Container Gardening

Pots and containers in the garden

Container gardening is the art of growing plants in an artificial environment, the pot or container. It is suitable for almost any plant and any position, both indoors and outdoors. Container gardening offers a convenient way of planting up a patio garden, a pool side, a balcony, a verandah, a courtyard and generally small areas. In fact container gardening will bring instant beauty to areas which are normally not conducive to plant growth.

Very often container gardening is the only way to grow plants that have specific garden soil requirements, or in dry arid areas where traditional gardening is an uphill battle. The watering of pot plants, container plants and even large container plants is much easier and furthermore you can move pot plants, as well as container plants that aren't too large to different areas depending on the seasonal climate and the plants direct sunlight requirements.

There are numerous advantages to container gardening:

With container gardening you can control the amount of water and food that the container plants receive.
You also save water with container gardening since there are not acres of flower beds to water.
Container gardening also allows you control over the types of soil in which the container plants grow.
In addition, container gardening lets you to make localized, targeted soil amendments.
Container gardening allows you control positioning of the container plants to suit either your needs or the plants needs.
Due to its versatility you can make use of containers as a focal point in your garden, especially if the pot is sculptured or glazed.
Containers can add distinction to a certain area. I have seen containers and very ornamental terracotta pots used on either side of an entrance, at the top and bottom of steps, as well as against a dark green background.
You also do not have to be afraid that container gardening will detract from the style of your garden since containers, due to its many different designs, can be made to fit any garden style.
You can also group pots and pot plants together to create a lush tropical look.
You can group the same colored shrubs together and use higher tubs and lower troughs and group them to form different levels of plants. The illusion of terraces with container plants.
You can use container gardening as screening by planting them up with tall plants to ensure privacy.
You can reuse your pots in the event of a pot plant failing to thrive or even revive in spite of how much you try to make it grow.
You can use containers and container gardening anywhere and for any purpose in your garden.

Another trend these days are the migration of people from large suburban houses with large gardens to townhouse complexes with small garden spaces. This migration of people also influences gardening trends. It is due to this trend that we have this plethora of containers commercially available. Nowadays there is a huge variety of pots that can be used for container gardening ideas. Every conceivable shape, size, texture, material, and plants is available to turn container gardening ideas into reality and makes container gardening very practical. People living in townhouse complexes have limited space in which to garden. Container gardening affords them the opportunity to cultivate and boast fancy gardens indeed.

Apart from looking fancy and being decorative only, container gardening can be used quite successfully to cultivate vegetables and fruits. Vegetable container gardening and dwarf fruit trees makes great use of all the advantages that normal container gardening offers and affords the gardener to reap benefits in terms of fresh produce on top of all the benefits that gardening holds.

Growing fruit in containers is just as great. Growing fruit is not just for those with large gardens in the right climate. Even if you live in a flat or apartment with only a small balcony as your "garden" you can successfully grow your own fruit. Fruit trees in containers will provide you with a handy supply of fresh fruit as well as pose as an ornament on your patio or balcony.

Choosing a container

Container gardening with terracotta pots

A Terracotta Pott

The first step in turning your container gardening ideas into reality is choosing the garden pots and containers you want to use. You should choose the pot before buying the plant, unless you are replacing an existing pot or repotting an existing pot plant. There is a wide variety of containers available from nurseries, garden centers and department stores. These containers range from straightforward plastic pots, clay pots and fiber-cement pots to ornamental pots and sculptured terracotta pots, glazed pots and bowls.

Terracotta Pots

Terracotta clay pots are porous and are to the advantage of plants. However it also means that the potting soil in the container will dry out faster than in other types of containers. In time terracotta garden pots will acquire a natural patina due to the mosses and lichens that might grow on the outside and the white salts that will appear on the surface. You can always scrub off the salts if you dislike it. When making use of homemade clay pots you should line the inside with plastic sheeting so as to protect the pot from constant moisture. These clay pots are handmade and unlike their commercially manufactured counterparts, they might not be fired at very high temperatures and might crack or break easily when exposed to all weather types.

Glazed Pots

Glazed pots, unlike the terracotta pots will keep the potting soil moist longer. On the other hand glazed pots will craze when exposed to weather conditions outside the house. (Crazing is the formation of a web of fine cracks.) You can protect the glaze by painting the glazed surface with a tile or even silicone wax. (Tip: Use a plastic pot inside the glazed pot. It will prevent salts from the potting soil or potting mix seeping under the glaze and damaging it).

