A gourmet tree on my balcony

On the balcony, we often limit ourselves to small fruits because we think that fruit trees are reserved for the garden. This is not the case! Bright spring blooms, sweet and melting fruits and beautiful autumn foliage... on a sunny balcony, it would be a shame to go without a fruit tree!

Miniature fruit trees

For a few years now, it has been easy to obtain dwarf fruit trees, resulting from a selection of rootstocks and spontaneous mutations of fruit varieties. Apricot, almond, cherry, peach, pear and apple trees are making their way to the balcony for our pleasure.

In addition to their fruits, which are as large as those of "normal" trees, they offer a generous white or pink bloom depending on the subject chosen. Growing them in pots allows the earliest to benefit from the warmth of the walls or the quick installation of a winter cover in case of sudden cold.

Keys to success: fertile substrate. Mulching and copious watering in summer. Re-pot every 3-4 years.

Fig tree (Ficus carica)

A magnificent and ample cut foliage, sweet fruits nicely colored with green, purple and violet of the fig tree, by choosing varieties with low development it is possible to welcome a small fig tree on its balcony.

Some varieties: 'Brown Turkey', 'Brunswick', 'Dalmatie', 'Dorée', 'Madeline des Deux Saisons', 'Pastilière'.

Keys to success : deep pot (min 40 cm). Light, fertile substrate. Spaced out but copious watering. Organic fertilization at the end of winter. Pruning in spring when the sap rises. Good hardiness of the stump which starts again if there is a severe frost (-15°C).

Oleander (Laurus nobilis)

The laurel has a tough dark green evergreen foliage, supports perfectly the pruning and lends itself to take conical, pyramidal forms or on decorative stems all year long. Pick its leaves to flavor your best recipes!

Keys to success: fertile substrate. Regular watering all year round (if balcony is covered). Pruning in spring or late summer. Avoid cold drafts.

Staging idea

Your balcony is sunny and sheltered from the wind. Take advantage of this micro-climate to host one or two fruit trees adapted to small spaces (dwarf forms, columnar forms...). Accentuate the "miniature orchard" atmosphere with a few pots of small fruits (currants, blackcurrants, strawberries...) and two or three balls of boxwood. Combine these fruity flavors with aromatics (basil, chives, mint, thyme) and geraniums with fragrant foliage. Climbing nasturtiums and morning glory will complete this picture dedicated to the senses.

A tree on the balcony

As soon as a tree is installed on the balcony, it becomes the star of the show, creating a landscape all by itself. The presence of a tree also plays a protective, symbolic role, but not only because it avoids indiscreet glances, filters air currents and sifts the burning rays of the sun. It also brings relief and flexibility to the often strict and flat lines of a mineral urban setting.

Growing tips

Your tree must allow for good circulation on the balcony. If its adult dimensions seem too large, it should compensate by being able to withstand frequent and sometimes severe pruning. Note that growing it in a pot reduces its natural vigor.

Give it a container of choice. Harmonize the shape of the pot with the silhouette of the tree.

Choose a good quality, non-gelling material. Absolutely avoid water reserves as roots generally prefer a well-drained substrate, especially in winter.

The pot must be very stable to prevent the tree from tipping over (on the balcony, draughts are frequent and the wind load of a tree is important).

At the same time, buy useful accessories such as a tray with wheels for trees that need to be sheltered, a saucer to serve as a water reserve in summer...

Pamper your tree: respect its vital needs (substrate, exposure, watering, fertilization). In a pot, the reduced volume of soil increases the natural needs of the tree.

If the size of the pot does not allow for annual repotting, renew the substrate over a few centimeters (resurfacing). Never skimp on the quality of the soil!

In cold regions, swaddle the less hardy pots with several layers of wintering cloth.

Dress the base of the pot with small bulbs (muscaris, cyclamen, scillas, tulips and botanical daffodils), perennials with drooping foliage or a simple aesthetic mineral mulch (slate, oak chips, white gravel) when the roots are superficial and do not appreciate being disturbed.

