9 Tips for Successful Container Gardening

There are many ways to use gardening containers.

 

As most people getting into organic gardening soon discover, availability of space is a main concern. Not all of us have acres of back yard.

A great way to solve space constraints is to find creative ways to use gardening containers - pots, metal tubs, window boxes, etc.

Using a Container to Grow Plants:

1. Container gardening has many benefits, and also comes with its own specific challenges.
2. Not all plants can do well in containers, for example, potted plants need to be watered more often, as the earth in a container tends to dry out fairly quickly.
3. Plants in containers feel temperature changes more intensely as well, as they have less insulation and more surface exposure.

Container Gardening Mistakes:  Introduction to using garden containers, in the most common and uncommon environments & growing conditions.

A common mistake is to overcrowded potted plants. While this gives you a 'fuller' look, it tends to cause the plants stress - as reflected by their lessened vitality in these conditions. Lack of fertilization is another common mistake:

Since potted plants don't get as much nutrition from the earth, they need additional nutrients. A great solution is a time-release fertilizer. Another typical beginner mistake is to use too small a pot. The larger the container, the better the chance the plant has to thrive.

How to Use Gardening Containers: 101

It is critical that your plants get enough sun exposure.

1. At least five hours a day of full sun is considered a minimum essential. Watering the potted plants twice daily is strongly recommended.
2. If you're combining plants within one pot, learn which vegetables are mutually compatible.
3. Parsley and basil both require a similar amount of watering and go well together. Rosemary and oregano both prefer drier soil.

 

9 Tips for Successful Container Gardening

1. Often times people choose clay pots over plastic, simply because they look better.
2. The truth is that plastic containers do a better job, at retaining moisture.
3. You may want to place a plastic pot inside a clay pot, to create something both attractive and practical.
4. Metal tubs are also excellent growing containers - just make holes at the bottom so the soil can drain.
5. Choosing the type of pot depends on how you plan to use gardening containers to beautify your home and/or yield veggies for your table.
6. By adding gravel to the container at the bottom, you'll be improving drainage in a big way. About one inch of gravel will be plenty.
7. Aside from the fertilizer and watering, it helps if you add compost and/or trace elements to the potted soil.
8. Keep a close eye on any insect infestations - the potted plant is very vulnerable to bugs and insects.
9. Harvest any food-yielding plant regularly to keep them productive.

 

Advantages of Container Gardening

• One of the best parts of potted plants is that weeding is drastically reduced.
• Another advantage is that you can easily relocate plants, to sunnier spots of even take them with you as you move.
• For people living in urban spaces, require small space gardens, or dwellings will little planting soil. Learning how to use gardening containers can be a perfect solution.