primula and watering problem

How do you call this beauty in English?

And what other seasonal flowers can you plant in a window box to make your window pretty for the Spring?

Also- watering problem (or is it drainage?)
my mother-in-law lives in the top floor of a big building and the neighbours downstairs complain every time she waters the plants-
as the dirty water drip on their clean washing
we tried soaking the small containers in a big basin,but some of them are too big and heavy
what can she do about it?

 

Hello Gardengnom!
There is a plant that's called primula in English - I guess it's probably the same one. I like them too!
Regarding the window boxes - I don't have any myself but I wondered if you could use outer containers with no drainage holes, put a layer of gravel in the bottom and then put the plants in smaller containers inside? It would not be an ideal solution but might allow your mother-in-law to still have plants without getting into trouble with the neighbours!

 

Hello Gardengnom

Why not put all the containers in trays so the water doesn't drop down. You can get ones to match the containers

 

I'm with Clair - putting plants in trays can mean the plant gets waterlogged. Putting clay pebbles in the trays to lift the pot above the water level after initial take up, should solve the problem.

I mean, who wants their washing ruined :D

 

Thank you very much!

I was also hoping to get some more recommendation for shallow-root plants that can grow well in containers
on a very sunny porch?

 

The plants I associate with that situation, are pelagoniums - often called geraniums. They love hot dry sunny spots - and the range is so wide, that you can mix and match and create quite a display.