Posted by Keith Maiden
by Keith Maiden
Container gardens have been around for quite some time and are gaining in popularity. In many instances, such as high-rise or apartment living, the only option for a garden is to place your plants in garden pots. Here is a short list of considerations on using garden pots in your own garden:
1. Choosing the Proper Material for Your Garden Pots
Garden pots are made from a large variety of materials, like clay, plastic and stone. Some of these materials are more durable than others and some more stylish. How you will use the pots will help you narrow down the options.
2. Size Matters
If you know what plants you will be using in your garden, the kind of plant will help determine how big the garden pot will be. For instance, small trees require much larger pots to allow for their root systems.
3. Vary the Pot Sizes
If you want your garden to "pop", then vary the sizes of the pots (and plants) you use. Scale your pots so the farther back they are, the larger they get.
4. Place Your Pots in Groups
Add interest or a focal point to your garden by grouping smaller and mid-sized pots around a large pot.
5. Select Plants That You Put In A Pot That Require The Same Amount of Water
Obviously, you shouldn't put a water-loving plant (like a fern) in with a group of cactus. Watering requirements should be the same for all the plants in a single pot.
6. Place Plants That Require The Same Amount of Sunlight In Each Pot
Pots left in direct sunlight dry up very quickly because of their small size. Try to place them where they get some shade at least part of the day.
7. Choose Plants That Require Less Water
Since pots are relatively small, they tend to dry up pretty fast. Choosing plants that require less water will make your container garden easier to maintain and will also be more forgiving.
8. Proper Drainage Is Essential
Most pots come with drain holes in them. If they don't you will have to drill them yourself. Over the hole, place either a couple of layers of newspaper or a piece of broken pot to allow for drainage but keeping the soil from spilling out the bottom.
9. Waterproof Terracotta Pots
Terracotta makes a great material for pots, but they tend to soak up quite a bit of the water intended for your plants. Brush on a water sealant to the inside of the pot to keep this from occurring.
10. Use Potting Soil
Its always best to use a good potting soil in your pots. They are specially blended just for this purpose so they are light weight and they have better water holding capabilities.
About the Author:
Before you purchase any type of
garden pot for your container garden, visit Keith Maiden's web site:
AllGardenPots.com for more information on pots and container gardening.
Tags: garden pots
Posted by Andy Raydall
by Andy Raydall
Have fun with your kids while doing something useful - container gardening! This will certainly help keep them from getting bored and they will love learning how to plant in garden pots. And, seriously, what could possibly be better than getting their little hands dirty while growing their own food. They might just be inclined to try some new foods they wouldn't ordinarily try (I know this works since I saw it happen with my own 6-year old son.)
The Containers
Now let's begin with the garden pots. Containers are available in a wide variety of materials and styles. They can be made from plastic, stone, wood, clay, etc. Since they are lightweight and pretty hard to break, I recommend using plastic pots for safety reasons for kids. Wood containers would be a good second option. Wood containers are usually made to be decorative and not necessarily water proof so you will probably end up putting your plastic pot inside the wood one.
Now is a great time to have your kids decorate the pots. Acrylic paints work well on both plastic and wood. Look for paints that are non-toxic. Once the pots are decorated to your taste (or rather, your child's taste), you should pick out the location where you are going to put the pot as it can be heavy once its filled with soil and harder to move.
The Potting Soil
I recommend that instead of using just your average dirt, use a good potting soil. They are specially blended for small containers and hold water (a great benefit since there is less maintenance). Getting your plants off to a good start is always a great idea and is easy if you use the proper nutrients. Check the guide on the side of the fertilizer bag for the recommended amount to use. Just don't add too much as this could kill the plants.
The Plants
Whether flowers, vegetables, or herbs, choosing your plants by type is an easy way to start. Once you have the type picked out, choose the size of plant appropriate to the size of your pots. Some plants will require larger pots (like tomatoes). You can always transplant them into larger pots if they get too big for the pot you started with. This is a great project for your kids (and YOU). They are sure to love seeing (and also eating) the fruits of their labor.
Tags: garden pots
Posted by David Haines
With some basic gardening skills, you can ensure a successful container garden. Starting with the containers themselves, make sure that any garden pots made from porous materials (such as terracotta or wood) are sealed on the inside with a quality water sealant. Otherwise, the pots will soak up much of the water meant for your plants.
Watering Your Plants
It is just as important not to over water as it is not to underwater. Most garden pots will have a saucer or bowl underneath to catch any extra water and keep it from rotting your patio or deck. The best way to water your container garden is by filling the saucers up with water. This helps you avoid over watering and the water from spilling over the top of the saucer. The water will seep up through the hole in the bottom of the pot feeding the roots of your plants.
You can also choose to water your plants on the top surface. If so, make sure to fill it a little at a time (about a cup or so) and keep an eye on how much water ends up in the saucer. Its best not to overfill the saucer. Your plants will always welcome a fresh spray of water from a hand sprayer. If you have really hard water from your sink, use bottled or rain water so calcium won't build up on the leaves.
Plant Food
Since pots are generally small, the nutrients in most potting soils don't last much more than five or six weeks. Therefore, you will need to replenish the soil with vital nutrients. Plant food generally comes in liquid or granular forms. Slow-release granules are recommended as they last a long time and keep a steady supply of food going to the plants.
Pest Control
The two main types of insecticides are Systemic and Contact. Systemic works by pouring the insecticide onto the soil. It is then absorbed through the root system then up through the plant. This works best for pests under the soil and for leaf eating bugs as they ingest the poison.
The next type of insecticide is the contact type which is sprayed directly onto the insects. It should work rather quickly but you might have to repeat the application after a few days depending on the amount of infestation is going on.
You are sure to have a thriving container garden with a small amount of monitoring and loving care.
David Haines has been working in gardens since his early childhood and has always been interested in educating others regarding gardening and landscaping techniques. If you'd like to know more about container gardening, visit AllGardenPots.com
Tags: garden pots
