Mediterranean plants for balconies and gardens

You don't necessarily have to wander far to enjoy a little Mediterranean flair

Sowing of Mediterranean plants

The sowing depends on the respective plant species. Warm to hot temperatures are the basic requirement for a good start to growth for almost all Mediterranean plants. While olive trees get by with little water even at very high temperatures, Mediterranean plants such as the fig tree require sufficient moisture. A warm place can be chosen for sowing, which makes regular watering easy and provides constant conditions for healthy growth.

repot

When choosing the location, a transitional location such as a pot, a bucket or an outdoor space can be chosen. If the temperatures are already so warm that the growth is favored by the natural climate, the final location should be chosen in the best case. If the choice falls on a pot, the repotting should be carried out early. If Mediterranean plants are subject to the optimal growing conditions, repotting may be necessary more quickly than with regional plants. Warmth and moisture can be real boosters that help Mediterranean plants, such as Mediterranean cypress, to grow quickly.

Location, watering, fertilizing

Watering should always be done on average. Even if Mediterranean plants develop magnificently in extreme environments, extreme watering or the position of the sun are rather unfortunate site conditions. Regular watering and a good location from the start enable the desired Mediterranean plant to grow safely. You should be particularly careful with fertilizers for Mediterranean plants. Due to the often low demands, a fertilizer with too many nutrients can be too much of a good thing and over-fertilize the Mediterranean plant.

Regular assessment of the growth progress and a look at the amount of water, a possibly necessary change of location replace some fertilizer ambitions. At best, choose the time of sowing according to the persistent temperatures and thus be as close as possible to the original location of the respective Mediterranean plant. Support healthy and lasting growth and allow a strong and fruitful Mediterranean plant to grow from the start.

Cutting Mediterranean plants

While cutting branches or stems helps to give the shoots space and the plant enough strength, inexperienced cutting can lead to the Mediterranean plant dying. It is therefore important to look at the individual requirements of the respective plant and to meet them. In the case of Mediterranean plants, the rule applies: let them grow first and only cut them in rare cases. Whereby the withered flowers of the hibiscus should be removed immediately after detection in order to avoid the coming Pruning a thyme or rosemary is to be done with care, giving flowers space and enough sunlight to perform. Towards winter shoots grow on the branches that can easily be considered dead. Cutting off these ends will have a negative effect on the plant and can cause it to die immediately.

hibernate

Many Mediterranean plants do not know the German winter conditions. In order for them to survive the winter well below 10 °C, it is advisable to change the location of the plants at an early stage. If these are in pots or tubs, they can be transported to a slightly heated conservatory, shed or basement. When changing the location, the guarantee of brightness and the influence of the sun must be taken into account in any case. If the Mediterranean plants are transplanted into the ground, air-permeable tarpaulins will help.

Space heaters can provide a few higher temps during very cold winters and increase the likelihood of safety. If a harsh winter with black ice and ground frost is expected, don't wait too long and protect your plants, if necessary by digging up a wide area and transporting them to a warmer place Location. Especially with plants that you have had with you for a year or more, do not take any chances and ensure early, extensive winter protection.

Propagating diseases and pests

A particular advantage of Mediterranean plants is that shoots and sprouts are easy to plant and grow. Become your own small school of Mediterranean plants and grow real jasmine, hemp palm or the perennial oleander in as many numbers as you like. Unfortunately, the pests that are spreading in Germany are also pests for Mediterranean plants. If you spot aphids on the leaves of your evergreen magnolia or lemon tree, wait Don't waste time and use a natural antidote first to rid your plant of infestation to free. Mediterranean plants are generally less susceptible to pests and more sensitive to temperatures and too much or too little watering. Most important is continuity in heat and water supply.

Popular Mediterranean plants

• persimmon
• love tree
• laurel
• bird of paradise flower
• triplet flower
• real jasmine
• strawberry tree
• elephant foot
• angel trumpet
• pomegranate

Before you buy, find out about the individual needs of each plant and consider the characteristics of your location: Do you have a lot of space to offer? Is the place continuously supplied with sunlight? Can plants grow in width and height, or is repotting or transplanting necessary? Would you like to plant plants with fruit or plants with flowers? How much time would you like to invest in rearing and caring for them? The more detailed you can answer the questions for yourself, the better the cultivation of your plants will be. Misses can be avoided right from the start and you can enjoy the beauty of the south in your garden or on your balcony in summer or late summer!

