The balcony and terrace can be made particularly cozy if a large, green tree provides shade there. But caution is advised, especially with exotic species, because they are often not hardy and need a cool and bright room during the cold months. However, there is a wide range of hardy shrubs that can be cultivated in pots and left outside during the winter months.
The dwarf pine is hardy and thrives in pots
Large selection of hardy trees
In principle, every native tree is suitable for a bucket culture. This is already proven by the thousands of years old bonsai culture in Japan. However, you should only use species without taproots and those that remain small(er) naturally or through breeding. These require far less maintenance than large trees, which require a great deal of attention when grown in pots. For this reason, give preference to columnar trees, as well as dwarf varieties of common species. Trees that have been grafted onto weak-growing stocks and very slow-growing species are also well suited to pot culture. Here are a few well-suited hardy candidates:
- Common yew (Taxus baccata)
- Dwarf pine (Pinus mugo)
- Dwarf White Pine (Pinus strobus)
- Dwarf larch (Larix kaempferi)
- Juniper (Juniperus communis)
- False cypress (Chamaecyparis)
- Boxwood (Buxus)
- Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
- Japanese cake tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
- Pagoda dogwood (Cornus controversa)
- Willow (Salix), for example the harlequin willow (Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki')
- Dwarf ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken')
- dwarf fruit trees, e.g. E.g. apple, pear, cherry
Proper care for a hardy tree in a pot
Whether your hardy potted tree actually feels good and stays healthy depends primarily on the right care.
winter protection
This includes, for example, winter protection, which is also absolutely necessary for hardy potted trees. The reason for this is the small amount of substrate in the pot, which offers the roots no protection against freezing. Therefore, you should take these protective measures during the winter months:
- Place the pot on an insulating pad made of Styrofoam or wood
- Wrap the pot with fleece or insulating foil
- Cover the root area with fir or spruce branches / straw or similar
- Move the pot to a house wall
watering and fertilizing
Depending on the type and variety of the potted tree, fertilizing should be stopped in July or August at the latest. This gives new shoots the chance to mature in time before winter. From August, you also gradually reduce the watering amount so that the tree is only watered a little in the winter months - but don't forget the water, because the plant is thirsty even in winter!
tips
When it comes to potted trees for the balcony, it is best to first inquire about the statics of the balcony and how much weight it can carry - large trees in particular can become extremely heavy together with the soil and planter.