Container Gardening
by Dr. Robert Black, Consumer Horticultural Specialist

As more people move into apartments, high-rise condominiums, and trailers there has been an increase in the interest in container gardening. Container gardening need not be limited to apartment gardening. Everyone should have their own container garden. Container gardening is adaptable and versatile. Practically all plants can be grown in a pot, box, can or jar--at least temporarily. Plants in containers can be moved indoors during cold spells or simply for use as an interior decoration. Pot gardening makes it possible to have plants you couldn't otherwise grow outdoors for an indefinite period.

Having part of your garden in containers allows you to add local points of color wherever you want it in your garden. It allows you to add plant materials in areas that are paved or bricked such as a patio. And they also allow you to landscape with the seasons.

It is almost impossible for container gardening to be boring. Plants can be rotated to create all types of effects. Seasonal flowering plants can be brought on-stage when they are at their maximum beauty and then removed to be replaced with another plant. For example, imagine how lovely your patio could be with spring bulbs and azaleas followed by summer annuals like marigolds and salvia, then fall flowering mums and finally Christmas poinsettias. This is what can be done with container gardening.

Each container is a mini-garden in itself. Your container becomes part of your mini-landscape. Be sure the plant fits its container and vice versa. Also they should both fit into the entire landscape of the yard, patio, or balcony. Anything can be used from a hollow log to an antique urn, from a teapot to a terra-cotta pot. You are limited only by your imagination.

Use a porous, fast-draining soil mix such as half peat and half coarse sand. Also for drainage, make sure the containers have holes in the bottoms. If holes are not present and can't be bored in the container, be very careful with watering. Too much water is almost always worse than too little water.

Plants grown in pots or boxes need to be fertilized regularly during the growing season. Watering can readily leach nutrients from containers so fertilize often.

Most plants need repotting in fresh soil mix when their roots fill the container. This "root bound" condition requires repotting or root pruning.

Most container plants can be brought indoors for varying periods of time and should be rotated to increase their usefulness.

Begin with a few pots of your favorite plants, most can be grown at least awhile in a container, and watch your interest and fun with container gardening grow.