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Container Gardening Ideas

Whether containers are used indoors or outside for growing plants, the key to their success is understanding their special needs. Container plants need careful watering. Outdoor containers and baskets will probably need daily watering during summer months, evenin overcast weather, as they dry outvery quickly. Check the compost (potting soil) regularly as it can be difficult to wet once it has dried out.Adding water-retaining granules or gelsto the compost before planting willhelp reduce the frequency of watering.For indoor plants, too much water canbe as had as too little, however.

Most potting composts contain onlysufficient foods for six weeks of plantgrowth, after which the plants willslowly starve unless other food isintroduced into the container. Slow-release plant food granules, added tothe compost when planting will ensurethat the plants receive adequatenutrients throughout the growingseason. Other plant foods, such asliquid feeds, need to he appliedfortnightly. While standard pottingcompost is suitable for all purposes,container compost, which is especiallyformulated for containers and hangingbaskets, contains extra fertilizer and moisture-retaining granules. Lime-hating plants, such as heathers andcamellias, must be grown in compostwhich contains no added lime.

Container plants are readilyavailable, but if you want to use a lotof them in your displays, they can heexpensive. One way of having aplentiful but cheap supply is to growthe easier ones yourself from seed.Sooner or later young seedlings willneed repotting as they don't thrive inlarge pots. Divide the plants, ifnecessary, and plant them in pots thesame size as the ones they werepreviously grown in.

Part of the fun of container gardeningis experimenting with the differentplanters available. Garden centres stockan increasing variety of styles and junkshops, car hoot sales and flea marketsare also worth a visit.

Lining Baskets

1. Traditionally, hanging baskets are linedwith sphagnum moss. This looks veryattractive and plants can he introduced atany point in the side of the basket. Assphagnum moss does tend to dry outrather faster than other liners, it isadvisable to use a compost (soil mix)containing water-retaining gel.

2. Coir fibre liners are a practicalsubstitute for moss. Although not as goodto look at, the coir will soon he hidden asthe plants grow. The slits allow forplanting in the side of the basket.

3. Cardboard liners are clean and easy touse. They are made in various sizes to fitmost hanging baskets. Press out themarked circles on the cardboard liner ifyou wish to plant into the side of it.

Planting in Pots

1. Cover the base of the container with a2 Cover the drainage material with a layer of coarse gravel or polystyrenelayer of compost (soil mix) until the (plastic foam), to help the drainage.container is about half full.

2. When sowing large seeds, such assunflowers, use a (libber, cane or pencil tomake holes for each seed. Plant the seedsand then firmly tap the side of the potusing the flat of your hand to fill the holeswith compost.

3. Arrange the plant inside the containerand place compok around it to hold it inposition. Add compost to the containeruntil it is level with the rim, then firm itaround the plant

4. Cover the surface with more compost ifnecessary, then water the container andremove any air-pockets around the plant'sroots. Add a top layer of coarse grit, to actas a mulch.

Container-grown plants can be enhancedby the choice of pot used. Remember this is nota low-maintenance option as the plants will notbe able to draw as much nourishment or waterfrom surrounding soil.

Some plants are very easy to sow fromseed - sunflowers rarely disappoint,even if you are a complete beginner.Whether sowing large or small seeds, water the pot from using a finehose on a watering can, or by standingthe pot in a saucer of water until thesurface of the compost is moist. Cover the pot with a black plastic hag as mostseeds germinate best in a warm darkplace. Check daily and bring into thelight when the seedlings are showing.

Fill the pot with seed compost (soilmix). Gently firm and level the surface bypressing down on the compost using a potof the same size.

When sowing small seeds they shouldbe thinly scattered on the surface of thecompost and then covered with justenough sieved compost to conceal them.Firm the surface using another pot andthen treat in the same way as large seeds.

Potting On

Sooner or later plants need repotting.thrive in large pots. Divide the plants,same size as the one they were

Young seedlings, shown here, don'tif necessary, and plant them in pots thepreviously grown in.

1. Seedlings will probably be ready tomove into larger pots when the roots startto emerge through the holes in the base ofthe pot. To check, gently remove the root ballfrom the pot and if there areplenty of roots showing, you will know theplants are ready for a move.

2. If there is more than one seedling inthe pot, gently break each seedling awaywith a good rootball. (Some plants hate tohave their roots disturbed. Theinformation on the seed packet will tellyou this. These seeds are best sownindividually in peat pots.)

3. Lower the rootball of the plant into thepot and gently pour compost around it,lightly pressing the compost around theroots and stem. It doesn't matter if thestern of the seedling is buried deeper thanit was previously as long as the leaves arewell clear of the soil. Water using a canwith a fine hose.

Mulches for Containers

A mulch is a layer of protectiveretain moisture, conserve warmth and material placed over the soil. It helps to prevent soil splash on foliage and flowers. There are a variety of mulchesto choose from, principally:

Clay granules

Clay granules are widely used for hydroculture,but can also be used to mulch houseplants.When placing a plant in a cachepot, fill allaround the pot with granules. When watered,the granules absorb moisture, which is thenreleased slowly to create a moist microclimatefor the plant.

Pricking Out

When seedlings have grown to amanageable size, such as these cactiseedlings shown here, prick them outusing tweezers, taking care to avoid rootdamage. Some seedlings will be uniform insize, it not, sort by size into individual potsfor the larger ones, in rows in a seed trayfor the smaller ones.

Gravel

Gravel makes a decorative mulch for containerplants and also provides the correctenvironment for plants such as Alpines. It isavailable in a variety of sizes and colours whichcan be matched to the scale and colours of theplants used.

Saucers and Feet

Saucers act as water reservoirs for theplants, and are used under houseplants toprotect the surface they are standing on.Clay saucers must be fully glazed if theyare used indoors or they will leave marks.Plastic saucers can be used to linecontainers which are not waterproof, suchas this wooden apple basket, pictured.Clay feet are available for terracotta pots.

Stones

Smooth stones can be used as decorative mulchfor large container-grown plants.You can savestones dug out of the garden or buy stonesfrom garden centres. Cat owners will also findthey keep cats from using the soil surroundinglarge houseplants as a litter tray.

Plant Supports

Climbing plants need support even incontainers. Support can be provided by-using canes which can be pushed into thepot, or a trellis which is fastened to a wallor a free standing frame.

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