Everyone has the time and the space to have a garden. No matter how busy you are or how small your yard or even if you don’t have a yard at all, you surely have room for a plant-filled container or two. Container gardening is quickly becoming one of the most popular growing techniques.
How do I start a container garden?
GARDENING in containers is a fascinating way of growing plants. It has expanded the horizons of gardening for homeowners and often has provided the only way to garden for apartment and condominium dwellers. Planting in containers has also provided a contemporary aspect to gardening. The use of unusual plants in unusual pots and containers provides interest and color to surroundings that were once considered drab. Containers bring plants up close and personal. You can choose the plant, the container, and the location. And when you put them all together, you can stand back and marvel at what you’ve created.
Interesting containers often make plants more picturesque, and the varieties available are almost endless. Color, size and texture are important, but the most important consideration when choosing a container is whether it has adequate drainage holes. Flymeawaycreations Etsy shop has over 20 different style planter containers that have drainage holes to help water flow for any plant!
Most people fill their containers with plants that grow for a single season; at the end of the season they toss the plants and start with fresh plants for the next round of growing. This is the easiest way to grow plants in containers because you don’t have to worry about the temperature extremes that challenge many plants, especially in regions with cold winters. Fear not: Choosing this option doesn’t mean you sacrifice anything. Some of the biggest, brightest, and longest-blooming flowers are ideal for single-season containers, as are most vegetables. For example, petunias, impatiens, beans, and tomatoes are grown as annuals and enjoyed for a single growing season. They require just a few months of commitment from you.
Helping Your Container Plants Thrive:
Plants in containers need a little more ongoing attention than plants in the ground. Container plants depend on you for their water and nutrients. Poorly drained potting mixture can lead to root problems. Under conditions of excess moisture and poor aeration, roots become stressed and are easily invaded by root rotting fungi. Under these circumstances, plants fail to grow properly or even die. Commercial potting mixtures are ideal for container plants. These are referred to as “soil less mixtures” because they do not contain soil but rather various combinations of minerals and peat moss as well as either per-lite or ground pine bark. The latter two components are used to improve drainage and aeration. The better commercial mixes are also fortified with fertilizer and lime as well as a wetting agent. These mixtures can be found at any local gardening shop, known as “potting soil.” Some plants need full sun to thrive, but any place that has sufficient light to read by is a suitable location for some type of potted plant. The key is choosing the right plant for the spot. The corner of your desk or any sun lit room may be a perfect spot for a small plant. The great thing about growing plants in containers is that you’re not limited by climate, how much space you have, or the plants commonly available at most garden centers.
If you would like to try planting Herbs in the container you will need at least a couple hours of good sun per day. Fill the container with 2-4 inches of compost soil. If you’re planting sprouts, make sure to give them a few inches of space around the roots. If you’re planting seeds, scatter the seeds evenly across the planter. Planting succulents make sure you use a container with a drainage hole in the bottom, and use a sandy and soil mixture. Stay tuned for a new blog regarding Planting succulents!
You can follow the link to Flymeawaycreations shop to see all the different style container planters for any small plant!
The-dirty-hoe.com 
I say I’m going to start a container garden every year and I never do it! Your post has motivated me to actually get this done. 🙂
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That’s awesome Michelle!
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