Garden expert names plants to brighten balconies through winter

Gardening expert Eva Luigas has recommended hellebores, laurel and heather to keep balconies colourful in the darker months, ERR reported from its Terevisioon programme.

How long balcony plants last depends largely on their care, Luigas said. Plants sold as autumn flowers prefer cooler temperatures: daytime temperatures above 10C and nighttime temperatures of 5C to 6C are suitable. She advised using autumn fertiliser without nitrogen, which would encourage new growth, and picking off faded flowers. Watering can wash nutrients out of the soil.

For a cool windowsill, cyclamen may be suitable, while chili peppers are an option for a warm one. Luigas said balcony boxes should be planted for the current season, which may last another two months, rather than with the expectation that plants will survive the whole winter.

A hellebore can overwinter in a large planter on a terrace, but plants in narrow balcony boxes are unlikely to survive because the soil freezes through. Heather is another option: green, yellowish and grey varieties tend to last longer than flowering ones. Lime-green heather can turn red in sunlight and as temperatures fluctuate, Luigas said, and this is not a sign that the plant is dying.

Ornamental cabbage can last in the garden until spring and also grows well in pots. Luigas also recommended adding plants with sturdy leaves among flowers and berries, such as evergreen laurel, which can overwinter outdoors in Western Europe.