Did you know that growing Spinach in a garden pot is really easy to do for a number of reasons?  It likes the shade and you can grow it indoors on a windowsill.  Do you eat a lot of fresh spinach and are tired of that bagged stuff from the grocery store?  Then read on and learn how simple it is to grow your own spinach in a flowerpot.

The best size of pot to start growing spinach in should be at least 8” deep.  This is considered a standard flowerpot size and easy to find.  We sell Italian clay 8”garden pots that would be perfect.  Next decide if you want to fill the pot with seeds or starter plants.

Each spinach plant requires approximately 3” of space so make sure you give them that.  If you think you may want to wait to harvest the leaves till they are larger then give them 5” of space or if you like the idea of eating tender small leaves give the potted plants 2” space.  You decide and pick a container accordingly.

If you are thinking about trying this growing idea in the Fall then place the garden container in a sunny spot.  In Spring & Summer when it gets really hot place the flowerpot in a area that gets some shade, especially in the afternoons.  You don’t want to burn those tender leaves that you plan on eating so move the planter accordingly.

Always use a quality growing mix and make sure the planter you use has drain hole.  You don’t want soggy soil.  When watering, avoid watering the foliage and keep the soil damp not soggy or wet.  Don’t get overly concerned about water, just make sure the soil is moist.

Growing indoors requires a pot that has a drain saucer.  You want the over water to drain off the soil but a saucer will be necessary to catch it.  Use smaller pots that fit into your window and plant fewer plants in each.  A window will provide enough sunlight but not all-day sunlight so it’s prefect.

When the spinach stem has 5 leaves you can start to pick them off and eat them.  Start with outer leaves and leave the inner leaves so they will grow larger.  Once all the leaves are gone, cut off the whole plant at the base and it will re-sprout again.

Let’s grow a pumpkin in a flowerpot!

If you find yourself limited to a deck or patio and no yard in sight then we have the solution for how to grow your own pumpkin.  Put them in a flowerpot.  It is not that difficult and really a fun thing to do.

Of course, as with anything you are going to grow in a garden pot start by picking the container.  Pumpkins need and like room, so think big.  The larger the better.  If you want to grow mini pumpkins you can get away with a smaller container but honestly they need room to grow.

If you are a apartment dweller and only have a balcony you should use a long rectangle window box as big as you can manage.  Try to get one that is 36” long if possible and make sure whatever you use that there are drain holes in the bottom.  As with other plants the roots of these pumpkins do not like soggy soil.  Drill extra if necessary.

When selecting soil pick a potting mix that is good for containers.  Mix equal pots of mix and compost.  The compost improves the water’s retention which pumpkin vines like.  Add in a slow release fertilizer to the soil and fill the container up to 2” below the rim.

Time to add the seeds. We recommend following the seed packet directions.  Make sure to water frequently since pumpkins are thirsty. There are many varieties you can grow but we suggest you start with smaller varieties or mini pumpkins.  Get your feet wet with the little ones and then get bigger from there.

Now that Fall has arrived what do you garden planters look like?  If you are tired of cleaning out your summer containers and leave those same planters empty all fall and winter than there are a few suggestions of fall flowers that are easy, colorful and fun to pot up.

Visiting your local home and garden center will show you many of the fall flowers that are available and ready to take hope and plant in your patio pots.  During this time of the year they are so important for providing color and texture to a garden or yard that may be looking a bit worn out and tired.

Consider these flowers when redesigning your garden pottery for the yard, porch or patio.

Sunflowers – who doesn’t love these cheery yellow flowers that will last till the first frost.  They can attract songbirds and are prefect to cut and bring indoors for a decorative touch.

Daisy is another cheerful and bright addition to any plant container.  They attract butterflies, also make great cut flowers for indoor arrangements and come in many wonderful colors.

Aster is a fall flower that blooms in yellow, orange and red which means they will compliment any fall mixture of plant materials you group together in a flowerpot.  They love the sun.  Autumn crocus is similar to the spring blooming crocuses and grow up to 6” high.  Great when placed in the center of a garden container with smaller flowers surrounding it.  They require little maintenance and are perfect for all containers.

Pansies are always great for fall and perfect for garden pottery.  They have the sweetest little faces and come in all shades of colors.

Ornamental Kale & cabbage have become more and more popular and are seen planted in most fall containers.  Their colorful purple and deep green ruffled leaves add aesthetic qualities that other flowers do not.  The colors of potted cabbage and kale intensifies as it gets colder outdoors.

We hope we gave you some good suggestions on different types of flowers to pot up for fall and that you give one of them a try.  We think you will be pleased and your garden pottery will look stunning!

Air Plants – Have you heard of them?

We are certain that you have seen these funny looking plants at the grocery store or garden center that look like they are flying on the air.  Well, if you are wondering what those actually are then let us explain.
Air plants are plants that can grow without potting soil.  The are tropical and won’t survive in freezing temperatures, so you will usually see them as potted houseplants.

An air plant will anchor its’ roots onto a tree or shrub without harming them.  They absorb moisture and nutrients from the air through their leaves.  This makes them easy to grow indoors.  You can grow them in a terrarium, on wire frames, or small tiny mini pots.  There flexibility makes them a fun and creative way to add a touch of green to any room.

Potted air plants come in a large variety of leaf shapes and styles.  They are very forgiving of neglect so kids and college students tend to love them even more.  Air plants love sunlight but can survive in fluorescent light also.  There are a couple of ways to water a potted air plant but we think the easiest is to mist them several times a week.

Air plants require easy maintenance.  Remove discolored leaves at the base, no fertilizing is necessary and all you need to do is mist occasionally.  How much easier can it get?

