Container gardening: Tips for growing plants in containers & choosing the right containers.

By Faith Chepchirchir

08 August 2024

Unsplash

Here we discuss the practices and techniques of developing a sound, healthy container garden. From practical gardener to botanical newbie, all are invited to come and learn to select worthy plants; create proper growing conditions for your plants to bloom. This is a step-by-step process of transforming your living quarters into an absolutely cool and refreshing oasis of green

This is so enchanting for the reason that with more human settlement, urban sprawls and green spaces are fast developing as limits to growing nature within confined boundaries. Container gardening is a marvel in horticulture because it can turn any ordinary pot into an ecosystem that is refreshing and rejuvenating for all green thumbs, irrespective of their level of expertise. Whether you're in a busy metropolis, huddled in the suburbs, or in some isolated rural retreat with barely enough square footage outdoors, container gardening can put the power in your hands to be surrounded by whatever plushness and color you wish, right there.

Those days are no more— acres of rolling lawn or huge plots needed for a garden. Container gardening democratizes gardening and makes it available even to those living in apartments with access to a balcony, patio, or even a windowsill. It is diversified as it allows one to raise fragrance flowers, delectable herbs, or even dwarf fruit trees. You can do this in a container of your liking—in a container of your choice. This could bring many aspects in terms of creativity and customization when able to create your very own miniature biome. A lot of other benefits take place with container gardening other than aesthetic purposes. It shall help you to be near to nature and reduce, to much extent, the stress in your life and make your living area richer. On top of that, growing your food can be very fulfilling and make a life truly healthier.

Choosing the right containers for container gardening

After one has decided on the plants they intend to grow in containers, the next step would be the choice of an appropriate container. The container is very essential in the whole process of container gardening. With the right container, a lot can be worked on regarding the health, growth, and overall appeal of your plants. This article shall arm you with a comprehensive guide to the most appropriate container to choose with your container gardening project.

Considerations

✓Type of Plant: Plants are not the same and hence do not require similar conditions. For instance, a big plant would require pots that are bigger in size, whereas for a small one, small containers would suffice. One ought to know the grown size of the plant and the type of root system, as those will determine what kind of container will be appropriate.
✓Container Size: The bigger, the better. Large containers have more soil, which can hold more water and give the roots a better growing space. But it should be sizeable relating to your plant size.
✓Material: The material of your pot identifies its weight, durability, water retention, and temperature regulation.

Common container materials are:

•Terracotta: Porous; therefore, it gives good drainage but can easily dry out.
•Plastic: Lightweight, durable and comes in different colors and shapes
•Ceramic: Stylish but can quite be heavy
•Wooden: Very inviting appearance, looks quite decent, however is needs proper care to maintain a level of quality.
•Metal: Very modern and ageless but heats up in a fraction.
•Drainage: Probably one of the most straightforward ways that your plant can get damaged is through improper drainage. Make sure its container drains well by drilling holes in the bottom.
•Weight: The weight that you container will hold onto if you plan to move it often.
•Style: Consider how your yard is going to look and your tastes.

How to Select the Right Container

✓Know Your Plants: well understand what type of plants you want to grow and what they need.
✓Good Drainage: Most plants need good drainage.
✓Consider the weight: If you will be moving your containers then opt for lighter materials.
✓Aesthetically: Choose a planter that will look good in your exterior.
✓Keep in mind the saucers: Put saucers underneath the containers. This will prevent too much water from flow on surface and shedding.

Additional considerations

•Position for pot to be: As the position for which the pot is to be positioned. Is it to be full sun, partial shade orshade?
•Climate: your climate will determine the nature of the container's material. It may not do well in cold climates since terracotta is prone to frost.
•Budget- You can get the pots for nearly any budget you are ready to pay. However, decided upon the budget before shopping

Given all the above and it is now possible to choose some perfect pots for the growing of some beautiful and healthy container gardens.

Tips for growing Plant in Containers

Fabulous for growing green even where there may not be that much spare space. Here are a few easy tips in having a beautiful container garden.

Selecting the Right Container

•It must have holes in the bottom to allow water to drain—without this, the water will pool at the base, thereby causing root rot.
•For mature size, the container must be proportional to it. A larger container holds moisture more.
•Material: The material may impact the temperature of the soil or the weight of the soil. Due to the nature of the clay. The clay pots may tend to dry up faster as compared to the plastic, which retains the water for much longer.

