Small space, big potential. A balcony or rooftop can become a green retreat that feels miles from the city below. The trick is choosing pots and plants that suit life up high, where weight, wind and sun all work a little differently.
Weight is everything up high
Rooftops and balconies have load limits, and wet soil is surprisingly heavy. This is where lightweight Japi planters and our balcony range earn their keep, giving you the concrete look without the load. Check your building’s weight limits, and cluster heavier pots near load-bearing edges and walls rather than out in the middle of the floor.
Wind-proofing your space
Balconies funnel wind, so stability matters. Choose pots with a wider base, use taller planters for tall plants, and add a layer of stones to the base for extra ballast. Grouping pots together also helps them shelter one another and holds a little humidity around the leaves.
The best plants for pots up high
For a sunny, breezy spot, you cannot go wrong with herbs like rosemary, thyme and basil, or with succulents and aloes that love sun and sip very little water. Lavender is hardy, scented and brilliant for bees, while ornamental grasses add movement and cope beautifully with wind. Want height or a bit of screening? A bay or olive in a tall lightweight planter does the job. For a shaded or covered balcony, ferns and a monstera bring lush greenery.
Privacy and greenery without the floor space
Tall vertical planters create a living screen that softens a railing and gives you privacy, all while taking up very little footprint. Combine them with trailing plants for layers of green that draw the eye up rather than out.
Caring for pots in the South African sun
Pots dry out fast up high, so mulch the surface, water early in the morning, and group pots together to slow evaporation. Explore our lightweight and balcony ranges, or ask our team in store for a pairing that suits your space and your building’s weight limits.
