There was a time when container gardening was only practiced by apartment dwellers. But now it is becoming increasingly popular to a large variety of people. One reason is that you can add to permanent landscaping by moving pots and other containers around. Another is that you can move them inside for year round pleasure. For successful container gardening you need to choose the right containers, the right location, and the right soil and fertilizer. Lets go over each of them one at a time:
- What is the right container?
It needs to hold between 15 and 120 quarts, depending upon the estimated root size.
There has to be adequate drainage, ? inch diameter holes near the bottom. Lining the bottom with newspaper will keep you from losing soil, and raising the pot off the ground will make drainage easier.
Clay pots will lose some water through the sides and can crack in hot sunlight. Terra cotta dries out quickly. Wooden pots are lovely, but can rot from the constant moisture.
Cedar and redwood don’t rot easily, but they must not be treated with creosote, which can damage your plants. Glazed ceramic is good, but it is fragile, so handle with care. But use your imagination…you can use barrels, oil drums, old wash tubs or even bathtubs, plastic tubs or those new lightweight polyurethane foam planters.
- Location is important
There are two ways to go about it. If you have your heart set on a certain flower or vegetable, then make sure your location will provide the correct amount of sunlight.
Or you may pick the spot you want it in and then search for compatible plants. Most gardens need about five hours of direct sunlight every day.
Leafy vegetables, like lettuce and celery like shade, while fruiting vegetables, like tomatoes and cucumbers, need more sun. Flowers vary with the type, so find out before you plant. Choose plants that can tolerate low natural light conditions if your container garden will always be indoors.
- Potting soil is different from your natural outside soil
It stays fluffier, and won’t pack down solid, which makes watering easier. It also allows the roots to spread throughout the pot, which makes for healthy growth. Compost also works well, but frankly, if you are planning on carrying those planters inside for the winter, you might prefer to use an artificial soil mixture.
Miracle Gro is a great fertilizer, but any liquid fertilizer can be used and applied every other watering or so. It is needed more frequently than in ground plants because of the constant drainage.
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