beginner's corner
iving in a container isn’t always a boon for
garden plants. It can be a little like moving
L from
a McMansion to a one-bedroom condo;
some adjustments are necessary. For example,
many plants have wide-ranging root systems
eager to forage for nutrients. In a pot, that kind
of exploration is curtailed, so everything a plant
needs must be either inside the pot or made
available courtesy of the gardener. Sometimes this
is easy, like choosing an outdoor location that will
offer beneficial exposure. Other times, it can be
challenging, like having to water a four-inch pot
two or three times a day during sweltering summer
weather. Let’s identify some dos and don’ts that will
get your container garden off to a good start.
The Container
The “container” aspect of container garden-
ing is about more than decorative flair. Pots and
other receptacles perform an important job. They
offer support and stability, and a pot’s construc-
tion and materials can have an impact on plant
health and longevity. You may have seen charm-
ing photos of plants growing out of old shoes or
planted in upended tires, but not every object
with a hollow in it is a suitable plant habitat.
DO choose a pot or other container
with a drainage hole in the bottom.
Good drainage is a key component in maintaining
container plants successfully. Without adequate
drainage, plant roots sit in water, slowly
disintegrating until the plant starves. You may
have seen plant containers that do not have
drainage holes. Called cache pots, these
decorative containers are designed to house
plants, but not directly. To maintain a plant in a
cache pot, place it in a smaller container first.
Then, add enough stones or other materials
to the bottom of the cache pot to allow for
adequate drainage and place the
smaller container on top of the stones.
Cache pots are not suitable for plants
maintained outdoors.
DO match the occupant to the pot.
Plant containers come in all shapes
and sizes, but specific plants are better
suited to one type of container over
another. Here are a few examples:
Taller plants need taller, sturdier
pots or else they may become top
heavy and cause the pot to fall over.
Plants from bulbs typically require
less soil depth and can be placed
in shallower pots, while plants
with long taproots need deep
pots with plenty of soil. There are
also specialty containers like
strawberry planters or orchid pots
that provide support, better air
flow, or other enhanced features
favored by specific plants.
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grow cycle
“
The ‘ container ’ aspect of
container gardening is about
more than decorative flair.”
DO consider the combined weight.
Once filled with media, plants, and water, containers
can get heavy. If you plan to move a large plant
around or want to position it on a potentially
breakable or tippable surface, install it in a
lightweight container. A composite or plastic one
is preferable over stone, ceramic, or concrete.
DO choose the right pot size.
When repotting a seedling or immature plant,
the general wisdom is to use a pot two inches
in diameter larger than the pot the plant is
currently occupying. Young plants may be
repotted a few times over a season or two, and
this allows for steady growth without waste.
Do you need to repot a newly purchased plant
right away? Unless you see roots dangling from
the drainage hole, you probably don’t need to
provide new lodging for a few months.
DON’T choose a container that’s
unsafe for plants or people.
Select containers that will not decompose
quickly or promote the growth of mold or
mildew. If the pot will house an edible
plant like a vegetable or herb, choose a
food-grade container or one made of
non-toxic, non-leaching material. The
US Department of Agriculture does
not consider single-use plastics and
pressure-treated woods safe for use
with edible plants.
DO take porosity into account.
Some potting materials are more
porous than others, which can be a
good or bad thing depending on your
objectives. A wooden or unglazed
terra cotta container will allow
water to evaporate more quickly.
These materials can also leach
moisture from the soil during dry
conditions. If you plan on keeping
succulents, your plants will proba-
bly be happy. If you plan on main-
taining moisture-loving plants or
want to keep watering chores to a
minimum, consider a non-porous
material like a glazed ceramic,
plastic, composite, or metal.