Baltimore Balcony report

6 years ago

31 of my 40 hostas and heuchies are sitting in their 1 - 10 gallon fabric grow pots on wire shelving units overlooking a lovely courtyard on my balcony. The remaining 9 hostas are still residing with Long Island friends in their backyard. The balcony is set about a foot inward from the edge of the roof of the balcony above, so the wire shelving units are set all the way up to the iron rail surrounding the balcony as it permits. It gets WSW sun, the afternoon sun being almost directly across from my balcony. I have been watering all the pots sparingly about once a week when the temps are well above freezing. I see the heuchies are actually sporting tiny new leaves in their center. The hostas have only the remnants of last year's dead leaves. I left those in place hoping it would afford them some protection. So far, no pipping is going on with the hostas (it's zone 7b here as well as NYC) yet, which I think is good, as any freeze would certainly damage or kill those early pips.

Does it sound like I'm doing OK with my hostababies and heuchies here?

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
sounds good so far ....

i know its winter... but have you met some better friends than those who haunted your old garden???

ken
Esther-B, Zone 7a
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi, Ken. Thanks. I'm really trying to pamper my hostababies until I can buy a little house with a garden and they can then reside in a raised bed. So, the fact that I see no new growth in the hostas, only the heuchies, is not a bad sign, right? Sometimes the soil has gotten pretty dry until I can make it out onto the balcony (first I have to open the stubborn vertical blinds, then undo the Charlie bar, then take out the pipe insulation I set in the track to stop drafts, and THEN open the 2 locks just to open the door...) and I worried that roots may have dried out, particularly in the smaller pots. Being set back about a foot from the edge, most rains we've gotten did not blow far enough inward to affect the potted hostas and heuchies.

Oh yes, I've made some very nice new friends here in Baltimore, and am discovering some wonderful new things to do. Right across the street is a beautiful apartment complex which has a city senior lunch program. I go with my new friend Sima once or twice a week to feast on a delicious varied lunch, with other nice retired women at our table, and it only costs only $2--I couldn't make such a nice lunch for that money. There's a great community center a few blocks away with wonderful gym classes, personal trainers, various classes and day trips. I am constantly discovering new interesting things to do and meeting new people.

The maintenance men here are very respectful and don't spray weedkiller anywhere where it could reach my balcony. They already admire my balcony of hostas--just wait til SPRING. There is a "Most Beautiful Balcony" prize, I'm told, and we already know who's gonna capture that this spring, don't we? Heh, heh, heh....
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zkathy z7a NC
6 years ago
If those heuchies are sprouting new leaves, they are hoppy! Pips will be visible before you know it. Sounds like you have moved to a much better situation!
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked zkathy z7a NC
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years ago
my hostas in pots in my shed haven't had any water for over 3 months..I'll check them when it's warmed up in a few weeks..this method has worked for a few years now..I bet yours are fine..
Esther-B, Zone 7a thanked nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis