Content
- To properly cultivate pot conifer on the balcony
- Location and substrate
- Planting and grooming
- Selection of the planter
- drainage
- Pouring and fertilizing
- Tips
Small conifers can even be kept in the balcony box
To properly cultivate pot conifer on the balcony
There are many small and slow-growing conifer species and varieties for the pot: they grow bushy, with trunk, pyramid-shaped, have different needle colors and shapes. Choose different variants, then it will not be boring on your balcony even with a pure conifer planting. As a rule, the trees are quite easy to handle and care for.
Location and substrate
Location and substrate are dependent on the selected type, since each coniferous wood has different preferences in this regard. Fortunately, you do not have to choose your potted plants - in contrast to garden plants - according to their preferences, since you can provide them with the necessary conditions. This is true at least for the substrate, which can be personally mixed for each tree. Some conifers need sandy, rather meager soil, others prefer humus-rich, loose soil, and others still only feel well in acid rhododendron soil.
Planting and grooming
Also in terms of care, the different species sometimes differ greatly from each other.
Selection of the planter
For coniferous trees are clay or ceramic pots in bright colors, so that the roots do not heat up too much. Avoid dark colors and plastic containers, as they store more heat and can quickly lead to overheating - not to mention that plants in such pots need to be poured much more frequently and are in danger of drying out more quickly. Turn the coniferous trees into fresh substrate every two to three years.
drainage
Although conifers should always be kept slightly moist during the summer months, waterlogging should nevertheless be avoided. This leads to root rot and thus to the death of the plant. So to prevent it, make sure you have a good drainage system that contains the following components:
Pouring and fertilizing
In summer coniferous plants should be watered regularly in the pot, whereby the substrate should feel only slightly damp. Fertilize with nitrogen-poor fertilizers that are as liquid as possible for green plants or, if it is a species with a preference for acid soil, for rhododendrons. Just prepare a low dose and administer it approximately every two weeks between March and the end of July.
Tips
Winter hardy conifers can also hibernate outside in the pot, provided that you put the pot on an insulating surface (eg a wooden disc or Styrofoam) and wrap the pot with a fleece.