Other popular Mediterranean plants

• olive tree
• Mediterranean cypress
• perennial oleander
• hemp palm
• date palm
• lemon Tree
• fig tree
• hibiscus
• grapevine
• mulberry tree

Worth knowing shortly

You don't necessarily have to wander far to enjoy a little Mediterranean flair. You can easily bring Tuscany, Andalusia, Mykonos or Provence into your home on the balcony, on the terrace, in the garden or even in an inner courtyard.

Andalusian ambience is created with pot plants and lush floral decorations in simple containers: in Andalusia, many passionate pot gardeners transform their courtyards into a flower paradise. Not only are there lots of pot bloomers on the floor, the chalky white walls are there too geranium pots adorned. plants like bougainvillea, oleander, hibiscus, myrtle, jasmine, palm lily, trembling grass, lantana, mallow, climbing roses, verbena, boxwood, laurel, olive tree, figs, lead root or pomegranate give us the necessary atmosphere. All in terracotta pots, of course.

• citrus plants spoil us not only with their flowers, but also with their scents: lemon, tangerine and orange tree, grapefruit, grapefruit and bergamot.
• Also wine and Wisteria belong inseparably to the southern flair. In large pots, they create a holiday mood even on the smallest south-facing balconies and provide us with the necessary shade.
• Spicy herbs such as lemon balm, sage, thyme, basil, oregano, coriander, rosemary and of course lavender - best in very light-colored clay pots - delight our senses and lift the spirits.
• Plus stylish ones garden furniture, one Palm tree in a pot, terracotta in all variations, a few stone figures, pretty accessories and a romantic lantern - and we've arrived in the sunny south.
• Among the palm trees, date palms (Phoenix canariensis), hemp palms (Trachycarpus fortunei), Madagascar palms (Pachypodium lamerei), dwarf date palms (Phoenix roebelenii) and other.

Recently, more and more exotic plants have been added to the citrus plants. Countless fruit trees are on offer. Many look great on the patio or in the garden in the summer, but lack adequate winter quarters. That is why many of these exotic species do not survive the winter well. Figs are very Mediterranean and quite easy to cultivate, e.g. B. Ficus carica 'Bornholm Figs'. A hardy fig is Ficus 'Brown turkey'. Should be down to -20 °C Ficus 'carica' (green and blue) tolerated. Sharon fruit (persimmon fruit), pomegranate, Nashi pear, prickly pear, strawberry tree, goji berry and others are also very popular in tubs.

Not only are cranberries healthy, you can also grow them in the garden. They are ideal ground covers. However, you have to be careful in autumn when the berries are ripe. Birds taste them excellent and they are quick to harvest.

Typical Mediterranean plants are also

• palisade wood tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia), with its great blue-purple flowers
• eucalyptus (Eucalyptus gunnii) with its blue-grey foliage
• orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata) with its numerous white flowers
• Hawaiian palm (Brighamia insignis) with their yellow flowers
• Passion flowers of all kinds (Passiflora caerulea) with their different colored flowers
• cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens), which impress with their extraordinary growth
• true laurel (Laurus nobilis), the leaves of which can be used in the kitchen
• love lily (Agapanthus africanus) with their great white or blue flowers
• temple trees (Blumeria) with its fragrant and beautiful flowers
• oleander fig (Ficus ali) with its striking growth
• Judas tree (Cercis seliquastrum) with its flowers growing directly from the stem
• but also the normal boxwood (boxy) that fits anywhere and is evergreen.

Countless Mediterranean plants are commercially available. One should never forget that many of them cannot cope with our Central European climate. They can only be cultivated in pots. Even if the nameplate says that the plants can withstand temperatures down to -20 °C, you cannot rely on it. It always depends on the climate zone you live in. The plants may survive a cold night just fine, but permafrost kills almost all of them. Therefore, you have to overwinter the buckets in the house, garage or similar, or pack the buckets very well outside, if possible with heating. In areas with mild winters, e.g. B. in wine-growing areas, many Mediterranean plants survive winters outside quite well. Without protection, however, very few can cope.

Learn more about balcony plants