One consideration is weight. Depending on how many planters you intend to have and how you intend to install them (freestanding, wall mounted, mounted on a railing) and how much weight your balcony can hold you might be better off to use a plastic version that won't put too much outward pressure on a railing or siding. My wire/coco liner hanging baskets weigh about three times as much as my plastic ones.

I do like the wire ones for aesthetic reasons and the compostability of the liners versus plastic. The drainage is good too.

Also, are you a Seinfeld fan? And are you an importer/exporter??

I am, an importer/exporter and CEO of Vandelay Industries. During some brief downtime in '96 I penned a best selling novel 'venetian blinds', and when I'm not importing and exporting I will occasionally dabble in sales, mainly latex.

Re the planters, thanks kindly for your detailed reply!

They'll be wall mounted, no hooks or grips as there's no rail), just drilled through some keyholes into the brickwork. I have the space for at least 2 planters, side by side (with some distance between them).

I see what you're saying though, regarding weight vs drainage and ecological reasons. I've seen some of the wire planters made out of lightweight materials (silicone I believe) that look like iron, which would reduce the overall weight but of course be less eco-friendly.

It looks like I may have to give this some more thought. I think the free-draining of the wire planters may be best, given the wet climate where I reside. Of course, I've actually seen wire planters with clay/plastic pots placed inside which hasn't looked all too bad when done well. So, there's some additional versatility there I suppose.

Again, thanks for your reply, it gave me a good chuckle and has certainly helped me on my way to making a more informed decision.