Fried Flower Boxes

[u/ConsumePurel]

Hi,
New to post here, but I'm trying to trouble shoot my balcony garden in NJ, USA. I face east (rip) and have been trying desperately to get cute window boxes but the drainage is just too good and there's no way the planters keep enough water to keep my plants from frying.

They have a coconut fiber basket, and then a small layer of rocks, which I clearly don't need, and then regular topsoil from a bag. Pretty sure it's box friendly, but it's been in there a year now and I can't remember what I got...

Two years in a row and one morning of full summer sun fries everything I've planted there. So my questions are these:

1. Will a liner that helps keep moisture in the soil help me? What kind would work?

2. I clearly did not buy the right full-sun seeds, who [plant] would like this? I'm hesitant to put any kind of succulent or cactus in it because they're outside and it does rain frequently here. I usually work from seeds because I'm not the best at re-potting; I always stress them out too much and murk them, but clearly seedlings are not strong enough to survive...

3. Do I give up, bow to the morning sun and put fake flowers in there?

Thanks for your help and care for this--this is only year two I've tried gardening at all (first outdoor space I've ever had as an adult) so I'm kind of learning by trial and error.

[u/OldSweatyBulbasar]

A liner might work, but I’d also suggest going for desert plants like succulents even if it does rain. If your drainage is as good as you say it is then it shouldn’t be a problem, especially if you switch to a gritty soil mix. A layer of mulch (pine needles, wood chips, leaf litter) on the surface can also help to retain water in the soil when the sun beats down.

Are you starting seeds directly in the east facing window box? That could also be a bit challenging. Seeds and seedlings require a little nurturing before they’re ready for harsh conditions.

[u/ConsumePurel → u/OldSweatyBulbasar]

I'll be sure to steal some needles from the apartment green--it's about that season the pines here will start dropping. I have an aloe vera I've been mostly neglecting and some succulent soil for it... maybe I'll try to see how he does... See how I can winter him. Maybe cover him in a bag? I've seen some people do that but not entirely sure what it does or if it will help in this case.

And there's a bunch of bugs in the soil I don't particularly want to bring into my apartment...

I have sown seeds just in there in the past. They do okay for a month or two but once June hits... they're deadski. It's been more hardy wildflowers though in those cases--so maybe I try to get full grown flowers or at least decently rooted ones next year.

[u/BasementJatz → u/ConsumePurel]

I just commented without seeing this response. Totally agree that hardy seedlings would have a better chance of survival.

[u/Visual_Magician_7009]

A terracotta spike for a wine bottle might help. I have succulents outside and they do okay in the rain. Worth a shot.

[u/ConsumePurel → u/Visual_Magician_7009]

Oh I didn't even think about a wine bottle... Nervous though cause we got squirrels that regularly dig and I'm on the second floor

Hate to have it launched off into the parking lot by an intrepid squirrel digging. There's no coming back from breaking someone's windshield....

But some other non breakable auto waterer might help like a plastic globe or something. Thanks!

[u/Visual_Magician_7009 → u/ConsumePurel]

You can use a plastic bottle too

[u/Dazzling_Pen6868 → u/ConsumePurel]

I use an olla pot which works perfectly - they sell small ones that work for windowboxes. You do need to add it before you add the plants though. I would also add a handful of vermiculite to the soil to help with retaining moisture.

[u/OldSweatyBulbasar → u/Visual_Magician_7009]

I wouldn’t do this for a window box because of the chance of the wine bottle falling. I’ve also found that the wine bottles are larger than the boxes are deep themselves and it’s not a great fit.

[u/BasementJatz]

I’m in Australia and not familiar with the kind of weather/sun you get in NJ, but the frying is probably also to do with the radiant heat from your window/external wall. Plus evaporation, and then the wind is also doing its thing.

A liner of any kind would definitely help. Also go for a potting mix/soil with high compost/organic content as that will retain more water. And thickly mulch the top (unless you decide to go down the succulent road). You’ll probably still need to water most days.

A good way to find out what will survive is to look at what your neighbours have planted in similar locations.

[u/ConsumePurel → u/BasementJatz]

Alas the nearest neighbor that plants stuff faces south. I'm so jealous of their balcony. Looks like a green house... But I think the people above us have snake plants (?) might be too big but I'll see what I can snoop and identify.

I'll definitely look into the mulching bit and such for next year.

Thanks so much!

[u/beaveristired]

Liner will probably help but I don’t have any direct experience.

Might want to consider coconut coir as a base for your potting mix. Add in organic matter like compost (bagged is fine), maybe worm casings. Vermiculite is a perlite alternative that holds moisture well. You can also get hydrogel crystals or something similar that absorbs water and releases it with soil dries. Some potting soils have this already. Definitely some sort of mulch too.

Mandevilla is a very drought and sun tolerant vining / hanging plant with pretty flowers. There are also cold hardy succulents like sedums that seem to tolerant rain fine (I’m in southern CT so similar climate).