Ingredients for success with containers
One key to growing a pretty container is to choose the right sized plants with the same sunlight requirements for each pot. Beyond that, the secret to growing healthy container plants simply requires appropriate containers, the right compost, fertilizer, regular watering, and good drainage.
Begin with a clean container. Most common are terracotta, plastic, stone, glazed ceramic, fiber, or grow bags. Your imagination is the only limit: try recycled boots, wicker baskets, or anything else that can contain soil and let water drain.
Just as the right soil makes your garden flourish, the same is true for gardening in pots. Potting compost is necessary for containers. Garden soil in pots will become airless and compacted and can harbor diseases and pests. Potting compost can go by many names — potting soil, soilless mix, container soil, container mix, growing mix, or growing media. The best soil for your container is highly engineered growing media that contains no native (or mineral) soil at all.
Premium potting mix includes a total porosity of 80 percent to soak up water, and provide good drainage, appropriate density or weight to accommodate your container and size of plant, and has a slightly acidic pH (5.0-6.5). You may want to choose a mix that includes a good wetting agent to help prevent drying out, contains sufficient nutrients that combine slow-release pellets with fast-acting water soluble nutrients. The best mixes are low in weed, insect, and disease contaminants.
Plan on watering at least twice a week, or more often in hot, dry weather. Try to keep your containers evenly moist but not sodden.
Give them a good drink when they need it rather than surface sprinkling, even if it has rained. Foliage in densely planted pots can deflect rain. Labor savers are self-watering containers with built-in water reservoirs, water-holding mats that are wetted and placed in the container before planting, and wicks that carry water to soil from a nearby source. Drip irrigation completely eliminates the need to water with a system of thin, flexible tubes that carry water on an automatically set timed schedule.
Choosing a proper pot
A common mistake is using a pot that is too small, so invest in one large pot vs. several that will need constant attention. Terracotta is porous and the older it gets the better it looks. However, it breaks easily and is heavy when filled. Tip: Line a terracotta pot with polythene before planting to prevent moisture from evaporating through the porous clay.
Cheap plastic pots get brittle in the sun and eventually crack. More expensive plastic pots are thicker and stronger and last longer. They are lightweight and basically nonporous; thus, they retain moisture longer.
Wood is attractive and provides good insulation but requires more watering. However, you are limited to half barrels and tubs. Make sure the wood has not been treated with toxic chemicals. Concrete planters are solid and long-lasting but can be expensive and require protection when outside in cold weather. Glazed ceramics can add a new dimension to your garden IF you plant with something exotic. Fiber planters are inexpensive but last only a couple of years. Grow bags, the biggest bang for your buck, are ideal for bedding plants, strawberries and vegetables such as lettuces, dwarf beans, tomatoes, or peppers.
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