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Sustainable high windy balcony garden? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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How would you create a sustainable balcony garden on a high and often windy balcony?

I know, it's specific, that's because I'd like it for myself, but my plants are being overrun with aphids while their enemies like ladybugs, hover flies, and lacewings, don't seem to find their way to the balcony.
I'd like to have a nice green balcony with permanent plants that survive, but that's been a challenge so far.

I was thinking of building some sort of long low narrow planter along the front to keep the plants connected, but it's not very practical and I'm not sure of the benefits.

This is in the Netherlands by the way.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Do you know you can actually buy predatory mites and nematodes to enjoy your aphids? This is what worked in my situation somewhat, although it does not help if the plant is already heavily afflicted. These guys sure will not fly away.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

In the past years I have ordered ladybug larvae, which kinda worked, but of course once they turn into the beetles they will soon fly away.

I have now ordered a bunch of lacewing larvae. They say that they're great aphid killers too. This time I've put most of the plants inside the balcony and closed the glass panes on the front. This helps keep the temperature nice and cosy, and it will prevent most of the adult lacewings from flying away, hopefully have them lay a few more eggs near the remaining aphids. I'll try to keep the panes closed, but at some point someone will want to enjoy the warm weather on the balcony, and a hot balcony full of flies is probably not appreciated..