Wooden Containers

Wooden containers, including pots and baskets, will have to be treated against decay and ants before planting in them. The most popular wooden container is the oak vat. (Tip: Line the wooden container with a plastic sheet and ensure that the plastic has sufficient holes for drainage at the bottom).

There are a few basic principles that you need to be aware of when selecting the containers to achieve a successful display in your patio garden or your home garden.

Container size: – the container must suit the growth habit of the pot plants that will be planted in them. Ensure that your container suits the growth habit of the plant or plants that you intend to use. The container or pot should be large enough for the chosen plant. For instance do not attempt to plant that grow larger than annuals, bulbs, perennials, or even a floribunda rose bush in a container that measures less than 45 cm in diameter.
Container scale: – scale refers to the position of the pot in its surroundings as well as the proportion of the pot plant to the pot. The plant must be in proportion to the size of the container. This proportion is one-third of the overall height and diameter of the plant and container together. Do take into consideration the size of the wall, the room, or the patio garden where the garden pots will be placed when formulating your container gardening ideas.
Container color: – the container should blend in with the surroundings. Choose a natural color that blends in with the surroundings. After all the function of the container is to set the pot plant off to maximum effect and not to compete with the potted plant. Do take into consideration the natural unglazed look of terracotta pots or choose a high quality exterior paint in earthy colors for fiber-cement pots and containers. Again, these considerations should be made when you formulate your container gardening ideas.
Container quantity: – do not attempt to cram in as many containers as possible into a certain area. You would do better to space them well apart so as to allow each container plant to make a statement by itself. Group the plants according to color and shape and also try not to mix too many different shapes, materials and colors.
Container style and shape: – you should choose a container that suits the general style of your home or garden or the area where the container will be positioned. Choosing the right size of sculptured containers poses a challenge on its own. Take for instance the classic urn that is also supposed to serve as a focal point. You might need to pile up some bricks in the spot where the urn is needed and scale it up or down until the correct proportion for the site is attained. Take care to avoid choosing impractical pots with narrow necks as this makes repotting very difficult.
Container drainage: – you need to make sure that the container that you choose has decent sized holes in the bottom for drainage. If you're handy, you can also add holes in the bottom of the container if there are too few.
Drip tray size: – the correct size of drip tray or pot feet is used indoors or on special patio tiles outdoors. Garden pots, especially terracotta pots and cement pots, tend to look much better without drip trays because some drip trays that are too large looks unsightly, retain water during and after rain and thus cause the plants to become waterlogged.
Container grouping: – containers should be grouped according to the pot plants' mature size, with taller pot plants towards the back or middle and the shortest pot plants in front or towards the sides.
Container material: – the material that the container is made of will influence the way in which certain plants grow. Garden pots such as terracotta pots, clay pots or cement pots with porous material will dry out quickly while garden pots with materials such as plastic, metal or resin may heat up very quickly.

Whatever choice you make regarding container for your container garden, just bear in mind that anything that will hold enough potting soil or potting mix and has a drainage hole can serve as a suitable container for a plant to grow in. One can laugh about it, but I have seen gardeners getting inspired by an old hiking boot, an old bath tub, sink, tins, old tree stumps and even an old wheelbarrow. This is perfectly okay to use as long as it blends in with the surrounding garden.

Potting soil

Most pot plants will grow adequately in the standard potting soil or potting mix that is available from nurseries and garden centers. It is important to buy the best quality potting soil that you can afford as the pot plant will derive much of its nourishment from this potting mix for a long time and its health with depend on the quality of the potting soil used in container gardening. The potting soil should be of the right texture for optimum root development. It should contain all the essential nutrients required for plant growth and should be able to hold enough water to sustain the pot plant over a number of days. It should also have adequate drainage.

Potting soil and/or potting mix can be purchased from reputable garden centers and nurseries. Or alternatively you can make your own potting mix. Following are the ingredients for potting soil:

Seven parts (by volume) of good garden loam soil for nutrients.
Three parts (by volume) of sieved, well-decomposed compost or peat moss for moisture retention and nutrients.
Two parts (by volume) of well-rotted manure for nutrients.
Two parts (by volume) of river sand for drainage.

For every three buckets (i.e. 10 liter size) of this potting soil mixture you should also add 125ml (a half cup) of bone meal or super-phosphate, 125ml of general fertilizer like Slow Release 3:1:5 as well as a level teaspoon of agricultural lime.

