| Is your black thumb stopping you from growing fresh | | | | Remember, bonsai trees are planted in small pots to |
| homegrown vegetables, fruits and herbs? Did your | | | | keep them miniature. Unless you are aiming for a |
| local gardening club present you with the elusive "I | | | | petite pepper plant, you want enough soil room for |
| killed a cactus" t-shirt? Fear not, by focusing on the | | | | the plants to grow. Too small pots also need |
| five most common mistakes of container gardening | | | | watered more frequently, which can be a hassle for |
| you can banish that black thumb for good. | | | | even the most dedicated gardener. If you forget to |
| Too much water | | | | drag out the hose even one day your lettuce is |
| The number one cause of plant demise in containers | | | | wilted. |
| is overwatering. Plants need water but they also | | | | Selecting the proper size pot is important for plant |
| need oxygen to reach their roots. When plants are | | | | health. Try to consider the mature size of the plant |
| overwatered their roots rot and die from lack of air. | | | | when selecting a container. Big sprawling vegetable |
| When roots die the plants wilt. Unfortunately, since | | | | plants like tomatoes and eggplants need a 2-5 gallon |
| wilting is also a sign of under watering, the anxious | | | | tub to themselves. Smaller plants like peas and onions |
| gardener rushes over and pours more water on the | | | | can comfortably fit 3-5 plants into a 2-5 gallon |
| drowning plant. | | | | container. Flowers like marigolds and bachelor buttons |
| Before sprinkling your bottled water over your | | | | can squeeze 3-5 plants in a half gallon pot. |
| potted friend take a moment to check the soil. Make | | | | Poor soil |
| sure to poke your finger in about one half inch deep. | | | | Soil in yards is often poor draining and unsuitable for |
| If the soil is moist or soggy don't water. If the soil | | | | container gardens. Poor draining soil can cause root |
| feels dry feel free to slake your begonia's thirst. It is | | | | rot and reduce plant growth. Heavy dense soil also |
| best to soak the soil completely when watering. | | | | increases total container weight. This is great if you |
| Remember to check the plant's saucer to make sure | | | | need to use a pot as a doorstop, but not so good |
| the pot isn't sitting in water for long periods of time. | | | | for plant growth or your back if you need to move |
| Too little light | | | | the pot. Make your own soil mix by mixing 1/3 |
| Do your plants appear pale and spindly and try to | | | | potting soil, 1/3 compost and 1/3 peat moss. If you |
| stretch towards the light of your cell phone? They | | | | do use yard soil amend it by adding peat moss or |
| aren't trying to call home; they just want a little | | | | organic matter like compost. This will help improve |
| sunshine in their life. Plants require light to make the | | | | drainage and keep the soil from getting too soggy. |
| energy they need to grow and produce tasty | | | | Nutritional deficiency |
| vegetables. Make sure to place your plants where | | | | When your egg plant turns yellow you know |
| they get at least half a day of sunlight. If prime sunlit | | | | something is wrong. Yellow leaves, dark curved |
| spots are at a premium let the solar loving plants | | | | foliage, blossom end rot, and falling fruit can indicate a |
| have all the good spots. Tomatoes, peppers and | | | | nutritional deficiency. Like people, plants need their |
| squash will appreciate as much sun as they can get. | | | | vitamins. To keep your plants producing make sure |
| Lettuce, carrots and peas will thrive in partial shade. | | | | to plant them in compost enriched soil. If it is too late |
| Wrong size pot | | | | to amend the soil, feed sickly plants with a top |
| Is your puny petunia swimming in a five gallon tub? | | | | dressing of compost or a sprinkling of time release |
| Do you have a full grown tomato plant in a pint sized | | | | fertilizer. Make sure the fertilizer contains |
| pot? When the pot size is wrong your plants suffer. | | | | macronutrients like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, |
| Too large a pot and the soil stays wet too long | | | | calcium, sulfur and magnesium as well as |
| leading to root rot. Too small a pot and the plant's | | | | micronutrients such as boron, copper, iron, |
| roots become crowded restricting growth. | | | | manganese, molybdenum and zinc. |