- Know the distances in the flower box
- Number of flowers in the balcony box
- Distances by flower variety
- frequently asked Questions
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Flower boxes offer space for a luxuriant blooming flower splendor on balconies. In order for them to grow healthily and flower for a long time, it is important to know how many plants to put in a flower box.
In a nutshell
- each plant requires individual planting distance
- the larger the box, the more plants can be accommodated in it
- too close a distance leads to growth restrictions
- Number of flowers in flower boxes depends on plant growth
- too many plants promote fungal growth
Know the distances in the flower box
When the first balcony flowers are to move into the balcony boxes in spring, they are usually small specimens that want/have to grow strongly in the next few weeks. In order for them to be able to do this, it is important to pay attention to the planting distance of each individual flower. This means that this should already be known at the time of purchase in order to know how many plants are required per flower box. In most cases, the plantings initially look very puny and "holey". However, this should be accepted, because if the minimum distances are not observed, there is a high risk that you will not be able to enjoy the planting for long.
In order for your flower boxes to thrive in a similarly lush way, you must make sure that the planting distances are correct when planting the balcony boxes.
Usually irreparable damage occurs:
- Supply disruptions up to and including the death of the plants due to insufficient space for roots to spread
- No or limited root growth reduces plant growth
- Competition with neighboring plants results in a lack of nutrients, often reduced flower formation and rapid flower wilting
- higher water requirement and thus increased risk of drying out
- Depending on the plant species, there may be restrictions on the supply of light due to the formation of shadows
- Danger of fungus formation due to insufficient ventilation when planting too close together
Number of flowers in the balcony box
How many plants are to be placed in a flower box depends primarily on the size of the box. The usual sizes are described below with information about the average number of plants:
| Flower box length | number of flowers |
|---|---|
| 40 centimeters | 1 to 2 |
| 50 centimeters | 2 to 3 |
| 60 centimeters | 3 to 4 |
| 80 centimeters | 4 to 5 |
| 100 centimeters | 6 to 8 |
| 120 centimeters | 8 to 10 |
notice: The data are average values, which can vary significantly depending on the plant variety. In principle, experience has shown that the maximum number of plants is a guide value that should not be exceeded.
Distances by flower variety
For example, a rib fern (Blechnum spicant) with a maximum growth width of 15 centimeters grows much more "space-saving" than the dwarf rose 'Mandarin' (Rosa 'Mandarin'), which can and wants to spread up to 30 centimeters. Accordingly, more specimens of the narrower plant variety fit into a flower box than of wider varieties. However, it is not only the growth width that plays a role here, but also the associated demands on the substrate. As a rule, larger balcony flowers remove more moisture and nutrients from it. For this reason alone, the minimum distance between the individual types of balcony flowers should always be observed.
Geraniums (left) and petunias (right) are among the most common balcony flowers.
Below are the ten most popular flowers for window boxes and recommended planting distances:
| plant | Distances between individual plants |
|---|---|
| Begonias (Begonia) | about 20 centimeters |
| Elfspur (Diascia) | 25 to 30 centimeters |
| Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana) | 20 to 30 centimeters |
| Fuchsias (Fuchsia) | around 15 centimeters |
| Geraniums (Pelargonium) | Distances between 20 and 30 centimeters three liters of soil per plant |
| Marguerites (Leucanthemum) | between 30 to 40 centimeters needs thick soil cover of about 15 centimeters, so only plant in deep boxes |
| Petunias (Petunia) | 20 to 25 centimeters |
| Marigold (tagetes) | short seedlings about 15 centimeters tall varieties between 40 and 50 centimeters |
| Lantana (Lantana) | between 40 to 50 centimeters |
| Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) | about 30 centimeters |
Tip: In principle, you should only put balcony plants in flower boxes from mid-May after the ice saints, because frost is still possible until then, which in the worst case can cause frost-sensitive young plants to freeze to death.
frequently asked Questions
How many geraniums fit in a 100 centimeter long flower box?Since you should keep a planting distance of between 20 and 30 centimeters for geraniums, it is possible to plant between three and five specimens.
Besides fuchsias, what else can be planted in a 60 centimeter long flower box?You can plant four fuchsias or a mix of flowers such as fuchsia, petunia and busy lizard. Find out about the planting distances of the balcony flowers that you would like to plant and then combine them so that they fit into the existing box size.
Why is the distance usually between two values?A minimum and maximum spacing is often given to help you decide whether you want a dense or loose growth pattern. With geraniums, for example, this means that you have to keep at least 20 centimeters to the neighboring plant and plant another plant after 30 centimeters at the latest, so that there are no unsightly gaps in the flower box.