Your tree will be the star of your balcony, so renew the decor around it regularly. There is no lack of ideas for the four seasons among the range of seasonal plants. Also think perennial scene with other permanent plants (roses, perennials, small shrubs, grasses, bamboo, pruned boxwood...). Over time, you will transform your balcony into a real mini-garden, a living room and the green soul of your home.

Small balcony idea: turn a small shrub, a shrubby perennial, an aromatic, a climber. Turn them into a miniature tree by removing the superfluous branches and creating a single stem that will act as a trunk. Some plants that lend themselves gracefully to this game: young wisteria, fuchsia, oleander, anthemis, solanum, lantana, velvetleaf, but also currant bushes, small conifers, pelargoniums!

Successfully growing bougainvillea in pots

Always sumptuously colored, the bougainvillea adorns the facades of houses in the Mediterranean basin with brio. In these countries with a mild climate, they grow in the open ground requiring practically no care to bloom abundantly each year. In pots, it's a different story...

Why grow a bougainvillea in a pot?

Bougainvillea is one of those plants that grow much better in the ground and should only be planted in a pot if absolutely necessary.

There are two reasons why a bougainvillea should be planted in a pot: lack of space (no garden) or climate (too cold).

It is important to be aware that the chances of success with this type of cultivation are slim, especially if the region is not suitable and you do not have a heated greenhouse, because the bougainvillea is originally from Brazil and needs a lot of heat and sun to flower and develop properly.

If your summer is hot and sunny, you can consider growing it on a balcony and then bring it inside during the cold season to protect it from frost.

Which pot ?

We often hear that bougainvillea blooms better in a narrow pot. This is not true! The root system is important and must be able to develop fully so that this climber, which can reach several meters in height, is at ease. Choose a large pot with a hole in the bottom to install your plant. The material does not matter. Just know that in a terracotta pot, evaporation will be more important, but gas exchanges will be better respected.

Which substrate ?

Plant your bougainvillea in a pot with a thick layer of clay balls at the bottom.

Choose a very good quality potting soil, or even better, organic garden soil in bags (nurseries, garden centers...). The latter holds moisture much better than most potting soils.

Add a little crushed horn and dried blood when planting.

Which exposure ?

Place your bougainvillea in full sun on a balcony, sheltered from prevailing winds. If necessary, install a windbreak to protect it.

What type of watering?

In summer and in pots, the bougainvillea must be watered very regularly so that the soil never dries out completely between two waterings. From autumn onwards, watering should be spaced out, especially if the plant is wintered in a cool place (between 10 and 12°C), it will then go into a resting period (the leaves will fall off) and a watering every 15 days/ 3 weeks will be sufficient.

Is it necessary to bring fertilizer?

Yes, and very regularly during the growth period. In liquid form after watering or in the form of dried blood scratched in the pot to feed this greedy plant. In period of rest, stop all the contributions of fertilizer.

What exposure for a lemon tree in a pot?

The lemon tree, because of its low hardiness, is cultivated in pots in most regions, which implies some particular growing conditions and a certain know-how regarding the exposure to obtain a good harvest.

A suitable pot

Whether it is comfortably installed in a large orangery-type container or in a large terracotta pot, the lemon tree remains a fruit tree whose roots need space to develop. In order to install your lemon tree in the best location for each season, consider placing it on wheels so that it can be moved easily, because for the roots to be comfortable, the pot will necessarily be quite heavy and bulky, especially once it is filled with moist substrate.

Exposure of the lemon tree in pot in spring

As soon as frost is no longer a concern and temperatures stabilize above 10°C night and day, you can consider putting your potted lemon tree on the balcony, terrace or in the garden. Be careful, once it is out of winter storage, it should be placed in full sun very gradually so as not to cause irreversible burns on the foliage, as the light indoors is rarely the same as outdoors. Start by putting it under a shelter (awning, roof overhang, covered terrace...) then, little by little, offer it the morning sun and finally a very sunny southern exposure, if possible protected from the prevailing winds. The period of habituation will extend over approximately one week to 10 days.

