Balcony plants are not food haters, because their energy consumption is high. For a lavish flower and foliage dress, the consumed nutrients should be regularly replenished. The right time intervals are just as important as the fertilizer itself. This guide explains in a compact and practical way when and how often you fertilize your balcony plants correctly.
Flowering plants are usually supplied with fertilizer weekly
Time slot is open from spring to fall
In the bed, plants can rely on armies of busy soil organisms to ensure a continuous supply of nutrients. Balcony plants, on the other hand, have to be satisfied with the limited substrate volume in the box and tub. So that this does not lead to deficiency symptoms, organic and mineral fertilizers regularly replenish the used reserves. When and how often to fertilize correctly is summarized in the following overview:
- Early bloomers: fertilize weekly from February/March until the end of the flowering period
- Summer bloomers: apply liquid fertilizer once or twice a week from May to August
- Autumn bloomers: fertilize weekly until the end of the flowering period
If perennials and hardy shrubs retreat in autumn, the time window for the nutrient supply closes. Now the associated growth spurt is even harmful because it impairs frost resistance and calls healthy overwintering into question.
As an alternative to the weekly application of liquid fertilizer, modern long-term fertilizers cover the nutrient requirement for up to 6 months. These fertilizers are available in granules, cones, sticks or balls and are inserted into the substrate. Administered once in spring, the balcony plants are protected from deficiency symptoms for the entire season.
Please take a break from fertilizing after planting and changing the substrate
Substrates for balcony plants are usually pre-fertilized. Freshly planted or repotted flowers, perennials and shrubs are sufficiently supplied with nutrients for the first 6 to 8 weeks. In order to avoid a harmful oversupply, the administration of fertilizer only starts again when the supplies have been used up.
tips
Have you converted your balcony into a snack garden? Then mineral fertilizers are taboo. An organic nutrient supply guarantees lush growth and carefree enjoyment of balcony vegetables. Just run a worm farm on the balcony. Then, from spring to autumn, you have access to purely organic vermicompost and nutritious vermicompost tea as free fertilizers.