subject: Beginners Guide To Planting In Containers [print this page] Dull back yards, or sparse looking patio and decking areas can be brought to life with an assortment of container plants and flowers. Garden plants receive all of the nutrients and moisture that they require from the soil and rainfall, however the compost in container plants dries out much quicker and as such the plants require much more care and attention.
As such your container plants have a few basic needs such as adequate drainage, regular watering, adequate growing medium and food.
Before adding compost to the container ensure there is adequate drainage in the container itself by drilling a few holes in the bottom, if it doesn't already have some. Cover the bottom of the pot with a layer of shingle, or pebbles, this will improve the overall drainage. It is important to allow excess water to drain away freely to prevent the compost from becoming water logged as this reduces the amount of air available to the roots of the plant.
The type of compost that you use is going to be key to your success and you should always use potting compost. Many people are tempted to just use soil from the garden, or any type of compost that they have lying around, however to ensure a full bloom of healthy plants throughout the season it needs to be potting compost.
All plants require water to survive however more so for plants in containers as there is less water available to them than plants in open spaces. You should therefore ensure your plants are watered regularly and more so in hot or windy weather as the compost dries out quicker in these conditions. Check the compost often to see how moist it feels, if it is dry water immediately.
Feeding the plants is important as the fertilizer in the compost will be quickly used up by the plants so ensure that you regularly feed them. Slow release fertilzers do also work well for plants in containers. The packet will come with instructions on how often the plants should be fed.
If the plant appears to be wilting and you can see roots growing out of the bottom of the drainage holes then chances are you need to re-pot the plant. Plants can grow out of the container they are in so you should always re-plant in one pot size up. Use fresh compost when re potting.