Choosing the Right Potting Material

✓Quality: use the best type of quality potting designed only for the potting containers.
✓Drainage: The material must be adequately drained that no single chance of water-logging.
✓Fertility: High organic matter content in the potting mix is beneficial in giving fertility to the plants.

Selection of Plants

•Light Needs: Use the plants and match their light needs, that is, full sun, partial shade, or shade.
•Size of Container: The mature size and root system of the plant should be kept under the consideration to settle on a proper container.
•Compatibility: Plants are packed by considering its watering and sunlight requirements.

Planting and Care:

✓Drainage: Ensuring drainage by including gravels at the bottom or using broken pot shards.
✓Spacing: Give proper spacing for plants.
✓Watering: Do watering only when necessary, and most importantly during the hot weather. To check watering adequacy, put a finger about an inch into the planting medium to check the moisture level of the soil.
✓Fertilization: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer according to product instructions.
✓Pruning: Trim plants from time to time to form and promote new growth.
✓Pest Control and Diseases: Monitor the plants for a few regularly occurring pests and diseases and note it when any symptoms of an ailment or pests are discovered.

Bonus Tips

•Mulching: Mulching helps keep the soil from drying, and prevents unwanted weeds from growing.
•Grouping: Combinations of plants in groups usually look good because height and texture are contrasting.
•Seasonal Changes: Adjust your care with the seasons.
•Experiment with a mixture of different plants and the groupings. Never be afraid to do so.

Container gardens require much more attention than in-ground gardens for their little volume of earth. The trick is consistency.
With just a few simple tips, you can easily grow a container garden, full and lush with life, taking any space into a new level of beauty and joy.

Popular Plants for Container Gardening

This is an extremely versatile medium of plant growth; most plants can be grown in containers, even small ones. The right selection of plants can make your patio, balcony, or doorstep as green as you want. Some popular types for different conditions are:

Factors to consider before choosing the plants

✓Light: Decide whether your container is to be placed in full sun, partial shade, or full shade.
✓Space: For sure, your container is an element that will determine how large your plants will become, despite your care.
✓Climate: Depending on where you live, your plants will be hardy, or correspondingly more or less inclined to grow. Consider how much time you have for upkeep.

Popular Plants for Different Conditions

Sun-Loving Plants

•Herbs: Basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano etc. are some herbs that do well in the sun, and all of these herbs can be used in cooking.
•Flowers: Your container features a many shades if you add petunias, geraniums, marigolds, or sunflowers.
• Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries are very easy to grow in containers; just let them get enough sunlight.

Shade Tolerant Plants

• Ferns: green, grace-worthy plants that get along well with shade and added much-needed lush.
•Begonias: in flowering time they are available in different colors and various shapes. In partial shade, begonias do very well.
•Impatiens: They blooms colorfully, and in shady places, they've been doing fine.
•Coleus: This is a colorful-leaved plant that brings color into shady containers.

Low-maintanance options

•Succulent: They are drought-resisting plants that come in different shapes and sizes so they hardly require care.
•Cacti: Just like succulents, cacti do well in pots. In addition, they show some sort of drama.
•Ornamental Grasses: They add texture and movement; they are pretty low maintenance.

How to Succeed with Container Gardening

✓Good potting soil: There are nutrients in good potting soil, which the plants may do well in.
✓Good drainage: Drain holes in your pot so water can't log in your container.
✓Water regularly: Water when your plant is dry, or when your plants need it.
✓Fertilize regularly: Give the nutrition the plants need to grow vigorously.

This thoughtful choice of plants appropriate to your conditions and liking results in lovely displays in containers which give you pleasure and beauty to your outdoor.

Conclusion

Container gardening is a very flexible and rewarding way of growing greenery, even in the tiniest bit of space. Provided you do it properly in terms of container choice and growing conditions, selection with respect to light and water, you should be able to raise it into a lush, healthy, blooming garden. Basically, knowing some key needs for plants combined with proper container selection, and following up with regular care, all go toward the key for success in container gardening. Almost all areas can be turned into a lush and flourishing sanctuary with even the slightest bit of planning and time put into them.

What else can you ask for? Container gardening is enjoyable, so it's time for you to create your green space!

Written By Faith Chepchirchir

Enthusiastic and high energy is a driven content writer experienced in developing content for company website,blogs, business collateral,case studies and advertising copy.Experienced in writing, rephrasing, proofreading, editing and managing conte...