|
Two years ago I realized having a big garden, even though we had the room, was no longer a viable thing for me. I was getting too old, 70, I did not need a lot of produce and I did not want to be tied down to the care and maintenance of a big garden.
Patio or container gardening was just the thing for me!
There are a few tricks or what I call trade secrets for container gardening. I don't care how great your native soil is in your area, it is not good to use it. It compacts too easily, it does not drain well, and it is usually contaminated with weed seeds, insects, and disease producing organisms.
I find that a commercial potting mix is the best thing for container gardening or patio pots. I have tried all different kinds and the best kind, for me, has been the Miracle Grow mix. However, many companies, like Wal-mart, Lowes, or Home Depot may have a company brand of similar potting soil and a significant lower price. Just read the label to see what is in each package. I like to choose a product that has "satisfaction guaranteed", because if it doesn't do the job, it goes back. Just save your receipt and cut the code part off the bag, staple them together and save it in a little plastic bag in case you need it. In the long run, the largest bag they sell is the best value.
I like the potting mixes that have a 3 month supply of continuous-release plant for in them. In the event yours do not, then I recommend Osmocate or something similar to mix in when you are ready to place your plants or seedlings in the container.
My greenhouse never is without a bag of a good premium or professional potting mix. A good potting mix is a nutrient-rich, freely draining mix that will benefit plant roots. Buy the type that has a re-sealable bag or bucket. Whenever I am in a gardening center that has some broken bags, I do not hesitate to go up to the person in charge and ask for a 50% discount. Many times I get it on the first shot. Those bags, upon being brought home, go into a large container that is sealable, such as a plastic garbage pail.
Remember that horticulturists have developed specialty soiless mixes for such plants as African Violets and Cacti. Others are formulated for use in seed starting and terrariums. You will have to familiarize yourself with these because you do not want to buy the wrong kind of soil. Also remember, top soil is not potting soil and it is usually not the greatest for container gardening.
One cubic foot of potting mix will fill a container 15 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep.
As I have gotten older and weaker, I have found that I prefer the plastic gardening containers that look like cement or terra cotta. They do a good job and are easy for me to move. . I have also found some great ones at very low prices in places such as Dollar General and Big Lots. Once in Lowes, there were some lovely large pots that had hair-line cracks on the top of them. I questioned the manager of the garden center about them and she said she would give me 30% off on them. I asked her if I bought all 6 of them would she give me 50% off and she said yes. A good deal for everyone and they are still going strong.
I like to mix the sizes and shapes of the pots in groups. I like the square ones, the rectangular ones, short, and tall, whatever.
Before I fill the pots, I take the drill and drill a hole in the up-turned container. This is for drainage. Drainage is a must! The larger pots might have at least 2 or 3 holes drilled in them. A good rule of thumb is to drill one 1/2 inch hole per square foot of the surface area on the bottom of the container.
Then before I put the potting mix in, I cover the hole with a piece of old screening or a coffee filter or a piece of cheese cloth to keep the soil from running out. Another good medium is a piece of spackling mesh used when someone is dry walling or repairing a hole in the wall. When we screened in our back patio, I gathered up all those little scrapes of new screening and put them in the greenhouse. I probably have 2 life-time supplies of drain hole covers.
With the very large pots, I have discovered that I can fill between a third to one half of them up with crushed or squished aluminum cans and then put my potting soil on top. This seems to work for me and saves me some money. Plus it makes the containers a little lighter. When I get the pots filled to just about where I want to put in my seed or seedlings, I usually fine spray them with water for two reasons. One, it keeps down any dust and gives the seeds or seedlings a little boost.
Most times I start my own seed in my little greenhouse. However, my greenhouse does not have heat and in the event winter is hesitant about leaving and I am anxious for color in the garden, I will go to the gardening center and look for plants that have been especially developed to container gardening. A real "no-brainer", of course, is the seed geranium! I love the groups of colors all in the same pot. I love the different varieties all in the same pot because usually those have different color leaves also.
Then I mix in purples and yellows and orange of little flowers that hang over. The bursts of colors give me so much pleasure and just take away the breath of my garden visitors.
It is important, when grouping plants in a container, to choose ones that share similar needs for water, soil and light.
Once you are ready to put in your seedlings or plants, and in the event your potting soil does not contain a time released plant food, then this is the time to sprinkle Osmocate or something similar on top of the soil according to the package directions, and mix it in thoroughly.
I like to put the tallest plants in first, in the center, followed by bushy medium height plants and then surround the whole thing with trailing plants along the edge of the container. The rule with me is there can never be too many plants in a container! However, bear in mind that when you put more than one plant in a pot or container, you need at least 2 inches between the plants. Set full size plants as close together as you can. Squishing the root balls is o.k.! The extra plant food and water you supply will compensate for the limited growing space.
I like to incorporate hanging baskets throughout my garden and I treat them basically the same way. I like to use hanging pots that have a reservoir in them for the water. However, I do love the look of the wire baskets with the moss liners. These need extra watering and one must bear that in mind.
Plan to water your pots, containers, and hanging baskets at least twice a day in very hot weather. I like a hose attachment that lets me reach places I normally cannot get and I like one with at least 5 or 6 variations of water spray. Deep watering puts water where plants need it and use it.
I like to put small pebbles in some of my containers to keep the soil from washing out. I also put sphagnum moss or fine mulch in some of them to help retain the water. This allows me to water at the base of the plants instead of just watering all over the leaves.
If you use saucers under your pots, remember that your plants standing in those water filled saucers may hurt your plants roots.
When my children were growing up, I would never even think of leaving them without a babysitter and when I go away for more than 2 days, I hire a plant waterer. Even though our sprinkler system waters everything from 4 to 6 a.m. in the dead of summer, many of these containers, pots, hanging baskets and window boxes will need another good drink about 4 or 5 p.m. This person knows that in the event we get some rainy days while I am on holiday, not to water, but if we get a dry spell, then the watering is done. To me this is worth the money, because I have put so much time, effort, love and money into this and I do not want them to die while I am gone. This watering person and I have an agreement, if the plants are dead when I get back, no pay!
Remember that over-watering can cause a problem also. Just make sure you know your plant. Some require less water than others. Some require less sun than others. Never put shade plants with sun plants. One of them will not survive!
Towards the end of the season, when I feel my continuous-releasing plant food in my potting soil is just about run it’s course, then I use a water-soluble plant food once a week when watering. I like the container that goes on the end of my hose. It takes one package of organic water soluble food and I run it out until the blue turns to clear water. That one package usually takes care of all my pots, containers etc.
Continued in Part II
|
Author Bio Box: Arlene Wright Correll
 Resources: Excerpted from “Arlene’s Garden Series” by Arlene Wright-Correll
For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/ and click on Arlene’s Books you can download or buy my gardening & cook books. All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and we thank you for your attention to this site.
Didn't really find what you were looking for?
|
|
|
| |
|
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](images/rss.gif "Subscribe to our XML Feed for RSS")
(Read 500+ times)
