The plants that grow in balconies facing south or southwest They are the most punished by the summer sun’s rays. This condition influences its healthy growth.

By taking some precautions and choosing the right species, you will guarantee a green oasis on your balcony.

Heat affects pots a lot

Remember that for a plant to have its foliage and flowers in full condition, its roots must also be in full condition. And since these are contained within a pot, the first thing will be to try to alleviate the high temperatures by cooling these containers. As?

• Raise the pots: In summer the soil reaches “cooking” temperatures and the roots close to the wall of the pot and the base stop their growth and water absorption capacity. Place pieces of bricks or other elements that separate the pots from these reverberant surfaces. This measure can also work well for balconies with little space.
• Shade the pots: If there is an awning, it is the perfect resource to lower it during the hours of greatest solar incidence. The other resource is to shade the external wall of the pots with heather or wicker mesh cut to size. If the balcony has a metal railing, the intertwined heather mesh will generate a shaded space throughout the entire complex.
• Grow hanging species: These plants shade the wall of the pot by themselves. The first branches and leaves will receive the greatest impact from the sun and the roots will be refreshed. You can achieve this effect with succulent plants such as Mesembryanthemum, Sedum or Senecios.
• Create islands of freshness: At this station relocate some pots so that hardier plants are more exposed to the sun and protect the most sensitive. In this way, a small microclimate is generated that benefits the whole.

Other care to «refresh» your plants

He paddedjust as it is done in gardens and orchards, refreshes and maintains the humidity of the potting substrate. In this case, you can use an organic material such as small grain pine bark or to inorganic materials such as gravel or river sand.

If the substrate has dried out In excess, it can become compressed, generating a crack between the wall of the pot and the roots through which the irrigation water drains. Carefully, try loosening the edges of the root bread. Fill with more substrate, which will help retain water.

If the pot is smallone solution is submerge it for half an hour in a basin until you see the surface wet. In this way the entire substrate will be perfectly moistened.

Irrigation is key

The main factor to be successful in this season is, without a doubt, irrigation and the way in which it is applied. When the plant has enough water, it can transpire normally. That loss of water vapor contributes to cooling of each leaf, causing a drop in temperature on the leaf surface.

• He automatic irrigation It is very comfortable and, furthermore, guarantees the required daily dose. If this is your chosen method, remember that in the middle of summer it is advisable to water even with hose at least once a weekto hydrate the entire substrate and not just the dripper outlet area.
• If you water by handdo it preferably first thing in the morning so that the plants have water during the torrid times of the day. On balconies with such a sunny orientation, the plants will thank you for a second watering in the late afternoon. If you notice that any plant is wilting excessively even with this frequency of watering, it probably needs a transplant to a pot with more substrate capacity.

Remember: One toorganic bovine rich in phosphorus and potassium and low in nitrogen increases the resistance of plants to stress situations such as high temperatures.

Suggested plants for balconies with lots of sun

Flowers:

• Malvones and geraniums: They are very rustic and resistant plants. With minimal care, they fill with flowers. Malvones in general are upright plants and geraniums or gitanillas have hanging stems.
• Petunias: They are known for their trumpet-shaped flowers and their wide range of colors, from pure white to very dark purples, including pink, red and lilac tones. There are varieties with upright stems and others with hanging ones.
• Ornamental sunflowers: They are varieties no more than 50 cm high with petals that range from the typical sunflower yellow to reddish brown. It is one of the most resistant florals to the summer midday sun.

Aromatic:

• Lavenders: Its violet flowering from May to September not only aromatizes spaces, but is also very attractive to bees and other pollinators. All lavender species need medium to large sized pots to have good root development.
• Salvias: Their fleshy leaves already indicate that they are very resistant plants in full sun. Only on the hottest days of summer do you water it daily, if not two or three times a week will be enough.

Small bushes:

• Lantanas: This plant guarantees bicolor flowering almost all year round. They have excellent health since their foliage contains aromatic oils that repel pests. There are upright varieties, such as the typical yellow and red ones, and other decumbent varieties such as the pink Lantana.
• Hibiscus: These shrubs, which produce large bell-shaped flowers, are ideal for placing on balconies next to walls, forming a backdrop for lower plants.

Remember: If your lifestyle leads you to travel frequently or you tend to forget to water, the cacti and the succulent plants They are the most suitable for your sunny balcony.