So many flowers and colors bursting from a dahlia bulb looks truly magical! The dahlia is a plant with tuberous roots, native to the region of Mexico, which was brought to the Netherlands at the end of the 19th century and gradually spread throughout the world. Today, there are thousands of dahlia varieties on the market with different stem heights, from dahlias with a compact growth that are limited to a height of half a meter to dahlias that have a very vigorous growth and reach a height of two meters. We will find varieties of dahlias with different shapes and sizes of flower, as well as in incredible colors, from white, cream, yellow, to pink, purple, orange, red, and even dark red that is almost black. Dahlias need several hours of sunshine to give us their rich flowering. So we choose a sunny spot in our garden, protected from strong winds, to plant them. To plant dahlias in a pot on our balcony, we choose points with a south or west orientation. Dahlias can grow in almost any type of soil, however they prefer fertile, loose soils with good drainage, which is why we incorporate manure and compost when planting. For potted dahlias, we use a quality all-purpose potting soil that contains perlite for better drainage and aeration.

Gladiolus is a bulbous flower that is planted in spring and blooms in summer. It stands out for its sword-shaped, pointed leaves, green in color, and for its impressive flowers, arranged lengthwise on a flowering stem that in some varieties exceeds one meter.

We plant the gladioli in the spring, after the winter frosts have passed. Gladiolus plants grow from a tuberous bulb called a stem and form the flowering shoot. Gladiolus blooms throughout the summer, starting 12-13 weeks after the bulbs are planted. To ensure a rich extended flowering period, we can plant our bulbs in succession in the spring. We choose light, draining, rich and deep soils for planting gladiolus, as it needs a suitable substrate to grow and bloom. We ensure good tillage of the soil and incorporate organic matter with digested manure, compost or black peat. If we plant the gladiolus bulbs in pots, we choose general-purpose potting soil that ensures good drainage. We plant the gladioli in sunny positions, protected from strong winds.

Freesias in wonderful colors with a charming aroma! Once fall sets in, it’s time to plant fall flower bulbs to give us their wonderful blooms in late winter and early spring. Let’s start with the freesias, which have impressive flowers with a distinct aroma. And as for the colors, what should we choose first: red, purple, pink, yellow, fuchsia and white. We can decorate the most beautiful pots for our balcony, as well as we can plant them in flower beds in our garden. The freesia bulb is planted at a depth of at least 5 cm in the soil with the “tip” of the bulb upwards and at distances of 5-10 cm between each freesia bulb. The freesia loves the sun, that’s why we choose a sunny spot to plant it and give us its rich and fragrant flowering. To plant freesias in our yard or balcony, we choose a pot with a diameter and height of at least 20 centimeters in which we plant 3-4 bulbs. As far as potting soil is concerned, the freesia has no special requirements, as long as we provide it with good drainage so that water can be removed easily. For a better result, it is advisable to place a few gravels at the base of the pot to allow the water to drain better. And a footnote: The pot with the freesias should be placed in a position that has a south orientation to receive the sun’s rays generously.

Begonia, also known as begonia or vigonia, is a favorite ornamental plant that is mainly planted in pots in the yard and on the balcony, as well as in impressive hanging baskets. A low-growing flower, usually reaching a height of 40-50 cm, the begonia is characterized by bright green, glossy foliage and many small pink or white flowers. We choose semi-shady planting locations for the begonia, where it does not get direct sunlight, in order to avoid burns on its foliage and flowers.
Begonia is sensitive to strong sun and intense cold, so we don’t want it to come into contact with cold and hot air currents. We place the pots with begonias in places with good ventilation that facilitate the reduction of humidity and avoid the development of diseases. It is worth noting that begonia varieties with red flowers are more resistant to direct sunlight than begonias with pink flowers, which are more sensitive.