Container gardening tips

I do a lot of container gardening, mostly on my deck but I have a few pots in front of the house as well. I have three strawberry pots that I have filled with annuals and have had mixed degrees of success. One of my favorite uses (and what I did with two of them this year) is wave petunias. I use two different colors and they spiral up as they grow and make for a real ~sha-zam!~ of color.

One problem I have had in the past was getting the plants in the bottom of the pot watered. I'd add and add and add water through the top of the pot, but water would spill out and it always seemed like the bottom plants were thirsty. I read in a book this year to put a piece of 1" PVC pipe down the middle of the pot when I filled it with soil to help water the bottom plants. I just planted my pots last weekend and gave this a try, so I can't report success just yet, but I thought 'what a great idea.'

Anyone have any other good container gardening tips?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dry Stack Ridge on May 14, 2008 at 12:08pm

I recently heard that container plants really don't need the layer of gravel in the bottom but those plastic easter eggs and tennis balls are great to fill the bottom of a large container when you don't really need it full of dirt plus it helps with drainage. I know Sylvia says to pick plants with the same light/water requirements for successful container gardening. It sure makes containers a lot cheaper each year if you have some perennials in the pot from the previous yr. and maybe an evergreen for height. I like buying my Japanese maples young (cheap) and letting them be part of my containers for two or three years before planting them in the ground.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by GardenThymeGirl on May 14, 2008 at 7:01pm

I like your idea DSR--I use the plastic container that the plant comes in and place it upside down in my container. It keeps the main container lighter by using less soil. I have done a lot of container gardening and find that the clay strawberrry pots dry out very fast--I prefer to put succulents in them or something that can take the heat. Ceramic containers or nice plastic containers keep the soil from drying out as fast as clay containers. They may cost more, but in the long run they hold up better and longer. I went to Painter's green house, which is a retail garden center in Old Fort last week--I have yet to find a more economical place to buy bedding plants, ferns and some great perennials. It may be worth the drive--check them out: http://www.paintersgreenhouse.com

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dry Stack Ridge on May 14, 2008 at 8:50pm

I am thrilled you had the painteresgreenhouse.com. I am going to chapel Hill tomorrow and will stop by. I loved your idea about placing the plant container upside down, thanks!Judi

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by GardenThymeGirl on May 15, 2008 at 7:46am

Well thanks...I don't know it all, but I know what I know.....You will find great prices and the two brothers are super nice. Did you note the directions on their web page? They are not very far off of I40. I will probably be heading out their myself to get annuals for a client.