Expert: C.L. Fornari - 7/16/2006

Question
Hi, I live near Chicago and have 3 window boxes, about 2ft x 6" wide, they get part sun part shade, I love to plant red, yellow, ivy and white in them and cannot find plants that flower all summer and stay full. I like a full, airy look with vibrant colors and the trailing of the ivy. My Spiaria?(red) alwasy seems to get the buds eatin off, and the bacopa gets brown on top and gets gangly. Any suggestions? Thanks, Cathe

Answer
Cathe,
If the boxes are getting morning sun and afternoon shade, then you can't go wrong with Impatiens - either the regular or the New Guinea - for the red. The variegated ivy that they sell for a houseplant does well in shady boxes, so buy some medium to small pots of that for cascading down the front.  Small potted "spider plant" that is variegated is also great for the cream color, and it sends out shoots with new plants at the end. Any of the ferns that are sold as houseplants do well in shady boxes, and some people just sink the pot into the box so that the plant can be easily taken out and overwintered indoors.

 If they are getting afternoon sun for at least 4 hours or more, you could use annual red salvia, which comes in short, medium or tall, or the New Guinea Impatiens.   Scaevola comes in white flowering form, and can be used to cascade over the edge of boxes along with the variegated vinca vine.  

Be sure to mix some time-release fertilizer such as Osmocote Indoor/Outdoor or Proven WInners time release into the soil when you plant, and if you've done this early in the season the boxes won't need a liquid fertilizer until the first of August.  Also, always put new soil in the box - see the "New Dirt for Old" article on my website - www.gardenlady.com

I hope this helps,
C.L. Fornari