Balcony plants and frost, winter and small mistakes that happen more often than you imagine. A real guide, with practical advice and without illusions, to keep the greenery you have outside your home safe.
A sudden change in temperature is enough to see the leaves curl up or lose color. Balcony plants suffer in winter, yes, but it is often banal mistakes, those made out of habit or in a hurry, that really put them at risk. Yet, with a few practical precautions and a little extra attention, surviving the frost is not that impossible. In the city, especially between December and February, you often see numb geraniums or dull cyclamen on windowsills. A recurring scene. But it can be avoided, of course. The question isn’t just where you put the pots: it has to do with watering, the choice of covers, even the way you arrange dry leaves. And the sun? Better not to take it for granted, because it can be an ally, but also a trap. Sometimes all it takes is a half-open window, or a sudden rain, and the damage is done.
Among the most common protagonists of balconies there are plants such as geraniums, cyclamens, pansies, primrosesbut also rosemary and some aromatic herb which remains outside all year round. There is no shortage of small ones camelliassome snowdrop resistant and, in large pots, perhaps one skimmia or one erica. Some species, such as the lavender o to gaultheriathey do quite well, while others suffer from sudden frosts and stagnation.
Protecting balcony plants from frost: what really matters
The first mistake? Thinking that it is enough to cover everything with a cloth and go. In reality, frost penetrates everywhere, especially at night. Plastic pots, for example, retain less heat than terracotta ones. Moving them close to a wall or under a roof, even just a few centimeters, changes a lot: the microclimate makes the difference. Be careful not to overdo it with the covers. An improvised greenhouse, if not ventilated, can become a trap for humidity and mold. Here we often make mistakes due to too much haste.
Avoiding direct contact of the pots with the cold floor helps: a small rise, such as a piece of wood or feet, is enough. Details? Maybe, but in winter they make a difference. And then, every balcony has its own wind. Better to observe, at least once, how the air moves: you don’t need to be a botanist, just a glance during a freezing day is enough.
Watering plants (badly) in winter: the most underestimated mistake
It happens to think that in the cold the plants are “thirsty” like in summer. A frequent illusion. In reality, at low temperatures the water stagnates and risks freezing. Watering too much, especially in the evening, is one of the classic traps: wet roots plus frost, and the damage is done. Better little water, in the morning and only when the earth seems really dry. A practical trick? Just stick a finger into the soil. If it sticks, no water. If it comes out clean, a few sips may help.
And then, there’s the matter of saucers. In winter, it’s better to remove them: they avoid stagnation and surprises. If you really can’t, empty them often. A detail, but it saves more plants than you think.
The 7 (wrong) habits that put balcony plants at risk
There are mistakes that are repeated every year, like a ritual. Here are the ones that are most often seen on city windowsills and which, with some attention, can be avoided without becoming botany experts:
- Cover too much, without letting the plants breathe (this applies to geraniums, pansies, primroses and cyclamens).
- Leave the pots in direct contact with the frozen floor (especially those of heather and skimmia).
- Watering in the evening, or too often, also risks rosemary and lavender.
- Underestimate wind and drafts.
- Forgetting to remove or empty saucers, especially under plants such as camellias and wintergreen.
- Expose delicate plants to direct sun after a frost.
- Ignore the dry leaves, which instead protect the soil (very useful for violets, primroses and cyclamen).
Some of these habits come from haste, others from old advice passed down without too many questions. Yet it really doesn’t take much to change your routine. A small, different gesture every morning can make the difference. In the silence of a winter balcony, sometimes you can only hear the drops on the glass. Then, when the good season returns, everything will seem simpler.
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