Doesn't the idea of planting a favorite plant in a pot seem simple and easy to you? Just toss some dirt in a pot, stick in the plant and wa-la and instant garden? Next thing you know your plant is wilted and the pot is cracked. Well, we have a few suggestions that will ensure that you have great success.
Potting: When it comes to selecting the planter you need to take into consideration a few simple tips. How big is the plant your going to use? Make sure the pot is generous enough in size so that you don't have to re-pot it the first year of growth.
Then decide if you want terracotta pottery for a super healthy root system or concrete or ceramic for a more durable and long lasting planter. Get creative and go with bright bold colors or do you prefer a more muted earth tone?
Most plants need a drain hole so that the plants roots aren't sitting in water but many times you can just drop a nursery pot into a decorative planter and have it drain right in the decorative pot and not flow on the ground. These are all good things to consider when planning on a container garden.
Plants: Consider what size they will grow to when mature. That way you are not re-potting every year. Place them in the arrangement you want before planting in the pot so you can see how the display will look.
Pop them out of their nursery trays carefully and plant them in the soil leaving 2 inches or so from the top of the pot and the top of the soil. Lighten up the weight of a large garden pot by using our Pot Filler. Prior to planting you can dip the root ball into a mixture of water and root stimulator to ease the shock of re-potting.
Fertilizer: Because you want to frequently water the planted container it tends to wash away the important nutrients out of the soil. To replace them use a combo of time release pellets and liquid fertilizers. This will help to keep the potted plants healthy and war off pests and disease.
Reapply as directed. Some plants have special needs to be sure and ask the nursery where you buy them. Then watch for weak growth, discolored leaves and underdeveloped flower buds on these potted plants and flowers. It could indicate disease or insect problems.
Watering: Obviously roots can't find ground moisture because the plants are in a decorative planter so be sure and keep them well watered for better health and plant growth. Plants suffer from too much water as much as too little.
Most containers usually require watering once a day during summer but pots in direct sunlight or exposed to super high temps may need twice a day. If you top dress your pots it really helps to retain the moisture. Use river rocks, faux rocks or mulch. Drip irrigation works great with potted plants so use it if you have it.
Hopefully you found something new to try. We wish you much success with your container gardening.