Start watering more regularly and add a mixture of crushed horn and dried blood after having made a good composting to promote the emission of new shoots and feed this greedy fruit tree.

Exposure of the lemon tree in pot in summer

In summer, the substrate dries out very quickly in pots, especially if the lemon tree is exposed to full sun and in a windy area. So beware!

• In the northern regions, a full southern and sunny exposure can be maintained because it will guarantee a good fruiting but always at the price of a sustained watering! Be careful, watering must be correctly dosed to avoid drowning the roots and inducing asphyxia; let the substrate dry on the surface for 2 cm before watering again. At this time of the year, if there is some water left in the cup, there is no drama, especially when a thick draining layer (pozzolan, gravel, clay balls...) has been provided at the bottom of the pot. The residual water should evaporate in a few hours at most.
• In southern regions, a full southern exposure and full sun is to be avoided because it would be too hot in the pot, even with an adapted watering.
• In these regions, install your lemon tree facing East or West so that it benefits from at least 4 hours of sunlight in the morning or evening while protecting it from the burning rays of the midday. If this is not possible due to lack of space, install a shade cloth, an umbrella or even better, a camouflage net that allows air and a few sun rays to pass through without the situation remaining hot; all your other potted plants will benefit from this.

Exposure of the lemon tree in pot in autumn

• In northern regions, at the very beginning of autumn, if the temperatures remain mild and above 8°C night and day, move your lemon tree to a south-facing position sheltered from the wind so that it can benefit from as much sun as possible before overwintering. You will then have to be very vigilant about the temperature so that it does not catch a cold!
• In the southern regions, the sun can still hit very hard until the end of October, however, it becomes less scorching. A South-East or South-West exposure is recommended in September, then, from mid-October onwards, the lemon tree can be moved due south until the temperatures drop to 8°C at night. It will then be time to winterize it indoors.

In autumn, start spacing out the watering by watering only when the substrate is 3 cm dry on the surface, whether you grow your lemon tree in a northern or southern region.

Exposure of the lemon tree in pot in winter

In winter, the lemon tree grown in a pot should be installed away from frost, in a very bright and cool room, never in an apartment where the air is too hot and too dry and where the light will never be sufficient unless it is placed next to a south-facing bay window (beware of cold spells at night if the window is not protected by a shutter and curtains).

Choose an orangery if you are lucky enough to have one, a greenhouse, a veranda, or a winter garden. The luminosity should be maximum with if possible a few hours of full sun in the morning or afternoon. In the mildest regions, remember to ventilate the room often in hot and sunny weather, as temperatures can rise very quickly!

In cold weather, install a space heater so that temperatures never fall below 5°C.

The ideal temperature for the wintering of the lemon tree is between 5 and 14°C, the waterings will be then very reduced so that the substrate dries almost completely between two waterings. Obviously, during this period of rest in the cool, the contributions in fertilizers will be stopped.

Planting an olive tree in a pot

The olive tree is a magnificent ornamental plant with southern connotations that can be grown in a pot on a terrace or balcony.

Advantages of growing in a pot

The olive tree is a slow-growing plant that adapts well to pot cultivation, but unlike plants planted in the ground, it will need some care.

Growing in a pot has many advantages:

• accessibility of the culture of this tree to all those who have only a balcony or a terrace;
• possibility to grow an olive tree in cold regions, because in winter it can be brought under cover;
• Possibility to take it with you when you move.

How to plant an olive tree in a pot ?

Prefer to do this operation in spring when there is no risk of frost.

Choose a young, healthy tree with no spots or pests.

Soak the root ball in a large bucket of water for one hour before planting.

Remove the branches at the level of the root ball and the low lateral branches along the trunk.

Choose a tray or pot of a size equivalent to 3 times the size of the purchase pot in all directions. Drain the bottom with clay balls over 5 cm.

If you have a garden, spread a layer of soil from the garden on top. If it is very heavy, add medium-grained sand. A commercial potting soil containing a little clay will also do the trick and will retain water during the hot summer months, thus limiting your watering interventions.

Place the rootball on this substrate so that the collar is flush with the top of the container.

