8 Container Tips For Beginner Gardeners
My garden soil requires a jackhammer when digging a new hole for plants. With some back issues and a bad knee, container gardens are natural and so easy. No more guessing if the soil will drain or if enough premium mulch was added to do the garden right. Containers ensure perfect soil that is well drained every time. Here are eight insider tips for plants that outshine the rest in containers.
#1 Drainage is Key
This sounds like an odd first tip, but it's a matter of life and death for your plants. Plants need air for their roots to breathe; without the right-sized drainage hole, they drown and die. Bad garden pots simply need more drainage. You can often increase drainage by drilling, punching, or carving bigger holes. The minimum size for a drainage hole is 1/2" inch in diameter for small or medium-sized pots. Larger resort-size or patio-sized containers require two to three holes for proper drainage.
#2 Light is Key
Gardeners wildly overestimate how much sun their containers get.
There are great plants for any type of light, but you need the sun. Shade-loving plants need less than six hours of sun, preferably morning or late-day sun. Full-sun plants need six or more hours of sun; the more sun, the merrier they grow.
#3 Plant Food is Key
The vast majority of plants need plant food to thrive. I use granular organic 7-4-4 All Purpose Plant Food sprinkled on the container soil every other month for healthy feeding. This is especially important for trees like Japanese Maple grown in containers or shrubs like Hydrangea, Gardenia, and Evergreens. Flowering plants like All Purpose Food are used as base food, with water-soluble Flower Power supplemented every other week for continuous blooms. The same advice goes for vegetables grown in containers.
#4 Bring a List is Key
When shopping for plants, bring your container to the garden center or at least take a picture. Make a list of successful plants from the past, or do some research before you buy. A local resource of plants that grow locally is Top10Plants.com, Watters' online garden center.
#5 Plants that Play Together is Key
Mixing and matching plants in a container is encouraged; just ensure they plant together well. They will require the same light, so make sure one plant doesn't overshadow all the others. Start with a real show-stopper as the centerpiece of your container. Next, find a plant that spills and drapes over the container's edge. Fill in the remaining soil with medium-sized filler plants. Think Thriller, Spiller, and Filler.
#6 Save Your Plant Tags is Key
Plant tags are critical for remembering when you have a thrilling success or a garden blunder. Gather the tags and put them in a garden journal, or poke them together at the back of the container for season-end reminders.
#7 Acclimation is Key
I am stunned by how much abuse plants take. Also, for no apparent reason, plants wither and die. Many plants don't like abrupt changes in light, temperature, or water. They are happier when given a few days to acclimate to their new container home.
Two products significantly reduce stress on plants. Watters Super Growth Elixir is like sunblock for plants that keep them from drying out. I prefer to spritz the foliage of my plants before planting to help them acclimate. Plus, it makes the plants look shiny and fresh and happier. The second is Aqua Boost Crystals, which are added to the soil. These polymer crystals hold 200x their weight in water and the plant's soil moisture. Each crystal is infused with beneficial mycorrhizal that tickles the roots of new plants for increased growth. Use both when planting for noticeable garden success.
#8 More Potting Soil is Key
The internet is filled with bogus gardeners advising filling your containers with all kinds of junk. Don't listen! It does make a container lighter, but plants like the weight of moist potting soil. The more Potting Soil, the better. More soil equals more water-holding capacity and less margin for error when feeding and irrigating your pots.
Whatever your style, there are plants that will work for you. You just have to research and experiment to find what work.
Columbus Montretia is the Container Plant of the Week, known as Crocosmia, and a stunning knee high perennial that adds vibrant splashes of color to any garden. Its fiery orange, yellow, or red blooms emerge now through Autumn. This super low-maintenance plant thrives in the perennial garden. It is resistant to pests and diseases, making it ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Its elegant, arching leaves and clusters of star-like flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, enhancing your garden's ecosystem and making beautiful cut flowers for indoor arrangements. By choosing Columbus Montbretia, you're investing in a resilient and eye-catching addition to your landscape that will return year after year with minimal effort.
Until next week, I'll be helping gardeners here at Watters Garden Center.
