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What is a "spill" pot? |
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What is a "Spill" pot?
Well to us here at Arizona Pottery it is a garden planter that has been turned on it's side, placed on the ground and has flowers or grass growing out of it. It's a garden container that looks like it has flowers, or colorful grasses spilling out of the inside onto the ground surrounding it.
The look that we are referring to is not something new in the gardening community. Turning a flowerpot on it's side has been around for a long time. We just wanted to show you some of the great designs that we are seeing resurface online.
If you have a large yard and would like to mix it up a bit we think adding a "spill" pot to the landscape can create a unconventional look that is both interesting and functional. Some of the designs we are seeing have the pot completely filled and overflowing with plant materials. While other pots have just a few coming out the mouth of the planter.
Many planters only spill for a few inches while others have plants flowing out for many yards across the ground. Of course it all depends on how much room you have and what kind of design you are looking for. Do you like green succulents and cacti spill out or would you prefer lots of colorful blooming flowers? Now is the time to get creative and have fun.
We recommend you stand back and think about what you need when it comes to the size of the planter and then choose the plant materials accordingly. Don't use tiny small flowers in a large wide mouth landscape pot. If you like tall ornamental grass spilling out then maybe a large pot is necessary. Ask yourself if you like a water jar shaped pot that looks like it has blue flowers spilling out like a liquid. Maybe this is the time for colored glass beads or painted stones.
So, now you know what a "Spill" pot is. If you give this idea a go share with us your photos. We would love to see them.
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| spill pots, spilling planters, spill containers, gardening, gardens |
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By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 8/22/2023 11:09:28 AM |
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Great Smelling Garden Containers |
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When it comes time to think about what you want to plant in your garden containers this season do you ever stop and think about the fragrance you want to plant? Usually it's the colors, types and durability of the flowers or plants but not so much the smell of the flowers. Well we want you to re-consider.
If you are going to the time and expense to buy and pot up a lovely garden planter we want you to think about using plants that look lovely and SMELL heavenly. There is nothing nicer on a hot summer night to sit outside on the porch or patio after the sun has gone down and look at and enjoy the planters that surround you. Each tiny element adds so much to your comfort and pleasure.
So, here is a list of some of the best smelling plants that are easy to pot, truly lovely to look at and availability to find at most garden centers.
Gardenias - If you haven't smelled on of these bushes then you are really missing out. The fragrance it gives off is truly heavenly. Even though gardenias need a bit of TLC they are easy to pot up and place around your home where they can be enjoyed. Make sure to pot in a large enough container with good drainage and moist acidic soil. Known for their stark white delicate flowers they are not only beautiful but undeniably have a strong fragrance.
Lilac - Another bush that can easily be potted and placed around the patio or porch. While pretty easy to care for these potted bushes will need room for their roots to spread so don't skimp on a small container. You don't need a large bush to get their lovely scent so try starting a bit small. They really like full sun and moist well draining soil. Their color is beyond wonderful. Check it out!
Lavender. Who doesn't love lavender? A garden planter over flowing with lavender is really breathtaking. The scent of lavender has been around for centuries and loved by many. Their little purple flowers and spiky stems make any garden container looks vibrant and romantic along with that distinctive scent. Don't over water these and keep the pots in full sun with good air circulation and you will have a welcome addition to your porch or patio display.
Lastly the one that everyone know. Roses! Who doesn't love the scent of roses. They are symbols of love and come in so many colors and varieties that you could pot up 10 containers and still not try them all. They do need a bit of work when it comes to pruning and watering but basically they like full sun and moist soil. If possible place the flower pot in a location where you can not only see the potted flowers but smell their sensual fragrance whenever possible.
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| fragrant planters, smelly garden containers, fragrant garden pottery |
By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 8/22/2023 11:12:31 AM |
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Potted Succulent Arrangements |
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Succulents come in so many sizes, unusual shapes, colors and textures that it is hard to decide what to buy and how to pot them up. So, here we have a few tips that we hope will help that process become easier and at the same time, create lovely arrangement.
First you want to decide on what type of container and style of succulent arrangement you want. How about a themed display like "camping", "the beach", at the farm, or a certain type of colored plants. This really is the time you can get creative and crafty. Making a themed arrangement is fun and very easy.
So, pick a container that adds to the display. A old metal picnic basket makes a wonderful "at the sea" arrangement. Any flowerpot will also work. Just remember that it doesn't need to be deep and it must have drain holes. No succulent likes to sit in standing water. The roots will drown and the plant will die immediately. Standing water also attracts fungus so that is never good.
Now when selecting the type of succulents, you can choose all of one color. Do you want just large, green plants that all look the same and require the same amount of sun and water. How about creating a beach potted arrangement with plants that look like coral and seaweed. With bold colors and spiky branches.
Maybe a farm theme where you place a toy tractor in the center of the potted succulent arrangements and surround it with moss for grass and plants that look like fields of corn. You don't always have to pick special succulents to add. You can use seashells, colored rocks and little ceramic animals or fish to the potted succulent container to make a themed statement.
As a last point you never want to mix plants that don't go together. If a plant needs direct sunlight and very little water you don't want to mix it in the same container with plants that need partial shade and more water. Just read the plant tags on each variety and see what you can put together to create a wonderful, playful succulent arrangement.
