Downsizing from a large garden to a plant-filled balcony | Garden Inspiration | Gardening Australia

Tammy revisits horticulturist and garden writer Steve Falcioni in his new garden, where he’s been challenged to downsize his huge collection of potted plants. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
But first, she catches up with him at his community garden plot, where vegies dominate but there are still some flowers “because I can’t help myself”.

At home, it’s all flowers.

In 2019 we visited Steve’s extraordinary rooftop oasis packed with hundreds of potted plants of every type. His new garden is also on a rooftop but much smaller – only 6m by 4m. While some plants have had to go (“Which was really, really hard,” he says), the new garden is just as packed with colour, form and texture.

There are fruit trees, flowering shrubs, small trees, succulents and cacti, lush tropical climbers, roses, carnivorous plants and more.

He’s had to get used to different light levels, as it’s sunnier, but a lot windier too, which has been challenging and hard on the plants; a few plants didn’t make the transition.

Steve has created a sense of depth using layers. All around the edges of the space are rectangular troughs, with the back ones slightly higher, but the plant cover is so thick you can’t see these. Hiding the pots helps with the illusion of depth but also helps insulate the plants’ roots from the hot afternoon sun.

Steve thinks the extra humidity from the massed planting also helps create a milder microclimate.

Tillandsias have really thrived here, as have Bromeliads, succulents, and bulbs.

As an organic gardener, Steve focuses on making the soil as healthy as it can be to help the plants survive.

A smaller south-facing balcony offers some time out from the sun if plants are struggling.

Filmed on Dharug Country in Belmore, NSW

Featured plants:
Air plant (Tillandsia cv)
Bromeliad (Goudaea ospinae var. gruberi)
Bromeliad (Dyckia sp.)
Stalked bulbine lily (Bulbine frutescens)

Always check species before planting; they may be environmental weeds in your area.
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