Do you have a small patio or balcony that needs some color? Or perhaps you’re just starting out as a gardener? Consider getting your hands dirty with a simple container garden; colorful and eye-catching container gardening is one of the simplest ways to ease into the world of gardening. These day’s containers come in a wide variety of colors and shapes, leaving your options limited only by your imagination.
Soil for Container Gardening
It is important to choose the correct potting mix when container gardening. Most containers require a mix that will drain easily yet retain moisture. Typically, mixes are a combination of peat moss, barkdust, compost, pumice and/or perlite. Some even contain fertilizers. Notice that soil (loam) is not listed as an ingredient. Potting mixes are usually soilless. Adding soil to these mixes makes them too heavy, not allowing for proper drainage, which is detrimental to most container plants. Make sure your containers are equipped with at least one drainage hole and the proper mix before planting. Lack of good drainage can cause root rot.
Most container plants need to be watered on a regular basis. Depending on the season and size of your vessel, you may have to water container plants every day. Hanging baskets can require daily watering. Their small pots are often exposed to sunny or windy conditions that cause them to dry out quickly. Make sure to apply water to the entire surface area of the container. Remove the water when it starts to flow from the drain holes. Check to see if your container needs more water by poking your finger into the soil. If it’s still dry under the surface repeat this process. It may have to be repeated a few times.
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