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| succulent arrangement, succulent display, succulent pottery, succulent |
By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 8/22/2023 11:13:15 AM |
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Beautiful Container Tips |
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When you think of a summer patio, porch or garden area what do you imagine? Furniture, water feature and of course large garden containers filled with flowers & sweet smelling plants. In this post we would like to share a few tips we hope that you haven't thought of and find helpful.
Every year you notice that by mid summer your garden containers are looking a bit worn, tired and faded. When the temps keep climbing your planters keep shriveling and you wonder what can you do. Here are a few tips we think are good.
1. Pick a perfect pot for your plants and flowers. Make sure you start with a container that is not too small. If the pot is to small it will crowd the potted plants roots and the plant will suffer. The roots of a healthy plant need room to grow, availability to water and nutrients from the potting mix. Containers to large will hold moisture leading to rotting roots, lack of oxygen and basically drowning. Fungus loves moist areas and this is not good for your flowers or plants.
2. Have a plan in advance. A garden center can be like a toy store for adults. You want to get everything you see from colorful flowers to garden containers. Impulse buying isn't always the best way to go. Choose plants that are good for your area. Make sure you place the planters in the best conditions for that type of plants needs for light and climate, direct sun or shade. Mix up the container with plants of different heights and blooming schedules so the planter stays fresh longer and has a interesting look.
3. Start with good potting mix. We can't stress this enough. Never use ground dirt. It doesn't have the nutrient rich properties your flowers will need. Get a moisture retaining plant mix during summer to help with the heat and drying out of soil. Add fertilizer to the mix and keep it loose and crumbly. You don't want compact, hard dirt that the plants roots will struggle to get thru. Fill your pottery with loose, healthy soil.
4. Keep your garden containers groomed. It's not just because the pottery will look better but it's healthier for your plants and flowers to keep them dead headed and cleaned up. Who wants a dead stem or branch hanging on sucking up nutrients, and moisture. Keep them free of infestation of bugs that are attracted to damaged leaves, stems and petals.
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Honestly it doesn't take much to keep your garden planters looking lovely all summer long.
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| container tips, garden container, tips for garden containers, pottery |
By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 8/22/2023 11:14:34 AM |
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Smashing Succulents Potted |
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With more and more frequent & severe droughts becoming the norm, more and more folks are looking for ways to save water and still keep a potted garden. Buried jars called "ollas' help to seep water onto the plants roots, along with times drip systems. Why not start with a plant that is drought tolerant and save half the battle.
Succulents are hardy and know for being durable when it comes to watering needs and schedules. They come in all shapes and interesting sizes, from soft fuzz to spiky spears. They are easy to grow, easy to divide and easy to maintain. Who doesn't like all of these things.
Have you ever seen a bed of hens & chicks. So colorful, and interesting. In Arizona we love the prickly pear cactus with their big mickey mouse ear pads. Many potted succulents come in reds, blue and purples. Who doesn't love that touch of color in your garden containers?
Potted succulents love poor soil, low water conditions and dry shade. If you are in a humid climate you can still grow succulents but you must make sure that the garden container you use has excellent drainage. Otherwise the succulents roots will rot and the leaves and stems will attract fungus. Make sure that there is good air circulation around the container as with any time of potted plant.
Most garden centers have potting mix for succulents & cactus and we recommend starting with these first. Try potting a focal point plant in the center of the container. Yucca are great because they shoot up and out and are outstanding looking. Then place smaller succulents around the focal point and fill in. Try to keep frost tender assortments together and low growing ones with slow growing ones.
If you are looking for an outstanding display place a tall dracena tower in the center of a large planter with trailing succulents around the edge. This really makes a huge statement. Mix variegated ones with herbs, flowering companions, and ornamental grasses. Mix it up!
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| potted succulents, succulents, succulent containers, pottery, pots |
By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 8/22/2023 11:29:40 AM |
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Potatoes in Flowerpots |
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It may sound crazy but there is always space for potting up potatoes. Whether you are in an apartment or condo, little house or big house. Here are a few tips that may convenience you to give this a go.
A potted potato needs a soil depth of 2 feet to grow in so when selecting your garden planter keep this in mind. Also, potatoes will rot if left to sit in wet soil so you must have good drainage. If you don't have enough drainage try to drill more no matter what type of planter you use. You can drill around the sides also about 1" from the bottom to ensure the water is draining completely.
Place the container you chose in a sunny spot before starting to plant. Fill the planter with potting mix up to 5" from the top. Not any deeper or it won't get enough sunlight and not higher or there won't be enough soil to cover it.
Press your potato about 6" into the potting mix with the potato eyes facing up. Start with only one or two potato per pot or the soil will be sapped of nutrients too quickly. Cover the potato with soil.
Keep soil moist but avoid over watering, which will cause them to rot in the pot and produce watery potatoes. Water once a week except in extreme heat. Then water more often. After the plant grows a few inches tall, apply a fertilizer but don't over fertilize for you will produce fewer tubers.
Harvest the baby potatoes from the container when you want. Once the flowers are gone the plants energy is invested in growing the tubers. As the plant yellows dig up a few tubers and see what you think. If you wait till the plant dies back you will get the mature tubers.
Once you harvest all the potatoes dispose of the potting mix and expired plants. All soil nutrients are gone and may container disease. Wash the potted potatoes and allow to dry. Store properly.
Bon Appetite!
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| potatoe in pots, potted potato, container potato, potato in planters |
By ArizonaPottery
Post Last Updated: 8/22/2023 11:16:41 AM |
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