Use plants in pots to brighten up your patio!

Patio plants in pots are an easy way to add a splash of colour to your garden, patio or balcony. By mixing and matching spring and summer blooms, you can enjoy greenery and flowers almost all year round. Even in an unseasonably cool spring, these richly flowering plants still look sunny and cheerful! Spring is the perfect time to plant patio plants in a pot. Plant them in outdoor pots, balcony boxes and hanging baskets. The possibilities are endless. Give your patio or balcony a colour boost with these tips & tricks!

Which plants are suitable for lots of sun or little sun?

Do you have a sunny patio or a shady one? Then select your gardenplants accordingly. Most patio plants like full sun, but luckily there are also varieties that grow well in the shade or partial shade. Which patio plants are best suited to your patio or balcony?

Do you have a south-facing patio or balcony? Then choose plants that grow well in full sun and can withstand drought. For example, common pinks, daisies, roses, lavender, Calibrachoa, petunias and geraniums (Pelargonium). Potted fruit trees also love the sun. Create a lovely Mediterranean vibe with a citrus tree or maybe even an olive tree. They look great in a terracotta pot! It will almost feel as if you were on holiday.

A patio or balcony facing east also gets quite a lot of sun. Suitable plant species include the blue daisy (Felicia), violet (Viola), Helichrysum and petunia. Clematis and camellia also do well in the partial shade. Or would you rather go for the colourful hydrangea? This timeless classic works well in any garden or on any patio or balcony.

Do you have a patio facing west? That means shade in the morning and plenty of sunshine in the afternoon and into the evening. You need the strongest plants for these conditions; ones that can grow in both sun and shade. This means strong plants such as hedging plants! These garden plants not only provide shelter to the garden, they also give it a bushy look. Imagine having a green beech hedge or an Asian accent with bamboo. The non-invasive bamboo fargesia has many fans. It grows enormously, but does not suddenly pop up anywhere else in the garden or on the patio. This is one way to protect your potted plants from the wind. On the patio, you could choose sturdy plants such as Buxus, Cyclamen, houseleek, heather and African daisy (Osteospermum). Put them in a contemporary pot for a sleek look.

A north-facing patio gets a lot of shade every day and is therefore not suitable for every type of plant. For a north-facing garden, balcony or patio, strong shade-loving plants are ideal, such as American wintergreen, hostas, ferns, rhododendrons and ivy. Fuchsia, Astilbes, Hydrangeas and Impatiens will also flourish in shady spots.

Combining patio plants with flower bulbs

Flower bulbs are great for planting in flower pots and planters. Mix and match them with your favourite patio plants to add extra ambience to your patio. What's more, since many flower bulbs bloom early in the season, you can have a colourful patio from March onwards. Plant spring-flowering bulbs in the autumn and summer-flowering bulbs in the spring in fresh potting soil. Plant colourful winter pansies above the flower bulbs in the autumn to give the flowerpot a splash of colour in the winter. Early flowering bulbs will then grow between the pansies in spring. It will look great. Your own floral oasis on the patio!

How do you plant up potted patio plants?

A flower pot or planter can really set the mood for your patio or balcony. Choose the colour and style of flower pot that suits not only the ambience but also your plants. For example, a hydrangea is perfectly matched with a basket and Mediterranean plants are a natural fit with terracotta pots. How do you plant up these decorative pots? The following steps make it incredibly easy to plant your decorative pots:

1. Preferably take a large outdoor pot, about 3 centimetres larger than the indicated pot size. This allows the roots of the patio plants to develop optimally.

2. Make sure that there are holes in the bottom of the flower pot so that excess water can drain away. Water left in the pot can cause root rot.

3. Cover the bottom of the pot with a layer of potsherds or clay granules so that the hole does not become blocked up.

4. Always use the correct, fresh potting soil. Every plant species has different nutritional needs, so it is important to use the right potting soil. Fresh potting soil provides nutrition for at least two months.

5. Remove the nursery pot from the plant and immerse the root ball in a tub of lukewarm water so that the roots can absorb the water well.

6. Place the root ball of the plant at the right height, fill the pot with potting compost and press it down gently.

7. Water generously immediately after planting.

Care of patio plants

With good care, patio plants will grow better and flower more abundantly and for longer. Always take into account the needs of the plant. Does the plant prefer to grow in the sun or in the shade? Can the plant withstand drought? In the right place and with the right care, patio plants flourish. The following care tips will give your patio plants a good life.

Tip 1: Give your plants enough water. Potted plants generally dry out more quickly than plants in the ground or in a border. Don't let the root ball dry out and give small amounts of water regularly. During cold periods, this amounts to a few times a week. In a hot summer, the need to water may increase to daily. An outdoor pot with an optimally functioning watering system helps to maintain moisture levels. There are also handy watering systems available for watering patio plants in a pot.

Tip 2: Just like people, plants also need nutrition. You provide this in the form of organic fertiliser. Patio plants have to achieve a great deal in a short time. Since the nutrients in the potting soil run out after about six to eight weeks, it is important to fertilise regularly. Use a specially developed patio plant fertiliser for this. Always look carefully at the packaging for the correct ratio and frequency of fertilisation.

Tip 3: Pruning causes blooming! Many patio plants need to be pruned before or after they flower to encourage successful new flowering. Remove spent blooms regularly to encourage new flowering. With some plant species, it is also wise to prune back the branches or stems. Always read the packaging carefully or look for more information about the product on Bakker's website.

Are you excited to start adding colour to your garden, patio or balcony? Check out Bakker's range of patio and balcony plants Ideal for any balcony or stone patio. Are you looking for convenience? Then also check out the plant & pot combinations for outdoor use. Bakker has put together the most beautiful plants with the most stylish pots for you.