| If you follow these 5 tips for successful container | | | | just transplant it as it grows. Therefore, you want |
| gardening you will not only save time, but money, | | | | your roots to be able to expand; otherwise the plant |
| frustration and possibly embarrassment. As this is an | | | | is going to eventually die. So read the information |
| increasingly popular venue for gardening, container | | | | card to get a good idea of what size container you |
| gardening is making a fashion statement. Container | | | | will ultimately need. |
| gardens are already very popular for entries, patios | | | | Tip #3 |
| and decks. Maybe you've thought about incorporating | | | | Use a good potting soil, compost or combination of |
| them into your office or home, but haven't. If by | | | | both. I didn't realize how many types and combination |
| chance you feel a little overwhelmed on the basics, | | | | soils are available. Just because a bag of soil is on |
| here are 5 tips for successful container gardening, | | | | sale, doesn't mean it's good. Think of your soil as a |
| even if it's your first. | | | | primary food for your plants food chain. To get the |
| Before you run off in all directions as if you had 2 | | | | desired results it pays to know what's in a particular |
| hours to create a masterpiece, pause to do some | | | | soil and if it what your plant/flower needs. Also, |
| planning. First think about what type of feeling you | | | | sometimes the soil may be too heavy for what you |
| want to have, when you look at your container. For | | | | are planting. Just filling a pot up with dirt and stuffing |
| me, I want to feel like I've walked into my own | | | | your starter plant therein, may cause you to waste |
| "secret garden" and have a sense of calm. I think | | | | time and money. |
| about how it will smell, and feel among other things. | | | | Tip #4 |
| Is it going to be a focal point in a room, or mixed in | | | | In most containers the weight and scale of a |
| as part of a theme? Will it be the centerpiece on a | | | | container can become an issue when the pot has to |
| table, or placed in a semi-lit hallway? | | | | be transported to a new location. The best thing to |
| Tip #1 | | | | do is to move your pot to its final location before |
| Anything can be used as a container. If you are | | | | you plant it. You do have the option of reducing the |
| purchasing a container from the store, choose ones | | | | overall weight of a large container. You can fill it with |
| with drainage holes. However, if you can poke, drill or | | | | lightweight potting soil, ceramic beads, Styrofoam, |
| carve a hole in it then use it. Container gardens have | | | | broken pieces of pot, drainage gravel, pine cones, |
| been made from tables, old pots, milk cartons, cans, | | | | aluminum cans or small plastic nursery pots. I've even |
| gloves, boots, pocketbooks, suitcases, pots, pans | | | | used an empty plastic milk carton. |
| and mailboxes, just to name a few. You can be | | | | Tip #5 |
| creative and recycle items to use as containers. Allow | | | | Select plants that suit your light conditions. Too much |
| yourself to be creative. Be sure to clean it out, and | | | | sun for one plant will kill it while do little sun for |
| let it dry thoroughly. If you've used any chemicals or | | | | another plant will do the same. Full sun means your |
| any type of varnish, clean and let dry. Look around | | | | plant will receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight |
| for anything that can be shaped to hold dirt. | | | | daily. |
| Tip #2 | | | | If you follow these 5 tips, you will experience |
| Use containers larger than the root ball of your plant, | | | | success in container gardening with flowers. You |
| considering the size of the mature plant. This is really | | | | won't pull your hair out, or throw darts at a dart |
| important and sometimes we forget about how big | | | | board out of frustration, because you can get it right |
| the plant may actually grow or say to ourselves we'll | | | | the first time. |