How to Plant Gardening Containers Or Gardening Pots In Your Container Garden
When you are ready to mix ingredients for your container garden, be sure the soil is damp and workable. To determine this, take a handful, squeeze it and allow it to drop. If water comes out, it is too wet; if it breaks apart, it is too dry. But if the lump of soil retains its shape or cracks just a little when it is dropped, it is in good condition to work into your gardening pots.
Be certain your garden containers are clean when you start. Soak used or new clay gardening pots overnight so they will not draw moisture from the soil after planting. This is a very important step when you are beginning your plants life. If the pot draws off the moisture the new plant will be deprived. Clean dirty clay pots with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water. Clean gardening pots will be much more attractive in your container garden.
Though redwood, cedar, and cypress gardening pots may be left natural, they may also be stained or painted. First clean the surfaces then apply one or two coats of stain or paint. Let dry completely before planting. Concrete, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and similar materials all need cleaning before planting your container garden.
Suiting plants to garden pots is very important in container garden design. Consider the shape of each container, its color, and texture in relation to the color of flowers and foliage, as well as the ultimate size of each plant in your container garden. Don’t choose material that is too small, and if you want a group of plants for a large container, select one tall specimen for the center to give height and scale. Don’t forget that you can plant vegetables in container gardens; try to incorporate them into your container garden design. And, for a tasty addition to your container garden plant herbs in garden containers or even hanging baskets, your recipes will become marvelous.
In low pots or bulb pans and in tubs, use low-growing plants like fancy-leaved caladiums, petunias, verbenas, Iantanas, ageratum and wax begonias. Hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils are also appropriate. In tall containers, plant specimens of geraniums, heliotropes, coleus, balsam, dwarf dahlias, fuchsias, and marguerites. Reserve the larger container pots and boxes for trees and shrubs or roses.
As a gardener, keep in mind the form of plants, particularly the evergreens which stand out boldly in winter. Rounded types, as clipped yews or globe arborvitae, look well in angular containers. Hollies or yews, sheared into squares or pyramids, look better in circular tubs. This contrast of the curving with the straight always gives interest to the garden and those guests that visit your container garden.
The first step in potting for a gardener is to place sufficient drainage material in the bottom of each garden container, allowing the water to pass through freely, but not so much as to interfere with the roots. An inch or two of flower pot pieces (rounded sides up), or chips of brick or flagstone, pebbles, gravel, small stones, or cinders can be used. The larger the container, the larger the pieces should be. Some gardeners spread a piece of coarse burlap and a layer of sand over large drainage pieces. A layer of Vermiculite or sphagnum moss over the drainage material is also fine to keep soil from clogging holes. If the holes clog the roots will drown in their gardening pot.
Above the drainage, spread a layer of soil, the amount depending on the size of the container and the root ball of the plant. Place the plant in position so that the surface of the soil will be an inch (more for big plants) below the rim of the container. This space is needed to hold water.
Fill soil in around the roots, firming gently with your fingers or a piece of wood so as to eliminate air pockets. Add more soil and firm, but do not make the soil too tight for fine feeding roots must be able to penetrate it with ease.
Finally, water your garden container plants well, let them drain. If water passes through the gardening pot very rapidly, press soil again to firm it; that means there are air pockets. If the soil holds water too long, loosen it a little.
Place the container garden in a sheltered spot out of sun and wind for the first week while they make new root growth and adjust to new conditions. This also helps to avoid shock. Once your plants have settled in, you ready to arrange your container garden according to your original container gardening design.
Happy Container Gardening!
Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at http://www.GardeningHerb.com http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com and http://www.ContainerGardeningSecrets.com or contact her at mary@webmarketingreviews
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May 24th, 2005 at 12:56 am
That info about the tomato plants and world book of records was interesting.
May 24th, 2005 at 1:21 am
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May 24th, 2005 at 1:07 am
I use Moisture control Miracle grow potting mix. I put a coffee filter–or several, depending on the size of the pot–
on the bottom, then add packing peanuts (instead of rocks; makes the pots weigh less if I need to move them around)
to the bottom of the container. About a third to a half of the depth, depending on the size of the pot (12 inches or bigger
containers) Then fill with the potting mix, and add plants.
You need something tall for height, something mounding for
filler, and something trailing over the side for a good look.
I like garden "spikes" for height, and variegated periwinkle
for trailing. I've used coleus for color and sweet potato vine for trailing, too. Many things work well. I think Southern Living magazine had an article recently, so you could check them out on line. Or pallensmith.com. The only problem with containers is watering them daily; tough to do on vacation!
Good Luck!
May 24th, 2005 at 1:31 am
Mustard has a very compact root that goes down deep. This is an unusual indoor plant, but they could be planted very close together. I suspect the roots go down as deep as these plants are tall, so the potting soil depth will be more important here – I'd look for deep ones. Farmers sometimes grow mustard and related crops in their crop rotation, and the deep roots help break up the soil and bring deep nutrients closer to the surface, so I'm sure these need space for a deep root.
May 24th, 2005 at 1:42 pm
The lobelia and the Calibrachoa are both annuals, so they will only live for the season. If you want plants to come back for you next season, you should buy perennial plants – these usually are bigger and not as showy (colourful) as the annuals.
As for the spider plant and the fern, those are indoor plants. You should move them back into the house.
You should water your outdoor plants daily to promote root growth in a new environment. It is quite late in the season for planting outdoors I must say, but and again you are in south california, so I can't really comment on that.
