is preserved.
Depending on the flower box, you may still need to open the holes with a screwdriver first or drilling may be necessary. Do this work before proceeding with the rest of the filling.
Step 2: Fill in drainage
To further combat waterlogging and ensure that the soil remains in the window box, you should add a thin layer of drainage. For this purpose, it is best to use expanded clay or gravel. The thin beads sit loosely so that the water drains away better.
The layer should be about 3 to 5 cm thick. Then waterlogging is counteracted and the risk of root rot is eliminated. For the flowers, the drainage layer is not a problem. The soil is still abundant, so that growth takes place optimally.
Step 3: Insert fleece
Before filling the soil, it is advisable to place a fleece over the granules. The fleece is designed to allow water to pass through, but retain the soil. Thus, it provides another safeguard to keep the soil in the window box while allowing the water to escape. There is no need to clean the fleece during the season. The water ensures that the fleece does not become clogged and maintains its function.
Step 4: Fill in the soil
Now that the actual preparation has been completed, you can start filling in the soil. Here you should not simply take the cheapest option from the discount store. This soil not only has inferior properties, but is often obtained from ecologically irresponsible sources. They are rich in peat, which are removed from the bog and destroy the important ecosystem.
It is better to choose a high-quality potting soil, which is specifically low in peat. Then you don’t have to worry so much about upsetting the natural balance of the bogs because of the potting soil.
You can still loosen up the soil with some quartz sand if it seems too firm. Spread the soil or substrate with your hands and only fill the flower box no more than halfway with the soil.
Insert the plants and fill the soil to about 5cm below the edge. Water the flowers and apply a fertilizer if needed. Normally, however, the high-quality soil should have sufficient nutrients, so that further care will prove to be relatively simple.
The perfectly filled flower box
Follow the instructions described here, so that the plants feel comfortable in the flower box. Thanks to the extensive preparation, you will avoid waterlogging and ensure that your flowers grow optimally.
If you would like to reduce the effort, you can also use a flower box with water storage. These are much more practical to use and provide the plants with sufficient water at all times. For this purpose, these flower boxes are equipped with a small tank, which is located at the bottom. These designs are also perfect for the vacations to maintain the beautiful balcony.