These plants create a holiday atmosphere on your balcony

You don't necessarily need unusual plants to turn your balcony into a sea of colours. Well-known floral favourites are also ideal for adding the flora of far-away lands to your terrace. Hailing from South America, begonia, petunia and fuchsia are famous for their floral abundance. Depending on the variety, the flowers of the low-maintenance begonia radiate in almost all colours. A distinguishing feature of the petunia are its trumpet-like flowers – usually white, pink, violet, red or blue and sometimes with spotted, star-shaped or striped patterns. With more than 100 wild varieties, fuchsias offer an abundance of wonderful flowers. Predominantly in hanging baskets, these genera provide diverse exoticism on your balcony.

Do you prefer something more discreet? Then we recommend the bacopa 'sutera cordata'. The South African plant owes its name to its abundant white flowers which dance in the summer breeze like snowdrops. It reliably blooms in gentle violet and powdery rosé from May into October.  Miniature roses, which originate from the Middle East and China, are a good choice given their timelessly beautiful flowers and their scent. The benefits: They are compact, bushy and flower tirelessly throughout the summer. When it comes to the range of colours and shapes, the flowers of miniature roses don't fall short when compared to their larger siblings.

When potting or repotting, make sure that the containers are at least 3 to 4 cm taller than the root balls. The base should also have a drain hole to drain off water. Use a drip tray to prevent any dirt collecting on your balcony or terrace due to excess leaking water. The soil should be structurally stable. This means that it doesn't cave in on itself after watering. This allows the roots to develop better – it also has an effect on shoot growth above ground. High-quality special soils contain components such as perlite and bark humus, which aerate the roots and ensure a high water storage capacity.