How do I create a garden space on a 2nd floor apartment balcony? How do i put celing hooks up on the balcony?

What are your suggestions fro creating a garden on a small 2nd floor balcony? How do you put hanging hooks up into a cement balcony celing? What flowers/plants do you suggest?

How do I create a garden space on a 2nd floor apartment balcony? How do i put celing hooks up on the balcony?
The biggest things to know when balcony gardening are which direction you face.. and water loss is your biggest concern. Pots lose water quickly. Use as big a pot as you can. If it's ok with the building, build planter boxes. fill the pots or boxes with hanging basket mix[ I added 1/3 composted manure because I go organic]. Cover the soil around the base of the plants with some type of mulch to keep the wind and sun from the soil. Plant something that likes water in your smallest pot.. when it wilts, water. If you face east you can grow almost anything. If you face south or west, you may want to stick to hot sun lovers, like marigolds, portulaca, ornamental grasses, sedums, hens n chicks, cacti, geraniums, rosemary[take in for winter], sage, thymes of all sorts, oregano, basil, tomatoes, peppers, and others. Basically anything from a mediterranean, or semidesert climate. If you face north then you need shade lovers. Things like impatiens, coleus, most houseplants, mints of all kinds, begonias, ferns, parsley, violets, violas and pansies, browallia, and anything else your nursery says will grow in shade in your area.
Reply:Pots work well or you might consider hydroponics. Hydroponics should give you better results, but they are more work to maintain. As for the hooks you do need to check with the apt. complex and when they say no, maybe you can put up a wooden 2x4 somehow and then put your hooks into that. [2x4's up the sides along the wall and then a 2x4 on top?!]
Reply:Go to any hardware store and get concrete screws Well your there check out there garden center and they'll have something there for your garden.
Reply:I would check with your apt. complex first to see if it is ok to put holes in the ceiling. If it is concrete then you will have to use a drill bit made for concrete. As for plants... depends on where you live and what kind of sun exposure you have. If you just want flowers you will probably need to go with annuals (they die every year but the blooms are typically brighter and last longer) Perennials come up every year but dont last too long. I would go with some hanging baskets with flowers that are more viney so they will hang down. Sorry I cant be more help unless I know where you live.
Reply:Tomatoes are real easy in pots! Full size or cherry. So are herbs. Petunias will grow and hang down and look nice. Ferns look good hanging. Ornimental Grass might look good too. Just have fun with it! As for hooks, guess you'll have to have a concrete bit and drill holes for the hooks.



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