If you are considering changing out your summer containers into fall planters and just visited your local garden center you will see there are a lot of garden mums in multiple colors to choose from.  White, Yellow, Pink, Lavender, Red and Bronze are all in full bloom.  Here are a few tips that may help so you can keep your fall garden containers looking good till Winter.

Fall mums are great for garden pottery during the cooler Autumn months.  Their colors compliment all other plant materials like ornamental kale and cabbage, cornstalks, rustic grasses and evergreens.  When shopping for mums looks for plants with buds that are just starting to open.  These will last approximately 6 weeks.

As your potted mums start to grow, look for spent blooms and prune when they are faded and dried looking.  Remember to water your potted mums regularly.  Fall mum containers will stay prettier and be happier if they don’t dry out. 

You won’t need to fertilize your mums since the grower has already taken care of.  If you prefer to keep your potted mums indoors then place the vase near a window with indirect light. Check for moisture and keep them watered but not soggy.  That pretty much is it.  Fall mums that are planted in your garden pottery are the easy and colorful solution.

Today Succulents and Cactus are very popular.  You see larger selections of them to choose from at your local garden center or nursery.  They look so fantastic with their weird leaves and spikes yet are the perfect plant to put into garden containers or indoors decorative pottery.  If you have tried to pot these plants and had issues with over or under watering we would like to offer a few tips.

Did you know that the word succulent means a plant that can hold excess water?  Their leaves look really puffy and fleshy almost like they will squirt liquid.  Now there are other succulents like cactus that may not look that way but don’t require a lot of water to survive.

When it comes to how much and when is best to water a succulent container, the rule that works best is to allow the soil to become dry between watering but not hard and compact.  Usually what happens is you see some top soil that has dried out, usually from the wind conditions, and think the plant needs more.  That is incorrect.  Over watering is the one main reason for potted succulent problems.

The correct way to water is to wait till the water drains out the drain hole of the planter base.  Water again and let drain completely.  This allows the potted succulents roots time to drink in water.  You don’t want your garden container sitting in water or the plant will continue to suck up the liquid.

If you question whether you need more water or not it is best to go with under watering than over watering.  Remember that succulent garden planters grow slowly in winter so they need much less water than summer months.  If your pots are indoors you may need to water every 4 days if your homes indoor air is arid.

The best way to water is to use a small watering can and place the spout on the soil.  It’s best not to water the leaves only.  By watering the soils surface you give the roots of the potted succulent a longer time to absorb the liquid.  It won’t hurt the leaves if they get wet but aim for the soil surface first.

There are many things you need to consider when choosing garden containers for your home and garden needs.  Let’s start with the obvious and that is what is the planter going to be used for?  Are you looking for a garden pot to grow herbs and vegetables in?  Is this planter more for beauty and décor or is it to fill a blank area on the patio or porch. 

Terracotta garden pottery has been around longer than any other substance besides baskets.  It is made out of clay that breathes and is considered most healthy for a plants root system.  Terracotta is rustic and natural looking and comes in many styles and sizes.  As you must know a clay garden pot can only come so large. This is because they are fired inside a kiln and kilns are only so large. The larger the clay pot the more issues with cracks forming while being fired.

So, if you want a large garden planter you need to consider them made from mixes that can be poured into molds and cured over time instead of being fired in a kiln.  Concrete, Sandstone and Poly Resin can all be made in huge sizes since they are made with molds.  They are durable and long lasting which is what you want and need if you are using a large planter.

Glazed or ceramic colored pottery is great because it comes in shiny, colors and finishes.  Blue, Red, Green etc and so many more, where you can match your garden pottery to your home or landscape décor.  These pots are usually durable but only frost resistant which means they can’t handle the cold freezing temperatures.  Glazed garden pots are perfect for indoors where they add interest and beauty along with function to your homes design and décor.

Do you live in an apartment where you need a lightweight container where you can move it around, fill it up or take it with you when your needs change over time?  Then poly resin is the way to go. This is not an ordinary plastic pot but a commercial grade non-fade, will never crack, chip or warp or break.  With 32 color choices these are the super choice for indoors or outdoors.

We hope we gave you a few things to think about.  Call 800-420-1808 if you have further questions.

How to prep your garden containers for Fall

It’s much easier to turn a spent Summer garden container into a Fall planter than you think.  Just follow some easy tips provided below and create wonderful Fall planters.

Don’t leave your entryway garden containers empty this time of year.  Now is perfect for seasonal color and rust grasses.  Evergreen foliage will add life to any type or style of landscape container.  When you visit your local garden center you should see lots of Fall colored mums.  Bright yellow, orange and reds, deep burgundy, purple and gold.

Simply by adding a center mum and surrounding it with pumpkins, gourds and succulents you can create a wonderful Fall planter that will take you into winter and welcome your guest with warmth and beauty.  Plant rustic grass in the center of a terracotta planter then surround it with ornamental kale and cabbage with dark deep greens and purple leaves. 

Instead of just planting typical green houseplants in your entryway planters how about herbs like cilantro, thyme and oregano?  They can all handle the cooler weather.  Plant trailing ivy, gold mums and red flowers in your garden container of choice and then set pumpkins and gourds around the outside of the pot.  You don’t even have to plant anything.

Try mixing dark purple and deep green of kale and cabbage and fill around the outside of the pot with mini WHITE pumpkins and create a purple and white display of color. Stunning & elegant!

One tip that you can never fail at it to over stuff your pottery. Mix lots of plants, greens and ornamental items without space between them.  This creates a full and colorful display.  By using a neutral based color planter like terracotta or taupe you can mix tons of colors in the pot and they will all look grand.