Planting

You need to prepare your garden pots prior to planting in them. This preparation involves washing out the pot. If the garden pots are made of porous materials (like terracotta pots or clay pots) then you need to soak it well before filling it with potting soil. If the garden pots are pre-soaked then the walls of the garden pot will not absorb moisture from the potting soil. If the garden pots are not soaked then the potting soil will shrink away from the sides of the pot and result in a gap where the water will run off when the pot plant is watered and will thus leave the middle of the potting soil in the pot dry.

You need to ensure that there are enough drainage holes in the garden pots. Enough drainage holes translate to a minimum of four holes of 1 cm each in a pot that has a 45 cm diameter. These drainage holes should be covered with crock, which are essentially shards of terracotta pots. No crock no problem. You can also use a piece of gauze or shade cloth. Take care not to block the drainage holes. It is best to place a layer of river sand over the crock in the pot to prevent the drainage holes from becoming blocked as well as to act as a filter that will prevent the organic compost material and potting soil from washing out. The layer of river sand should not be thicker than 3cm as you would not want to take up too much of the potting soil space. (Tip: When you have small garden pots it is best to use gauze.)

It is also a good idea to add moisture-retaining granules to the potting soil. You should water the pot plant well before planting it out into your garden pots. Now fill the garden pots with potting soil to accommodate the root ball of the plant. Remove the plant from its bag or pot, fit it carefully into the pot, fill up with potting soil around the root ball and firm down. Leave a space of about 5 cm below the rim to accommodate easy watering.

Water the pot plants regularly as they cannot send roots down into the soil as they would were they planted in beds. Add a layer of organic compost to act as mulch or mulch with bark chips or nutshells to keep the soil damp as well as make an attractive soil cover. (Tip: Plant colorful annuals to serve as living mulch.)

When planting outdoor plants that were cultivated in a greenhouse or shaded area in the garden pots take care to keep them in the shade after being planted into the garden pots before placing it is direct sunlight. Rather move them in stages into the direct sunlight so as to prevent the foliage getting burnt by the sun.

Repotting

It is necessary to repot a pot plant on an annual basis. You will notice that roots start to protrude from the drainage holes, growth becomes stunted, or the plant does not flower as it should. These symptoms will all indicate a need to repot your container garden. Repotting can be done in ten (10) easy steps:

Before starting, make sure that you have enough potting soil, a new garden pot, and the correct tools for the job. Ensure that your new garden pot is about one third larger than the old one.
Tie up the foliage that might be damaged during the repotting process.
Turn the garden pot onto its side. Tap the rim of the pot with the palm of your hand while rotating the pot. The vibration is an attempt to loosen the root ball. In the event of the pot plant being root bound or stuck, pry the root loose with a thin stake. Alternatively you could make use of water to blast out the pot plant by using a sharp jet of water from a hose through the drainage hole and then around the edges. As a last resort, you might need to break the garden pot.
Carefully ease the pot plant and root ball out of its garden pot. While still on its side, remove the crock that was used around the drainage hole.
Pry loose old potting soil and loosen any root bound roots, except if the pot plants have sensitive roots such as the bougainvillea, conifers and roses.
Place some crock around the holes of the new garden pots and cover them with a layer of river sand and then cover with fresh potting soil.
Pick up the plant by the root and not by the main stem. Place it into the new garden pot. Check that the old potting soil level will be at the same level in the new pot.
Fill in with fresh potting soil, firm the potting soil around the roots as you go. Ensure that there are no air pockets so that minimal subsidence will occur later.
Don't fill your garden pots to the brim leave enough space so that water can dam up and soak in. Firm the surface of the potting soil so that the pot plant is firmly supported.
Water the pot plants in your garden pots well with enough water to run out of the drainage holes, leave to settle for approximately fifteen minutes, and water well again.

When transplanting pot plants from one garden pot to another, you need the next garden pot to be just one size larger and not too big. This will ensure that the pot plant and the garden pot still look in proportion and not over-potted.

In the event of stunted growth in the pot plant, as a result of restricted root space, you might want to use the same garden pot. The pot plant will need repotting after a few years to keep it in good condition, and this can be done during winter. You will need to remove the pot plants from the garden pots and wash the garden pots well both inside and outside. Shave off a few centimeters of the root ball and return it to the garden pot with fresh potting soil. You may also use this opportunity to trim and shape the plant.

Watering, feeding and pruning in container gardening

Container gardening requires regular watering. Watering is vital. In the hot summer months you will be compelled to give your container garden daily attention, especially if the garden pots that you use are of the porous type. The general rule is to water pot plants well and allow excess water to flow out of the drainage holes. After that it will only be necessary to water again once the top 6 to 8 cm of the potting soil in the garden pots is beginning to dry out. In general outdoor pot plants should be watered once or twice a week, except for summer. Indoor pot plants should be watered once a week to once every ten (10) days, taking into consideration factors such as room temperature and air conditioning. There is no hard-and-fast rule for when to water; it depends entirely on where the garden pots are located and the climatic conditions that it is exposed to. Never leave a plant standing in a saucer of water for more than an hour as this leads to over-watering, water-logging and damage to roots.

