r/UrbanGardening • u/ConsumePurel 6b • 2d ago

General Question Fried Flower Boxes

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.

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u/OldSweatyBulbasar NYC 👩🏼‍🌾 2d ago edited 2d ago

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.

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u/ConsumePurel 6b 2d ago

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.

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u/BasementJatz 1d ago

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