June 12, 2023, 3:01 pm | Read time: 7 minutes

Not every hobby gardener has a green thumb. It’s not only frustrating when plants die, but it also becomes costly over time. It’s better to choose low-maintenance balcony plants right away, where the care effort is less, and you can’t go wrong. Generally, plants with striking blooms are considered more intensive to care for than those with inconspicuous flowers. However, there are also specimens with colorful blooms that require little attention. Those without a green thumb can cultivate the following low-maintenance balcony plants.

1. Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)

Moss roses require very little water. The plant originates from the sunny countries of South America. However, the annual succulents also thrive on balconies. Full sun locations where the plants are protected from rain are suitable. The substrate should be loose and well-drained. Additionally, the soil should not contain too many nutrients. As a succulent, the plant stores water in its fleshy leaves, so hobby gardeners hardly need to water it. It’s worth creating a drainage layer in the balcony box to reduce the risk of waterlogging, which would cause the roots of the moss roses to rot and eventually die.

The rose-like flowers can appear in white, yellow, orange, red, pink, and violet. You can easily remove faded plant parts to make room for new blooms. You don’t need to fertilize the plant, and you generally don’t have to worry about pests and diseases, as the succulent is considered robust.

2. Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana)

A low-maintenance balcony plant that also thrives in the shade? Busy Lizzie fits the bill. In direct sunlight, brown spots would form on the plant’s flowers. Therefore, it’s best to choose a spot in partial or bright shade. The flowers even do well on a north-facing balcony. The soil should be loose and humus-rich. Hobby gardeners can’t go wrong with its care. The soil should be kept moist. A watering globe can help to dose the water amount correctly. Waterlogging should be avoided. Twice a month, you can add liquid fertilizer to the watering.

From May to September, the white, orange, red, pink, or violet flowers appear. To promote blooming, you can remove faded specimens from the plant. The seed capsules of Busy Lizzie are also interesting. Ripe capsules burst open when touched. They are so eager to be freed that nature has devised something special. This is what “impatiens” in the scientific name refers to; it means impatient.

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3. Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)

With its dense, compact, and trailing growth, the low-maintenance plant Lobelia is suitable as a balcony plant. Unsightly gaps in the balcony box are quickly filled with this flower. The delicate violet, blue, pink, or white flowers appear from May to September. A sunny location is ideal, where many flowers will form. The soil should be humus-rich and loose.

The substrate should always be kept moist, avoiding waterlogging. A drainage layer helps with this. First, fill the pot with a layer of gravel, then add potting soil and the plant. Every two weeks, you can fertilize Lobelia through the watering. The nitrogen content should be low. Pruning is also straightforward. After the first bloom, cut the plant back a bit in mid-July.

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4. Bacopa (Sutera cordata)

Small white flowers have given Bacopa its name. It also blooms in pink or violet. You can easily cultivate this low-maintenance plant on the balcony. The perennial bloomer displays its floral splendor from May to October. Particularly charming is that Bacopa forms long shoots. The plant feels most comfortable in a sunny or partially shaded location. With less sun, it produces fewer flowers but also requires less water. Important: Avoid waterlogging. It’s best to keep the substrate moist. The soil should also be loose and humus-rich. Once a month, hobby gardeners can fertilize Bacopa. You can easily pick off faded flowers.

5. Astilbe (Astilben)

Astilbe boasts truly unusual and therefore particularly beautiful blooms. The flower spikes adorn both gardens and balconies from June to August. They bloom in various colors, including white, pink, violet, and red. The unique aspect of this plant is that it bears its striking flowers even with little sun. A partially shaded spot is ideal, but the plants also thrive in the shade. The less sun the plants receive, the less you need to water them.

The soil should be nutrient-rich. You only need to fertilize them in the spring, and compost is suitable for this. During the summer blooming period, you don’t need to prune the plants. Pruning is done in the following spring.

6. Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima)

Ornamental grasses are among the easiest plants to care for on the balcony. Among the other colorful flowers, grasses like feather grass stand out. It offers gentle privacy and its fine foliage sways in the wind. The flower awns are rather inconspicuous but give the grass its second name, angel hair grass, due to their silvery, feathery appearance. It’s best to choose a sunny to partially shaded location. The soil should not be too heavy and clayey. If this is the case for the soil in the balcony box, it’s worth loosening it with sand. Feather grass originally comes from Mexico and is therefore well-suited to dry conditions.

Pruning is not necessary. The grass remains green even in winter. Only in the following spring should you remove the brown, dead stalks. When planting on the balcony, it’s also important to choose a container of the right size. It’s better to opt for a larger pot.

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7. Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum)

Chrysanthemums not only bloom in a wide range of colors but are also among the easier balcony plants to care for. Depending on the variety, the plants have different requirements for location and care. Autumn chrysanthemums are suitable for the balcony. You can plant them in the box as early as spring, but you can also plant them in the fall. You don’t need to fertilize the plants. Keep the soil evenly moist. They feel most comfortable in a sunny to partially shaded location. The soil should be well-drained. You can regularly remove faded plant parts.

8. Ivy

Plants with large blooms generally require more care than those with only inconspicuous ones. Roses, geraniums, or asters need a lot of energy, and thus fertilizer and water, to produce them. It’s different with plants like ivy. You usually don’t need to fertilize it. On the balcony, hobby gardeners should choose a deep pot so the roots have enough space. Ivy feels most comfortable in the shade. The substrate should be kept moist, avoiding waterlogging.

Depending on the variety, you can let the plant’s long shoots hang down or use a trellis to let them climb up. If you’re not satisfied with the growth, hobby gardeners can simply trim the plant. It’s important to wear gloves while doing so, as the plant is toxic.