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Monsoon care for balcony plants
Four months of rain is harder on balcony plants than summer. What to change when the monsoon arrives.
Gardeners worry about summer. In Kolkata it is the monsoon that kills more balcony plants, and almost always through the roots rather than the leaves.
Drainage first
Lift every pot and check water runs out freely underneath. A pot standing in a saucer of rainwater for four months will rot. Raise pots on bricks or pot feet so the base is clear, and empty saucers after every heavy shower.
Stop feeding so much
Rain leaches nutrients out of pots, which tempts people to feed heavily. Resist it. Growth during heavy rain is soft and weak, and soft growth is what pests choose. Half-strength feed once a month is plenty until the rain eases.
Watch for mealybug and leaf spot
Warm wet air brings both. Mealybug looks like small white cotton tufts where leaf meets stem; wipe it off with a cloth dipped in soapy water. Brown or black spots spreading on leaves mean air is not moving. Space pots further apart and remove the worst leaves.
Move what cannot take a soaking
Succulents, cacti and most herbs want shelter. Push them under an overhang or against the wall. Bougainvillea, hibiscus, ixora and most flowering plants are happy in the open and will reward you in September.
The monsoon is also the best growing season of the year here. Get the drainage right and everything else takes care of itself.
Last reviewed October 2026.