It is a given that certain nutrients will be leached from the potting soil whenever excess water runs through the drainage holes. You will need to add fertilizer regularly every fortnight throughout the active growing season in summer. Do not add fertilizer to pot plants when the potting soil in the garden pots is dry. It will result in root burn. Always apply fertilizer after a good watering. Nowadays it is so much easier to care for in container gardening in that plant food sticks can be used. The plant food sticks usually contain slow release nitrogen which makes using these sticks very convenient.

Pot plants also require regular trimming, shaping, and pruning. The standard shrubs and trees fall into this category. You should pinch back new shoots regularly to promote bushier growth. You can also remove about a third of the top from the plants that require winter pruning.

Top tips for successful container gardening

Buy sterilized soil for use in the garden pots. This will ensure the potting soil that is free from disease and weed seeds.
When planting be on the lookout for weeds such as onion weed (Nothoscordium gracile) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) once these weeds established themselves it is hard to get rid of them.
Grouping garden pots is better and more effective visually than scattering them. Smaller garden pots can also be brought inside.
Do watering late in the afternoon when evaporation is less.
Add fertilizer and plant food sticks on a regular basis.
Repot plants regularly as a means of soil amendment.
Choose the correct size garden pots for your pot plants – if you are using large garden pots then you should first choose the position for your pots, place it in position and then fill it with potting soil. Carting soil-filled garden pots about is not easy and you can hurt yourself in the process.
Make use of mulch, organic or inorganic, to discourage weed growth and encourage surface roots.
Most plants are light sensitive and before moving plants from a shady to a sunny spot you should prepare the plant for the move by hardening it gradually. This will prevent sun burn.

Choosing the right plants

Almost all kinds of plants can be planted into garden pots. You do not have to be curtailed by a lack of space to have trees and shrubs in your garden. However there are some plants that are particularly suited for container gardening. For a plant to do well, its growing requirements need to be met adequately when considering container gardening. You need to research the following before making your choices:

Measure the exact dimensions of your garden pots and note how much space the plant will have to grow into.
Monitor the amount of light the container garden will receive – direct sun, shade, etc.
Monitor other factors such as exposure to wind outdoors or on a balcony, etc. and air conditioning is indoors.

Small trees

Amongst trees that can successfully be grown in garden pots, palm trees are by far the most popular, followed closely by the Japanese trees which also lend itself to bonsai treatment very successfully. Following are the recommended trees that will make suitable container gardening:

Acer palmatum: – along with the other cultivars. The Japanese maple tree.
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens: – The yellow bamboo palm tree.
Cunonia capensis: – also known as the red alder.
Euphorbia ingens: – the common tree Euphorbia.
Ficus benjamini: – the weeping fig tree.
Halleria lucida: – the tree fuscia.
Livistona chinensis: – the Chinese fan palm tree.
Magnolia grandiflora: – the laurel magnolia.
Nuxia floribunda: – the forest elder.
Trachycarpus fortunei: – the Chinese windmill palm tree.

Fruit trees

Fruit trees, especially dwarf fruit trees make excellent pot plants that are not just a feast for the eye, but also for the mouth. Following are some of the best options that can be considered for container gardening:

Tropical fruits: – examples include avocado trees, banana trees, and pawpaw, pineapple and mango trees. These fruits will thrive in frost-free gardens, or in garden pots that are placed on warm, sheltered patios.
Citrus fruit: – examples are calamondin trees, grapefruit, orange trees, and the ever popular lemon tree, in fact most Citrus trees. These fruits will also thrive in frost-free gardens, or in garden pots that are placed on warm, sheltered patios.
Temperate fruit: – examples are apple trees, fig trees, strawberries, gooseberries, youngberries, stone fruit. These fruits will tolerate some frost.

