“As in the past, the most popular flowers are pelargoniums, petunias, surfinia, begonias, coneflowers, summer dahlias and pansies. By the way, trailing (spreading) pansies are particularly popular this year. That means people like it when plants not only bloom, but also have a scent,” said Darius Gonsiauskas, agronomist and production manager at Žiežmarių gėlės.
That’s why this year the company has grown pansy pelargoniums, which have particularly fragrant leaves and small, brightly-coloured blossoms reminiscent of pansies. They can be combined with regal (royal) pelargoniums, which have a colour range as impressive as their shape. Flower breeders have also sought to make regal (royal) pelargoniums fragrant.
“Those who can keep their pelargoniums in a cool temperature of no more than 10 degrees Celsius during the winter, so that they can go dormant and later produce buds, can enjoy their surroundings again next year,” he says.
Looking around in a sea of flowers, one’s eyes are drawn to dwarf carnations (Dianthus)
“This year we have a range of colours, from light pink to dark burgundy. They can be planted in pots and boxes, but many people choose to plant them in a flower bed. In Germany and the Netherlands, carnations were very popular last year. Our flower lovers are a little more reluctant to embrace new things. However, those who grew carnations last year are buying them for themselves and giving them as gifts this year. The few flowers that are planted will flourish by the end of the summer and bloom until the frost,” said the agronomist. Their biggest advantage is their fragrance and the fact that they do not spread out too much, growing compactly instead.
Don’t expect miracles
Those who like begonias but are unable or unwilling to store their tubers over the winter can renew their selection as summer approaches by buying a plant of a different colour or shape.
“The flower breeders stay busy. Every year, they create new colours and shapes of flowers for the environment. Begonias are no exception. The new varieties have interesting flower shapes and are very valuable because of their long flowering time and the abundance of flowers,” he said.
According to him, the best advertising is word of mouth. When a friend or neighbour sees a blooming flower, they often decide to plant it themselves, too, but that doesn’t mean that a carelessly tended plant will thrive just as well, says the expert.
“Don’t expect miracles. Every plant has needs that we have to meet. A flower on a balcony, terrace, pergola or anywhere else will reward you with abundant blooms only if it receives proper fertiliser and is watered regularly. There are now a variety of fertilisers available for specific plants to stimulate flowering, so it’s really easy to take care of them. Flowers bought from us do not need fertiliser in the first half of the summer because the substrate in which they are grown contains all the essential nutrients,” said Gonsiauskas.
He advised those who bought a trailing (spreading) flower to remember to take care of it every day, picking off the excess blossoms, watering and adding fertiliser. Those who are unable to do so should opt for flowers that require less care, he said.
Knowing what to pamper and when
Summer dahlias are one of the most undemanding flowers. They form tubers over the summer that can be kept over the winter and then reappear the following year with flowers. Tunbergia are climbing flowers suitable for balconies and terraces if you want to create a cosy flowering enclosure. They can also be planted in the ground. According to the speaker, as long as you give them space, they will climb upwards.
“The most important thing when planting these plants is not to crowd them together, and to leave large gaps to allow air to circulate freely. Then the plants will look nicer and be less likely to suffer from mildew or rot. The main pests are mites and aphids. But they rarely cause much damage, because you usually grow just a few plants, not a few hundred,” said Gonsiauskas.
Pelargoniums, he says, not only defend themselves against pests with their scent, but also save other neighbouring flowers. Those who like to pamper their plants with water treatments from a spray or a sprinkler should note that petunias, surfinia and begonias do not like that. Pelargoniums can be sprayed, but only in the early morning and evening to avoid damaging the leaves with water droplets.
“It’s better to water into a drip tray under the pot, because the plant will then take in exactly what it needs. Plants will feel much better if they are not kept on the south or north side. A pelargonium might be able to withstand the heat of the sun, but that would be disastrous for a begonia,” warned the specialist.
Helpful tips for planting balcony flowers
When planting different plants together, their colour and height should be taken into account. Arrangements of plants should also match the colour and texture of the walls of the house, the shape or design of windowsills and balconies, the pavement (if the container is placed on it), and the existing or desired space.
The plastic planters can be fixed inside or outside the balcony. It is important that they hold firmly. The choice of soil mix must be made very carefully – the soil must be fertile, loose and water-permeable. A peat substrate or a soil blend with a complex fertiliser and trace elements for outdoor flowers is suitable.
The planters are filled with soil within a couple of fingers of the top of the planters, so that the soil does not spill over the edges when planting the flowers and water does not overflow over the sides when watering.
It is advisable not to plant tall flowers with a leafless lower part in the planter. Low flowers are better planted at the edges in the planter, because they are suitable for framing the arrangement. Flowers with darker flowers are usually planted in the middle of the planter and flowers with lighter flowers are planted at the edges.