When recreational gardeners plant their balcony boxes, the importance of the filling is often underestimated. However, the right substrate alone is not enough for perennials and flowers to develop a furious bloom. Read here how to optimally fill a flower box in 3 steps.

Good drainage protects the plants from waterlogging

Step 1: Drainage - effective battle against waterlogging

If rainwater and irrigation water cannot run off unhindered in the flower box (€16.99), your valuable plants have little chance of surviving. In waterlogging, root rot is inevitable. You can effectively prevent this problem if you fill a balcony box with a 3 to 5 cm high drainage made of inorganic material in the first step. Potsherds, expanded clay, (19.73€) pebbles or grit are well suited.

Redrill bottom holes if necessary

In flower boxes (€16.99) made of plastic, the important bottom holes are usually pre-punched. Please poke out these openings with a screwdriver before you fill in the drainage. Only then is it ensured that no waterlogging can form in the planted balcony box.

Step 2: Spread out breathable fleece

In the second step, lay a thin fleece over it so that the soil crumbs from the substrate do not clog the drainage. For this purpose use a water and air permeable material and no foil.

Step 3: Optimize and fill in the substrate

Please do not expect your valuable plants to use cheap potting soil from discounters. Such substrates usually contain a high proportion of peat, which is questionable from an ecological and horticultural point of view. Therefore, grab a high-quality, low-peat potting soil in the shop, which you can optimize and fill in like this:

  • Enrich potting soil to a third with perlite breathing flakes or quartz sand
  • Gradually spread the substrate over the drainage and fleece with your hands
  • Fill the balcony box no more than halfway with soil

Set the remaining substrate aside. Now plant the potted perennials and flowers. Finally, fill the balcony box with soil up to 2 fingers below the edge so that no water spills over when watering.

tips

If you build a wooden balcony box yourself, please line it with foil first. Only then should you fill the container with the substrate recommended here. A garbage bag that has been cut open can serve as foil. Of course, a thin pond liner is more durable. Cut a cross in the film over the bottom holes so that rain and irrigation water can run off.

Category:

Indoor plants