| Container planting is a little different method of | | | | contain any soil. Regular soil is heavy. When used in |
| gardening than the traditional garden. The soil in your | | | | containers, it can trap water and prevent air from |
| containers isn't the same, it needs to be of a | | | | reaching a plant's roots. It also makes containers hard |
| lightweight potting mix. Soil from your garden can not | | | | to lift. A loose, porous growing medium allows water |
| be used because it will not drain fast enough, this will | | | | and food to move quickly to a plant's roots. It is also |
| result in too little air for the plants root system. The | | | | lighter, which makes it easier to move containers |
| ideal container medium needs to be of a porous | | | | around the garden. |
| material, one that drains well but high enough in | | | | There are many soil-less mixes sold in garden centers |
| organic matter to retain moisture. Plant root systems | | | | and nurseries as "container mix" or "premium potting |
| require both air and water, some of the packaged | | | | mix". Many home gardeners prefer to make their |
| potting soil available from the local garden centers | | | | own potting mix so that they can design it to there |
| can make a good container medium if it is not too | | | | specific needs of the specific plants they are growing. |
| high in organic matter. Soilless mixes like peat or | | | | There are many container mix recipes floating around |
| perlite mix are generally too light for container | | | | out there. most of them consist of a blend of peat |
| vegetable gardening by not offering enough support | | | | moss, perlite or vermiculite, compost or composted |
| for the plants to anchor there root system. | | | | manure and sand. Some of these mixes also contain |
| Containers themselves can also be a problem if they | | | | sulfur to lower the pH level or lime to raise it and |
| are lightweight, a strong wind can blow the plants | | | | other mixes can contain some type of slow release |
| over and damage them. | | | | organic fertilizer. |
| The ideal mix for your container gardening is a | | | | A basic recipe that can get you started and can be |
| combination of both soilless and organic. The soilless | | | | adjusted to your specific needs is 2 1/2 gallons of |
| potting media are sterile and don't contain any | | | | peat moss, 2 1/2 gallons of perlite or vermiculite, 1 1 |
| insects, diseases or weeds. There is a downside to | | | | 2 gallon of compost or composted manure and 1 pint |
| the soilless media, they have no trace elements | | | | of sand. |
| available for good plant growth and need to be | | | | Container plants need to be fertilized on a regular |
| added. For large container gardens it can be costly to | | | | bases, this is because nutrients leach out of the |
| use prepackaged mixes. Mixing your own potting soil | | | | containers every time you water. Use a water-soluble |
| is simple to do and cost effective. For an enriched soil | | | | fertilizer every two weeks or add pelleted |
| mix that will have your tomatoes thriving I mix | | | | slow-release organic fertilizer to your soil-less potting |
| An ideal growing medium for containers is usually | | | | mix. |
| referred to as soil-less, because it does not actually | | | | |