Your indoor plants should be watered approximately once a week. Do not put your indoor plants under direct sun. The fern can do with more shade, and soil needs to be kept moist at all times. I hope this helps!
Next year, you should really get your plants from a nursery. The staff there will be able to help you choose the right plants. Home depot is not the right place unless you know what kind of plants to buy(ie, a seasoned pro).
May 25th, 2005 at 1:51 am
nice vid, simple yet very informative..
May 24th, 2005 at 9:55 pm
Anything will grow in a pot for at least a while – you buy plants in pots so they must do. You need to make sure the pot is big enough. Check your balcony will take the weight of pots, if you use clay ones they are really heavy when wet, you might need to use plastic and a lightweight compost, but then the problem is your pots might blow over so you need to consider that and maybe fix then to the floor or wall. You need to check a book for plants that like the shade – your paeony will be OK although may not flower very well. Jasmine will not like the shade and probably will not flower. For fruit you might grow morello cherries if you have room for a BIG container, but not sweet cherries. also maybe redcurrants or whitecurrants – sweet fruit needs sun to make sugars, so you will only really be able to grow cooking (sharp or acid) fruit. I would suggest you go for a jungly look if you have little sun and grow ferns and plants with big leaves.
May 24th, 2005 at 9:56 pm
Use the largest pots you can afford. Don't use any pots less then 12" diameter. And plan to water water water. Container gardens need watering on a more frequent basis than in-ground gardens because the surface area off the pots is all evaporative.
You can grow lovely produce in containers, you just have too keep watering. And use a regular fertilization schedule. I also top any container grown veggies with a good layer of compost and then a thick mulch to fertilize and try to keep a moisture barrier over soil at the same time.
May 25th, 2005 at 9:02 am
PLEASE DO NOT READ
DONT READ THIS
PLEASE
DO NOT READ
DO NOT READ
DO NOT READ
swear do not read…I don’t even know why I’m participating I guess I’m still a bit paranoid. But really do not read this I swear . Also thanks this was really appreciated.
DO NOT READ:This is so stupid…
But i love my mom deeply…
And i don’t want to take any chances.
Sorry.
If you do not copy and paste this onto 10 videos your mom will die in 4 hour I hat these to. Sorry
May 25th, 2005 at 11:18 am
1. copy and paste
2. send this to 2 other videos.
3. hold your breath for 10 seconds
4. press refresh twice
3. LOOK AT YOUR HANDS
May 25th, 2005 at 5:33 pm
She’s a babe! She planted a santa though!
May 25th, 2005 at 7:24 pm
Alright, do them.
But why are you on Youtube and watching videos?
May 25th, 2005 at 3:15 pm
A large ceramic pot water garden will make your porch welcoming provide positive energy at the entrance of your home. A small fountain or bubbler will circulate the water, discourage mosquito larvae and algae, and create a soothing sound you will enjoy every time you are on your porch. Small pumps may be found at pond stores or home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowe's.
How to calculate what size pump you will need? You must consider both GPH (gallons per hour) and head (the distance from the pump to the top of your container). There are many formulas for determining this. The best method is to find a pond store, tell an employee the size (gallons, height, width) of your container, and let him/her help you choose.
Regarding water plants: underwater tub plants like water lilies need occasional fertilization. Floating plants do not. You do not need to treat your water with anything.
Good luck with your water garden!
May 26th, 2005 at 4:01 am
she knows where ill plant my seed.
May 26th, 2005 at 7:19 am
May 26th, 2005 at 3:32 pm
That’s a nice bunny.
May 26th, 2005 at 11:04 am
If there is a flea market or yard sale close to you, try them. You can usually pick them up fairly cheap. See if you have a freecycle.com in your area, and if not, start one. The purpose is to keep things out of landfills and dumps by giving to someone else what you may no longer want or need. I've gotten a lot of great things like leaf blowers, tables, clothes with the tags still on them, oriental rug… all free. Plus, I've been able to get rid of a lot of things and give them to people that want them. You can also do a post and state that you are wanting a particular item (like flower pots!). Or, go to the store in the off season and you can usually get them reasonably. You can also try making your own. Recycle some of your plastic containers (maybe old plastic coffee containers) and punch a hole in the bottom for drainage. Stencil them or decorate however you want. My plants didn't suffer at all through the winter, being inside. My aloe has two babies, my mother-in-law tongue has one! I wouldn't pay anywhere near $100 for a container for them. Just make sure they have good lighting, and you should do fine without spending a fortune!
May 27th, 2005 at 6:11 am
Yes, Jennifer, choosing plants should not be random, if you want them to survive, and yes, there are many factors to consider, as stated in the other answers. To easily help you sort all this out , take a picture of your planters showing the front of your house as well, and go talk to a professional at a reputable garden centre, not a big box store. They will be able to answer all your questions and help you pick out the appropriate plant material.
Make sure they sell you some new potting soil and fertilizer, to replace the current stuff, to help keep the plants healthy and happy. Don't be shy about asking for watering tips too, as this is crucial to the survival of your plants , which have different care requirements from plants in the ground.
If it were me, I would include a tall , slender , slow-growing evergreen shrub or topiary in the centre of each pot, so that even if your flowers die off in the winter, you still have something green growing all year in the pot, and at Christmas time, you can wrap the shrubs with lights .
Wherever you live, your local nursery will always carry plants that are appropriate for your climate.Get familiar with your "growing zone" and you'll be able to make informed plant choices.
Have fun and good luck