Top Cold-Hardy Evergreens for Container Gardens (houzz.com)

Fun project!!

I have never used Lechuzas - what material are they made of? What does their website say about temperatures?

Water: maybe try to hook up a hose to the sink? I think you just need a special attachment. Otoh, it's good to keep it simple and just use a watering can. (I haven't much experience with self-watering pots - someone here will speak up I'm sure.)

When you say "small" patio, what does that mean in footage? Also what direction does it face? when does it get this 30% sun?

I love conifers and boxwood, such as in getgoing's link - but I've never grown them. I just pet them when I walk by.

also, Hardy Perennials With Evergreen Foliage – Laidback Gardener

Great link, thanks! To answer the questions, the Lechuza planters are plastic, and their website says frost-resistant. The patio is fully covered, about 140 square feet, shaped like a pair of right triangles lined up with the hypotenuses of the triangles facing east, the base of one triangle facing south, and the remainder surrounded by walls. Nearby buildings shade the open edges of the patio at different times. The sun is mostly in the morning, extending into midday on the south-facing edge of the patio. By afternoon, it’s fully shaded.

Most plastic or composite material planters are frost resistant. I have some run of the mill pastic planters that have survived several winters on my open balcony on the top floor here in Jersey city on water overlooking lasy liberty. you should post some pics of your very intersting patio. I grow a lot of flowering plants on my balcony and leave quite a few of them there for the winter but they are not evergreen. There may be some downside to self watering planters in winters. I am not sure if that would make them too soggy for the plants to survive through the winter. Unfortunately, most evergreens that would have noticeable winter foliage would be taller conifers, which may not be suitable for a windy patio. Do you have railing that you could tie them to if need be to keep them from toplling over/ I have to tie my taller plants or keep them jammed in a row to prevent the wind toppling them over in spring and fall.

Good news about your experience with plastic planters, thanks! I see your point about self-watering ones. And luckily, the patio has structural building columns I can secure plants to, so I’ll do that given your advice. (BTW, I used to live very close to where you do now, on the Jersey City waterfront facing downtown Manhattan). Here are some pics of the patio. Furniture is a work in progress, and I’m holding off on planting until I have a plan. First two are one of the two connected triangular areas, second two are the other one.

That is a very nice outdoor space. Considering the area is covered and you get no help from rain gods, I can see why you would want self watering planters. Plus water runoff would be a PITA to clean up in such a nice space. Also, there in no chance of rot due to rain/snow adding unwanted untimely water to the containers. I think I yould want to start with how many planters of what size do you want to add to the space. What do you want to grow. Just greenery or flowering plants. what size of plants do you want Larger plants would require that you get a hose arrangement and a converter to your kitchen tap. Smaller onew could be watered manually. You would be looking at shade plants for the most part. You may get some inspiration from the plants growing on the roofs and balonies visible in your first pic.

greenery and high rise buildings aren't as mutually exclusive as they are made out to be. It's a shame NYC builders are mostly MIA on this front or for that matter most of the US. Heck, all of the condos actively discourage greenery by making rules that are positively unfriendly for the adventorous few who want to grow while in a condo/co-op. I used to live on the Upper east side before I moved here. :) Green Buildings Are More Ecological And Cost-Effective (youmatter.world)

green buildings - Google Search

Self-watering planters by design will hold water and undergo freeze thaw through winter. There is no guarantee they will hold up under these conditions. Mine cracked in year two. During rains it may overflow and “drown” root systems. There are some lovely decorative grasses with great movement and interesting colors that I might grow as annuals. Some will winter over depending on winter lows.

There are a few cold hardy (down to -20 deg) bamboos that don’t get too tall and are perfect for planters. This site has details. https://bambubatu.com/cold-hardy-bamboo/. These are typically available online.

I’m thinking of starting with just a single planter of something medium-tall and evergreen—maybe Emerald Petite arborvitae, or horsetail—that can provide interest in the winter and possibly a bit of screening from neighboring buildings. I intend to put one out and see if it’s OK with building management before I proceed with anything more. I’d probably add something to spill over the edges of the pot (Vinca minor, Creeping Jenny, or Sedum Angelina). Then eventually more pots with more variety (including flowering plants) if the building does not object. To avoid creating problems for the building, my neighbors, or pedestrians below, I don’t want anything likely to have significant pieces blowing off in the wind. So not sure about the horsetail for the first plant. But I do like the way it looks, similar to some of the bamboos in the link above, and it’s supposed to be extremely hardy.

I think the roof overhead will limit rainwater falling in the planters, so hopefully I’ll be able to manage the amount of standing water, especially in the winter when it might freeze. Another appeal of the self-watering planters is definitely avoiding drips down onto the patio of the neighbors below.

Re watering: I’ve seen indoor hoses that attach to faucets, but unfortunately neither my kitchen nor bathroom faucets has the type of screw-off aerator that seems to be necessary for the indoor hose attachments I’ve found. As an alternative, I’ve been thinking of getting a compact collapsible hose and inexpensive bilge pump (the kind you use for emptying water from a boat), filling the bathtub, and using the pump/hose to bring water to the plants. Has anyone tried anything like that? Not as important in the short run when I’m only dealing with one planter, but hopefully I’ll have more in the near future.

Sounds like a plan. Could you share attachment you found the hose. I have been thinking of finding one to attach to my kitchen spray faucet after removing the sprayer but haven't found one. Luckily, rain gods water my plants for the most part and I have to water mine pretty infrequently.

What a lovely space!! Do I understand correctly that it is building managers who make the rules, rather than there being a written rulebook? Bc if there is a written form, people here might be able to help strategize with that too. In my friend's building (out West), they aren't allowed to build anything permanent on their patios, but other than that the rules are pretty forgiving. We just have to worry about weight (it's an older building), and the waterproofing on the patio floors.

I think with the direct and the reflected light, it will turn out that a good number of things can be grown on your patio.

I don't know anything about a bilge pump, so I hope that works.

If it doesn't, and if you decide against self-watering pots, one thing people do sometimes to manage drainage is to raise the container off the bottom of the saucer, so the water can't be taken back up - and then use a turkey baster-y thing to suction up the extra water from the saucer, into a bucket to be put down the sink.

As you know if you hang out here, with most container plants, they need to really be flushed with a lot of water in order to stay healthy. I deal with this with houseplants and I just keep small ones and water them in the sink. The baster trick is good for large indoor plants that can't be moved easily. (Sorry if you already know all this!)

I know small plants aren't always as fun, but one can put them in a tall container - with an upturned plastic planter pot underneath - and they fool the eye. Of course with wind, you'd need to maybe put a brick in the bottom, and of course attach the plant to something.

It all seems doable though - and I think it will look really lovely!

About a link to a hose: I haven’t found a specific one. I just vaguely recall having seen a compact one that I could toss under the kitchen sink—and I also know small bilge pumps are a thing. Will come back with links if I find a setup that works.