A balcony filled with flowers really lifts your mood! You can easily create a cheerful balcony with flower bulbs of different shapes, sizes and colours.

Suitable flower bulbs

Any type of bulb can be planted in a balcony planter. The only thing you need to consider is the growing height. Balconies often catch more wind, so tall flowers will blow over more quickly. And that would be a shame. So, choose varieties that grow less tall (the packaging of the bulbs will tell you how tall they grow).

Planting

Plant your bulbs in autumn, before the first frost. Spring-flowering bulbs need a period of cold to achieve beautiful blooms. If you plant flower bulbs in a balcony planter, make sure that excess water can drain away via holes at the bottom of the pot.

• Place a layer of old pot shards, hydroponic clay or gravel at the bottom of the pot.
• Sprinkle a generous layer of potting soil on top.
• Plant the bulbs in the potting soil, making sure they do not touch.
• Cover the bulbs with a layer of potting soil and press down firmly.
• Next, water them just once or twice.
• You can water the bulbs again in spring, when they start to grow. This method will promote growth and flowering.

Tips

• Low-growing bulbs that are suitable for the balcony are crocus (Crocus), Scilla, glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa), grape hyacinths (Muscari) and small-crowned daffodils (Narcissus).
• If you plant pansies, heather or other winter bloomers on top of your bulbs, your balcony will look inviting in autumn and winter as well.