Fill in the gaps with soil, taking care that the plant is straight in its pot.

Pack the soil on the surface.

Water and add soil if necessary.

Specific care for the olive tree grown in a pot

A potted tree is subject to the elements without being able to draw water and the elements necessary for its survival from the earth, so it is dependent on you. Always place your olive tree in a sheltered and sunny place. Be sure to water it very regularly, i.e. once a week in spring and twice or three times a week in summer when heat, wind and drought are prevalent. In winter, reduce watering to a strict minimum and never let water stagnate in the cup to avoid the appearance of diseases.

Winterized plants, especially in heated premises, will need more frequent watering; however, a watering every two weeks should be sufficient.

During the growing season, remember to add a little organic fertilizer every ten days after a copious watering.

Repotting is done every three years in the spring on young trees, then a resurfacing will be necessary every year on the larger and more difficult to handle trees.

It is not necessary to prune a potted olive tree, but you may want to thin out the center of the tree to let in light and ensure good ventilation. Forget the "ball" pruning which favors the appearance of parasites due to lack of ventilation.

Mini rock garden in trough

Creating a mini rock garden in a trough is very easy. It allows you to create a miniature garden a little high, easy to monitor and maintain, which will please children curious about nature. 

Yarrow or saxifrage are the king plants of a mini rock garden, producing their rosette pads. They are easy and colorful plants.

Different kinds of containers can be used, whether it is a real old stone or concrete trough, a small molded trough made of fake stone bought in garden centers or a recycled zinc basin, a large bowl, even chipped, because the possible defects can be masked by a plant that overflows.  Beware, however, of pottery that will not withstand the frost.

Drainage is important

The container, whatever it is, must be pierced at the bottom so that natural drainage is ensured and the trough in question does not turn into a mud bath! 

Alpine plants, although very resistant to drought, generally like to sink their roots quite deep into the soil. They are therefore provided with between 15 and 30 cm of soil; if the container is deeper, the base is filled with pebbles, pebbles, shards of tiles,. Whatever you have on hand.

Which soil to use?

Clay, loam or sandy garden soil is fine. If the soil is too clayey, with a tendency to be impermeable, it can be lightened with coarse sand. If the soil is too rich, with a high moisture content, it can be lightened with gravel as well. Rockery plants are less beautiful and more fragile if the soil is too rich. The bare earth between the separated plants will be covered with gravel.

How to choose the plants?

The rock garden is theoretically created for years, and must withstand the weather without any protection. For this purpose, it is necessary to choose hardy plants. Among the succulents that are seen on sale, make sure with a specialist that they are frost resistant in your region. Some classic examples:

The sunny and warm mini rock garden

The ultimate beginner's rock garden plants are houseleeks, of the genus Sempervivum. Extremely hardy, these little shaved cabbages come in all sorts of species and varieties that allow you to achieve a cameo of color and texture with this one genus. They form a carpet of tightly packed rosettes: for example, large flat rosettes with brown tips with Sempervivum tectorum, bright red rosettes for Sempervivum 'Othello', or small, round and nicely woven with white threads for the species Sempervivum arachnoides.

Their cousin, Jovibarba, are rarer and slower to multiply. A Delosperma nubigenum, hidden behind its yellow daisies, finishes to brighten up the whole (photo). These species of plants, succulent, can be transplanted from April to September.

A shadier trough

If you only have a shadier spot to set up your little rock garden, then you need to put saxifrages in it; there are moss-type saxifrages, which are bright green and like a little more water, and limestone-encrusted saxifrages, which are very compact, in a gray-green carpet, with beautiful flowers. Indeed, the saxifrages are resistant to the drought, but prefer not to overheat, they are satisfied with half-shade, or bright shade.  Their spring flowering is particularly attractive. The pots of the plants are basked before transplanting, which is best done in spring or fall.

Of course, a number of other plants can be suitable, as the world of alpine plants is vast. If you get absorbed in it, one trough after the other, if you become passionate little by little, do not hesitate to join SAJA, the Society of Alpine Gardeners.