Shrubs

Brunfelsia, nandina, camellias, conifers, cordyline, azaleas, fucsias, Gardenias, cypress, rosemary, Hibiscus, hydrangea, flax and lavender are all great pot plants. Further examples are:

Abelia grandiflora: – the "Francis Mason" as it is also known.
Anisodontea spp.: – the Lady's Pink.
Ardisia crispa: – the Coral berry tree.
Aucuba japonica: – the spotted laurel.
Beaucarnea recurvata: – the Pony-tail palm tree.
Cycas revulata: – the Sago palm tree.
Dracaena alteriformis: – the large-leaved dragon tree.
Encaphalartos spp.: – most cycads.
Myrtus communis: – the Myrtle.
Phoenix roebelenii: – the dwarf date palm tree.
Plumbago auriculata: – the blue plumbago.
Solanum rantonetti: – the blue potato bush.
Yucca flaccida: – Garland gold or Spanish Sword.

Climbers

Climbers like honeysuckle, bougainvillea, jasmine, mandevilla, stephanotis and dipladenia also do well in garden pots. The added advantage of using climbers in container gardening is that they are more controllable when planted in garden pots. Further examples of climbers you can use in container gardening are:

Clematis sp: – the Clematis brachiata with its white flowers.
Senecio macroglossus: – yellow flowers.
Thunbergia alata: – the Black-eyed Susan with its yellow or orange flowers.
Jasminum multipartitum: – has wonderfully fragrant white flowers.
Pelargonium peltatum: – a favorite with many gardeners.
Petalidium coccineum: – scandent, fast growing red flowers preferring semi-shade.
Littonia modesta: – the Christmas Bell with striking bell-shaped orange flowers.

Annuals

Most bedding plants do great in garden pots when planted as companions to trees and tall-growing shrubs. Small varieties of Begonia semperflorens, petunias, phlox, pansies, impatiens and marigolds can be used for this purpose.

Ground covers

Some ground covers with their cascading type of flowering will also act as living mulch in garden pots to taller plants. More examples are:

Othonna carnosa: – a rapid mat forming yellow flowered ground cover.
Plectranthus neochilus: – fast growing mauve to purple flowering ground cover.
Delosperma sp.: – mat-forming with flowers in a wide color range. Purple, yellow, pink, red, white.
Aptenia cordifolia: – a mat-forming red-flowering ground cover.

Bulbs

Flower bulbs do well in garden pots in the season that they bloom. You can afterwards replace these with annual seedlings to ensure a constant show of color every season in your container garden. Other flower bulbs suitable for container gardening includes:

Agapanthus sp – tufted with blue, white and purple flowers.
Albuca nelsonii – tufted with white flowers. Suitable for large containers.
Bulbine abyssinica – the tufted bulbine with yellow flowers.
Cyrthanthus sp – tufted clusters of flowers. Cyrthanthus elatus with red and pink flowers that prefers semi-shade or sun, Cyrthanthus obliquus with orange, green and yellow flowers, and Cyrthanthus sanguineuswith red to pint flowers.
Eucomis autumnalis: – tufted yellowish-green flowers on erect stalks, the pineapple flower as it is also known. Eucomis bicolor has greenish-purple tinted flowers.
Gloriosa superba: – dormant in winter. Elongated stems that bears the strikingly orange and yellow flowers.
Sandersonia aurantiaca: – dormant in winter. Elongated stems with trumpet-shaped orange flowers.
Ornithogalum longibracteatum: – the Pregnant Onion. Tufted greenish-white flowers with large exposed green bulbs. Ornithogalum saundersiae (The Chinkerinchee) with tufts of white flowers on erect flower stalks.
Galtonia candicans: – white tufted flowers on an erect flower stalk.
Rhodohypoxis baurii: – small pink tufted red to pink flowers.
Zantedeschia jucunda: – strikingly beautiful spathe in yellow – the yellow Arum.

Succulents

Using succulents as pot plants are excellent in that it will tolerate a little drought and will not need watering as regularly as other plant types. In desert type climatic conditions these succulents will withstand the elements longer than other plant types.

Aloe sp: – Aloe ecklonis with orange-red flowers. Aloe aristata with tight red rosettes of small leaves and erect orange-red flowers on extended racemes.
Crassula perfoliata: – bright red flowers during mid-summer. Erect to spreading growth amongst the different species. Crassula coccinea has red, tubular flowers.
Kalanchoe thyrsiflora: – large, reddish leaves with yellow flowers. Can grow up to 70 cm tall.
Kleinia galpinii: – bright orange-red flowers.
Architectural succulents such as Adenium swazicum: – beautiful pink flowers on stems. This particular plant should be kept dry during winter and
Aloe reitzii: – an ornamental aloe with orange red flowers.

Roses

You can maintain a container garden of roses. Roses do not have very extensive root systems, but do establish themselves quick enough. Good drainage is the key. Roses grown in garden pots need more care and attention than those growing in open garden soil.