Succulents are the ultimate sun-worshippers! With their lush green textures and surprisingly romantic blooms, they look absolutely stunning on a balcony when styled in terracotta bowls, rustic troughs, or decorative planters. If you’re looking to bring a little Mediterranean flair to your outdoor space, here’s my go-to guide for growing these beauties high above the pavement.
Growing Succulents on Your Balcony: Location is Everything
In their natural habitats, most succulents are used to scorching heat and soaking up full sun all day long. To keep them vibrant and healthy on your balcony, you’ll need to mimic those conditions. If you have a south-facing balcony, you’re in luck—it’s the perfect spot for succulents to thrive and show off their best colors.
While many typical balcony flowers might wilt or scorch in direct afternoon sun, plants like Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum), cacti, and Euphorbia are in their absolute element. However, even though these guys are pros at handling drought, they aren’t big fans of getting drenched. Try to place them in a “rain shadow”—near a house wall or under a roof overhang—to protect them from heavy downpours.
How to Plant Your Balcony Succulents
First things first: pick a planter that has drainage holes at the bottom. Nobody likes soggy feet! Start by adding a 1-inch layer of drainage material, like broken terracotta shards or expanded clay pebbles. For the best results, skip the standard potting soil and use a specialized cactus or succulent mix that drains quickly.
To keep your balcony beauties happy and growing strong, keep these simple care tips in mind:
- Always wear gloves: Many succulent species have irritating sap or are actually toxic.
- Water sparingly using soft water (like rainwater). Only water when the top layer of soil feels completely dry to the touch.
- Feed them: Give them a dose of liquid cactus fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks between May and September.
- Keep it tidy: Gently twist off and remove any dead or shriveled leaves once they’ve completely dried out.
Winter Care: Don’t Leave Them Out in the Cold
As soon as the autumn air starts to get crisp and temperatures drop, it’s time to bring your succulents inside. This goes for frost-sensitive varieties and even most hardy types. Why? Because the small amount of soil in a balcony pot can freeze through very quickly, causing frost to damage the roots much faster than if they were in the ground.
Succulents also need a little “beauty sleep” during the winter. Find a bright, frost-free spot indoors for them to rest. From mid-October to late February, stop fertilizing entirely and cut back on watering significantly—just give them enough so the root ball doesn’t bone-dry.
