The author of the text is dr inż. Szczepan Marczyński
By growing plants on a balcony or terrace, we can create an additional green room.Vines are best suited for this purpose because of their unique growth dynamics.They can decorate their surroundings with leaves or colorful flowers.
Vigorously overgrown climbers, apart from their decorative qualities, improve air quality, stopping dust and gaseous pollutants and enriching the atmosphere with oxygen.They also effectively protect against the scorching sun, reducing the need for air conditioning, and create secluded corners that promote privacy.
Climbers can be planted in the ground next to the house, and after they have grown, lead them over the balcony or terrace. After agreeing with the neighbors, they can be brought up to 8-10 floors.Such cultivation of vines greatly facilitates their care, because it does not require protecting their roots from frost, and also reduces the need to water and fertilize the plants.The roots grow deep into the ground and satisfy most of the water and nutritional needs on their own.
Most often, however, balcony creepers are grown in containers.The stores now have a large selection of decorative pots: ceramic, plastic or wooden, of various shapes and methods.Those with decent insulation that protects the roots from freezing are especially worth recommending.
Wintering potted vines
Plant roots are several degrees Celsius more sensitive to frost than the above-ground part (shoots), therefore the containers must be protected before winter so that the temperature in them does not drop too much. Small containers with clematis can be placed in a cool cellar (0-5 ° C) for the winter or placed in the garden in the ground, so that the base of the plant is 5 cm below the ground.
All other plants need to be secured on the balcony or terrace by placing them on a thick polystyrene board and surrounding the container with joined boards of polystyrene, plywood or cardboard.Cover the container protected in this way with shredded polystyrene or other non-absorbing insulation material.
The insulation on each side of the container should be 5-10 centimeters thick, and the top should be protected against rain.Leaving clematis on the balcony for winter without proper protection may cause the roots to freeze.Wrapping the container with plain cloth or bubble wrap is usually insufficient.
The most common mistakes made when growing clematis or other climbers in containers are : insufficient watering, over-fertilization and insufficient protection against winter.
