Modern balcony boxes: differences & special features
It doesn't always need a garden - some plant ideas can also be realized on the balcony better than you might think. So that plants, flowers, or herbs are presented correctly and can grow optimally, the right balcony box plays a decisive role. We'll show you what to look out for when making your selection and how The Plant Box can help you turn your balcony into a feel-good zone, even if you don't have your own green thumb.Material, irrigation & Co.: What should I look out for with balcony boxes?
Of course, the pure appearance can (and should!) always play an important role when choosing your balcony boxes. At the same time, there are a few other important properties that we would like to briefly introduce to you below:
The right stuff
If you first think of loveless, white plastic boxes when you hear the word balcony box, you have probably had enough of these for years. In the meantime, however, there is a whole range of different material options, which of course all have different advantages and disadvantages:
Terracotta: Although they are among the all-time favorites, terracotta balcony boxes are actually only suitable for balcony railings to a limited extent. They are comparatively heavy and carry a high risk, especially at low temperatures, since the material quickly becomes porous and the box can shatter as soon as water freezes in the openings.
Wood: Balcony boxes made of wood provide visual variety, but in most cases they are not weatherproof, which means that you often only enjoy them for a very short time. If you still want to use a wooden option, you should make sure that a particularly robust type of wood is used. Waterproofing is also useful here.
Polyrattan: For some a welcome change, for others an optical no-go - balcony boxes made of polyrattan are robust, light, and mostly weatherproof and winterproof. Even more so than with the other materials, it is a matter of taste whether the material fits on your own balcony.
Stainless steel / zinc: In addition to longevity, rust-free, and weather resistance, the positive effect of zinc on the growth of plants is repeatedly emphasized in the case of galvanized balcony boxes. But be careful: Depending on the planting, an excessive supply of zinc can also be rather harmful. In addition, stainless steel balcony boxes tend to overheat in summer and thus also affect your plants.
Eternit (fiber cement): The mixture of limestone powder, water, and reinforcing fibers can now be seen more and more frequently on balconies. There are good reasons for this: The material is very light, helps to conduct excess moisture outwards, and effectively protects the plants from overheating in summer. These balcony boxes can look very modern, but of course they have to fit into the overall look.
Plastic: the classic among balcony boxes. Mostly made of polyethylene, the advantages here are the low weight and the wide range of design options. The problem: These options are hardly used by the manufacturers, which is why plastic balcony boxes are primarily associated with the - rather boring - black or white standard variants.
Recycled raw materials: at The Plant Box, sustainability and climate protection are always the focus. That's why we use bio-based polyethylene (Circulen Plus) for our balcony boxes, which is made from 100% recycled vegetable oils.
Dimensions & brackets
When several balcony boxes are to be placed next to each other on the railing, the exact dimensions play an important role. Here, too, there is now a wide selection - from standard dimensions (e.g. 30×11×11 cm, 60×23×14 cm) to large variants with a length of 80 cm, 100 cm, and more. General tips are difficult to give here - in the end, the only thing that helps is to measure for yourself what space there is on the balcony. But what you should definitely keep in mind: Plants need sufficient space to develop and grow properly. It can therefore make sense to bet on one larger box instead of several small ones.
The right bracket or attachment goes hand-in-hand with the size of your balcony boxes. In recent years, boxes with a cavity in the floor have become the norm here, which are placed directly on the railing from above. Of course, since that doesn't always meet the taste, there are other solutions for classic boxes. Most often, angle brackets or rails are used, in which the box can be easily hung. Which type of attachment is the right one for you naturally depends on the size of your balcony box on the one hand, but also, and above all, on your balcony railing. In many cases, the only thing that helps here is exact measurement and testing.
Irrigation,
For some, an integral part of the gardening hobby; for others, an annoying duty: Watering the plants and flowers. If you find yourself in the second category when choosing the right balcony box, you can make sure that a water reservoir is integrated, which protects against waterlogging while ensuring that you have to water it less often. Alternatively, there are also balcony boxes with integrated watering systems where the right amount of water can be easily read, and the plants are automatically optimally supplied. Of course, the safest way is always to get to know the plants better over time and thus develop a feeling for how much water is actually needed.The Plant Box - our modern balcony box for your plants
Balcony boxes made of plastic have always proven their worth, but rarely impress with their appearance. That's why we took this approach as a model, further developed it both optically and technically, and designed our own Plant Box . It is easy to hang, visually stands out clearly from the conventional variants, and is characterized by the following properties, among others:- 2 colors to choose from: Forest Green & Dark Grey
- Dimensions: 75cm × 18cm × 18cm
- made from sustainable raw materials (100% recycled vegetable oils)
- integrated UV filter for optimized service life
- produced locally near Berlin
So that our Plant Box also looks good on your balcony railing, we have also developed a bracket that is easy to attach, is largely hidden, and offers optimal support. For watering, we deliberately decided against the classic water depot and instead used a drainage strip on the bottom of the box to effectively prevent rot and drowning of your plants.
How do I plant my Plant Box?
Our goal is to work with you to make the cityscape more colourful and full of life again. However, since we understand that not all of us have the time and inclination to spend a long time dealing with the right plants, flowers, and aspects such as direction, solar radiation, and seasons when planting, we offer you a simple and convenient solution with our refills. Our refills are ready-made plant creations that we personally put together, which you can easily place in our Plant Box (or your own balcony or flower box) in just a few simple steps. No matter whether you are looking for a creative, bee-friendly, winter-hardy, or flowering planting for your balcony box - you are guaranteed to find the right creation in our shop .
