Skills of Flower Growing on the Balcony: Light Aspect
Today, the editor will explain some knowledge of flower growing, focusing on the aspect of light for growing flowers on the balcony. Let's learn about it together.
Light can be used as a reference for growing flowers on the balcony. Due to different seasons, the range of sunlight on the balconies facing east, west, south, and north also varies. Generally speaking, the intensity of sunlight is related to the season: the strongest in summer, the weakest in winter, and between the two in spring and autumn.
It is also related to different times of the day: the strongest at noon, the weakest in the morning and evening, no sunlight at night, and between the two in the morning and afternoon. Considering the temperature changes: the lowest in winter, the highest in summer; the temperature in spring gradually increases; the temperature in autumn gradually decreases. During the day: from morning to 2 or 3 pm, the temperature gradually rises, reaching the hottest at 2 or 3 pm, and then the temperature gradually decreases until it is the lowest before sunrise. (This is for sunny days; on rainy or cloudy days, the temperature change is not significant.)
Range of sunlight on the balcony:
1. North balcony:
Throughout the year: in the winter half (from the autumnal equinox to the vernal equinox), there is no sunlight; after the vernal equinox, sunlight gradually appears and the duration extends; at the summer solstice, the duration of sunlight is the longest, with only a little in the morning and evening, then it gradually decreases; after the autumnal equinox, there is basically no sunlight. Due to insufficient sunlight conditions, it is suitable for growing shade-tolerant plants; in winter, due to the low temperature, it is basically not suitable for growing flowers.
2. South balcony:
Throughout the year: at the winter solstice, the range of sunlight is the widest, and the duration of exposure to sunlight is also long; at the summer solstice, the range of sunlight is the shortest, but due to the high intensity of sunlight, plants can grow well with scattered light. The range of sunlight at the spring and autumn equinoxes is between the two. Most plants are suitable for growing on the south balcony, with plants that like strong light closer to the balcony glass. Those that prefer weak light should be further away.
3. East and west balconies:
The situations of the two are basically similar: throughout the year, the shortest sunlight time is at the winter solstice, and the longest at the summer solstice; the spring and autumn equinoxes are between the two.
Temperature changes: the west balcony is more severe, because at noon, the temperature and the intensity of sunlight are also high.
East balcony: from the morning until around noon; west balcony: from around noon, due to the reason of radiation heating, even without sunlight, the temperature is relatively high at noon and continues until the sunsets.
Overall, it is also suitable for growing most plants and can be arranged according to the habits of the plants.
(The above description is just for the ideal state, that is, without any buildings blocking. In reality, there will be some differences, such as for lower floors, in winter, due to the blocking of high-rise buildings, the duration of sunlight may be shorter or even no sunlight, usually at the spring and autumn equinoxes, the duration of sunlight is the longest.)
Overall, for the four orientations of balconies: except for the north balcony, which is not very suitable for growing flowers, the other three orientations are suitable for growing flowers.
It can be arranged according to the habits of the plants:
1. North balcony, in summer, because of some sunlight and not high temperature, plants that are heat-intolerant can be placed on the north balcony; the bulb of plants that go dormant in summer can also be placed on the north balcony to spend the summer. Due to insufficient sunlight, plants tend to grow tall, using this principle, it is suitable to grow short-cycle sprouts or edible fungi.
2. For plants that like exposure to the sun, such as pomegranate and jasmine, they should be exposed to as much sunlight as possible; the better the sunlight, the stronger the growth.
3. For plants that are not strict about sunlight conditions (such as spider plants, ivy, various sedums, and succulents), the east, west, and south balconies are all suitable for placement.
4. In winter, the sunlight is weaker and softer, and plants that usually grow under scattered light should also be exposed to winter sunlight (but also avoid the strongest period around noon.), which is beneficial for their growth.
Further introducing the lighting conditions of the northwest, southwest, northeast, and southeast balconies.
The lighting conditions of the northwest balcony are similar to those of the north balcony:
Throughout the year: almost no sunlight in winter, obvious sunlight in spring, summer, and autumn, with sunlight time focusing on the afternoon. The longest exposure to sunlight is at the summer solstice. The bulbs of plants that go dormant in summer and plants that are heat-intolerant can be placed on the northwest balcony during the hot summer period.
The lighting conditions of the southwest balcony are similar to those of the south balcony:
Throughout the year: basically exposed to sunlight, with the largest range of sunlight at the winter solstice but the shortest duration; at the summer solstice, the range of sunlight is slightly larger than that of the south balcony, with the most sunlight exposure in the afternoon. Sometimes there will also be sunlight in the morning, but the range is smaller. (The time to start receiving sunlight is usually between 10 to 11 am.)
The southwest balcony is also suitable for growing most plants.
The lighting conditions of the northeast balcony and the southeast balcony are summarized as follows:
The lighting conditions of the northeast balcony are similar to those of the north balcony:
Throughout the year: almost no sunlight in winter, obvious sunlight in spring, summer, and autumn, with sunlight time focusing on the morning. The longest exposure to sunlight is at the summer solstice.
The bulbs of plants that go dormant in summer and plants that are heat-intolerant can be placed on the northeast balcony during the hot summer period.
The lighting conditions of the southeast balcony are similar to those of the south balcony:
Throughout the year: basically exposed to sunlight, with the largest range at the winter solstice but the shortest duration; at the summer solstice, the range of sunlight is slightly larger than that of the south balcony, with the most sunlight exposure in the morning. Sometimes there will also be sunlight in the afternoon, but the range is smaller. (The time when sunlight finally disappears is usually between 1 to 2 pm.)
The southeast balcony is also suitable for growing most plants.
With the comprehensive introduction, the basic lighting conditions of the eight orientations of balconies can be determined.
To determine the lighting conditions of the balcony, it is most basic to look at the four balconies facing east, south, west, and north.
The above introduction to the skills of growing flowers on the balcony focusing on light, hopes to bring a little help to your life!