Join now or Sign in with your favorite social networking sites.
Containers can add beauty, color, and interest to your garden. However, many gardeners stay away from planting in containers because they have heard stories of failures or they themselves have come away with dead, withered plants. Container planting can be extraordinarily beautiful and is really not difficult, if you keep in mind some basics. These basics include drainage, planting mix, watering, and plant combinations.
Trapping water in your pot is a sure way to rot the roots and smother your plants. Be sure that you have adequate drainage. I like to put a layer of gravel in the bottom of my pots. It helps drainage, saves potting soil, and keeps the pot heavier so it won’t blow over in a strong wind.
Plants in containers need potting mix. Natural soil does not provide enough drainage or nutrients. Succulents and cacti planted in pots will benefit from fast draining soil. When combining plants types, such as succulents and low water leafy perennials, I mix ½ potting soil with ½ cactus mix. You can also add compost to the mix. I have recently found a biodynamic compost that says that it repairs your soil’s ecosystem. I spoke to them and they said it can also be used in pots. I’m going to try it in my tomato containers and keep you updated on my results. Compost should be mixed in 1 part to 4 of soil.
It is essential that your plants are well watered, but not left soggy. My preference for the busy homeowner is automatic watering. I like drip or adjustable spray heads right in the pot, so that they can be adjusted needed. You should adjust your watering cycles based how much water your plant needs and the temperature. If you like to hand water, make sure that you do so on a regular basis and that you hire a plant sitter when you go out of town. Knowing the porosity of your container (terra cotta verses glazed, for example) will help you adjust your watering schedule.
It is very important to me to have a stunning plant combination, however, it is essential to match plants by hydrozone and sun exposure. If you put plants in a container that require different amounts of water, you will have less success or more maintenance. If you combine plants of different sun exposure in a container, you are doomed to failure from the start. One plant will fry while the other flourishes, or a spindly bloomless plant will be combined with a lush one.
Containers of unusual types can be used to add personality to your garden. Think of shopping at antique stores, yard sales, and thrift stores for that perfect item. Planting in sea shells, bird cages (to hang from a special tree), or old fountains can enhance your garden and make it more like YOU. Think outside the container! You can also use beautiful pottery as a statement all on it's own.
If you follow these basic rules, you can add splashes of beauty all around by using containers as focal points, dividing features, centers of color, texture, and fragrance.