As soon as the ice saints are over on May 16th and no more cold snaps are to be expected, it is high time to replant the balcony with fresh summer flowers. The pelargoniums, commonly referred to as geraniums, are ideal both for an impressive solo appearance and as a plant partner for numerous other flowering plants.
If geraniums are combined with other flowers, sufficient distance between the plants must be maintained
Select suitable plant partners
Numerous different summer flowers are suitable, depending on whether you prefer a colorful mix or color-coordinated. However, flowers cannot be socialized according to whim, but should be cleverly combined according to suitable location and growth conditions.
Consider location preferences
This primarily includes whether the selected plants have similar requirements in terms of location and care. Flowers that prefer semi-shady to shady locations (such as begonias or fuchsias) will not be happy with sun-seeking neighbors such as geraniums. The same applies to care: if they are placed in the same planter, the requirements for moisture and fertilization should complement each other. Heavy-feeding plants are also heavy feeders, otherwise you will quickly have diseases and pests in the window box.
Well suited plant partners for geraniums
Geraniums harmonize very well with the following plant species, among others:
- Petunias (Petunia)
- Magic bells (calbrachoa)
- Cape daisies (Osteospermum)
- Gold Bidens (Bidens)
- Hussar button (Sanvitalia procumbens)
- Purslane (Portulaca grandiflora)
- Vanilla flowers (Heliotropium arborescens)
- Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
- Blue daisies (Brachycome multifida)
- Loyal to men (Lobelia erinus)
- or verbs (Verbena).
Colorful or would you prefer a more balanced colour?
Now it's time to meet your aesthetic expectations. Once you have found suitable planting partners, you should now sort them according to your preferences. You have a number of options: Do you want a brightly colored balcony in different colors or should it be more colour-balanced, for example in shades of pink and white or violet and blue?
Plant balcony flowers
Once the above questions have been answered, you can now start planting the flowers.
Selection of planters
First of all, it is important to choose suitable planters for the selected flowers. You have the choice between different styles, depending on which plants you prefer. Braided balcony boxes (€109.00) in white or other colors that match the flowers go very well with geraniums and other summer flowers. White geraniums, for example, fit perfectly into red flower boxes, (16.99 €) red and pink ones also into green ones.
planting distance
But whichever planter you choose, always pay attention to the planting distance of the individual types of flowers! Geraniums, for example, need a distance of about 30 to 40 centimeters from their neighbors, other species more or less. Planting too close together can lead to stunted growth and the failure of the flower.
tips
Incidentally, geraniums can be combined not only with numerous summer flowers, but also with grasses.