Question
Hi,
 I live in Southern California. I love the idea of cutting fresh flowers from my garden to bring inside the house. Unfortunately, I don't really have a garden. I use my balcony and pots. The balcony is directly over the garage and is in the direct sun from about noon until sunset. I am unsure of what flowers can handle that heat and sun. My marigolds are fine.I tried petunias and dianthus with no success. The markers in the plants say "full sun" but upon looking more closely I see they also say "part shade." Which one is it? I thank you for your time and effort! HELP!!!

Sincerely,

Ann  

Answer
If you have hot sun, you need to water, water, water. The plants you mentioned should do fine, if they have enough water. I don't think of them as cut flowers to bring in the house. I picture more of the large perennials that grow in gardens. They will also do great in containers, in full sun. The problem I have, is that, they look so pretty in the container, I would not want to cut them to bring in the house. So, my first thought on that is, why not grow flowering plants in a bright window, (with no direct sun.) They will need bright light to flower well.  I grew beautiful flowers indoors, when I lived in Southern Callifornia.  Like Gloxinia, Begonia, Lipstick Plant, Kalanchoe, Cyclamen, Chenille Plant, African Violet, Christmas Cactus, Azalea, Amaryllis, Bromiliad, and, of coarse, Poinsettia, to name a few. I would set them out side from time to time to get more light when the sun wasn't too hot. I would put them on stones about a tray of water, for humitity.
The markers mean that they will tolerate part shade, but they prefer full sun. There are more plants in that category, then any other. So, there is a very long list. Just keep reading the labels, and watering. Your balcony will be beautiful.

bakerplanter