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Container Gardening Growing Flowers & Plants in Pots or Containers is Easy and Fun.Gardening Newsletter Container Gardening is growing any kind of flora in something other than the great outdoors. Yes, there are official containers such as pots that you can buy; but really anything that you can pick up and move with a plant or flower would qualify.
I’m sure you get it, but container examples could be:
Advantages & Reasons for Container Gardening:
There are many reasons and advantages to starting your own container garden (most of them are obvious):
Flexibility – You can grow whatever you want at different times of the year.
Control & Mobility – You can decide to move your flowers & plants on a whim. From the front porch to the sunroom or from outside to inside.
Decoration – Brighten up your home or office.
Pest Control – In your home flowers & plants are sheltered from the outside pest that normally want to eat and mess with them. Free Newsletter Please sign up and enjoy our Gardening Advisor Newsletter. In this you will read both fun and serious gardening information covering a wide range of topics.
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Growing Tips for Container Gardening: [1] Containers: It’s really up to you in the size and style of container, but your decision will affect how you care for your flowers & plants. For example, if you choose an extra small container you are limited to smaller plants because root systems will need growth room. Other things to consider:
Containers are closed system, so they need holes in them for proper draining. This is a catch 22… You need drainage but the container can also dry out very quickly. The larger the container the less you’ll need to worry about drainage or dry soil.
Additional container tips:
* Holes should be approximately ˝ inch across. This is important if you are creating a container from scratch or are using a pot with no holes in the bottom. You can drill holes (carefully) if your pots do not already have them. It’s easier to just buy tem that way since they are common and inexpensive.
* Set your containers on a saucer designed to allow water drainage or put the container on top of blocks or bricks for proper drainage.
[2] Soil: You could just grab some soil from outside to start your container gardens. This is a tougher route to take but can be done. To do this you’ll need to choose hardier flowers and plants and you’ll need to baby sit the growth a lot more closely. For example, regular dirt can have a tendency to become packed and hard in a smaller container which creates severe drainage issues.
Better Solution: An easier and better way is to use a potting soil mix. You can either make or purchase these mixes and they basically consist of:
Note: Your outdoor compost pile is a great start as well. The idea is that you need a soil mix that can hold moisture, drain off excess water, and allow for the root systems to expand freely. There are various brands of good potting soil mixes you can purchase if you like.
[3] Fertilizing: In your closed container system, the flowers and plants need to be given nutrients more often because there is nothing to replenish the soil. Your options are to fertilize often (possibly at each watering) or to use a slow release fertilizer. Slow release fertilizers allow small amounts of nutrients to be released each time you water your flora.
[4] Flower & Plants: It’s up to you. Grow almost anything you want to. Some flora require extra care or special conditions but there are almost no limits. Matter of fact, your options are far greater than when planting in your outdoor garden because you can grow varieties of flora that would not normally survive the growth zone you live in.
Flora Ideas:
* Grow permanent flowers or plants and combine them with single season flora.
* Move your flowers or plants outside in the spring and summer and back indoors win the colder months (a transportable garden).
[5] Tools: This is easy and up to your preference. You can use an official small gardening tool like a shovel or spade, or use items found around the house like spoons and forks. Garden supply tools are neat because they are specialized and make the job easier.
[6] Garden Décor: This is a personal taste thing but you can add little décor like garden gnomes to add interest. There are thousands of décor ideas available both for outdoor gardening as well as for container gardening.
[7] Water: Water enough but not too much. Some container plants need watered daily. You’ll have to be the judge because it depends on these factors:
* Container size – Smaller container more water.
* Heat & Dryness – The hotter & drier it is the more you water.
* Type of Flower or Plant – Some flora require more water.
* Growth rate of your flora – Heavy growth requires more water.
* Other – This includes little things like number of holes, how porous your pot is, etc.
Note: Feel your soil and judge whether it is too dry. It should be moist but not wet.
[8] Sunlight: Your container flowers and plants will generally need about 5 hours of sunlight each day (this will vary depending upon the type and variety of flora). You can also use artificial lighting if your container flora are in a place that gets little or no sun. Free Newsletter Please sign up and enjoy our Gardening Advisor Newsletter. In this you will read both fun and serious gardening information covering a wide range of topics.
We will gaurd your Email with great care and NEVER send spam or sell your information. Examples of - Flowers & Plants for Container Gardening:
Annual Flowers:
Perennial Flowers:
Bulbs:
Container Gardening is easy and gives you the opportunity to enjoy your flowers and plants indoors and all season. |