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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 1 week ago (3 children)

long low narrow planter along the front

had this balcony setup just on the sea coast in Finland, not much benefit. In the end, terrace shelves against the wall and planters on the floor are different only in aesthetics. Just had a lot of plants and birds - make sure you have some attractors to those (scatter some food, leave nest building material, place a cat behind the window to be mocked) - still lost plants quite often to elements and larvae.

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

Thanks for the advise. This balcony is open only to the front, so birds don't visit often (or they're very sneaky).

Though I'd like to see birds, currently I really want insects that keep the aphids away. Occasionally I see a bee-shaped creature making a few circles across the balcony but then they leave again. The internet tells me I need to add dille, rosemary, mint, marigold, and other plants to repel the aphids and attract ladybugs. Well, I did all that, and the aphids even destroyed the mint and don't fear the rosemary either, while the ladybugs hardly ever visit unless I add them myself, after which they eventually fly away never to return.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week 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] 2 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 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..