Container Gardening: The Complete Guide (2024)

FAQs

What is the rule of thumb for container gardening? ›

Keep the size and quantity of plants in proportion to the pot. Rule of thumb – The height of the tallest plant shouldn't exceed one to two times the height of a tall container or the width of a low bowl. When the container has a pedestal, it's usually not necessary to include it in the overall container measurement.

Ornamental grasses, salvia, or even tomato plants are some examples of a thriller. Below are some varieties you can find right on Proven Winners Direct. Begonias, Supertunias, Heuchera, and so much more are great options to filler your container with color, texture and vibrancy.

A mixture of 70% garden soil and 30% organic matter creates a good general potting mix for planting up trees, shrubs, perennials and fruit. If your garden soil is heavy, reduce the soil content by around 10% and add some sharp sand, grit, or bulky organic matter in its place to improve drainage.

Containers can be grouped into vignettes the same way plants can. A triangular arrangement of pots will produce quick, pleasing results. In design terms, a triangle consists of a dominant central element flanked by components of smaller stature. This form is a staple of all art forms for good reason: It always works.

The actual number refers to the approximate size of the container and how much soil it holds. For example, a number-one (#1) container holds approximately one gallon of soil.

12" to 18" for moderate depth vegetables: eggplant, peppers, beets, broccoli, carrots (short varieties), cauliflower, celery, chard, kale, peas. 18" to 24" for deep rooted vegetables: tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, winter squashes, beans, corn, cucumbers.

Spillers are trailing plants that hang over the edge of the planter. Spillers are placed close to the edge of the container.

Thrillers include upright geranium, nicotiana, salvia, daisy and heliotrope. For a more dramatic effect highlight extra-tall plants like dracaena, small ornamental grasses or cordyline. Around the center choose clumpers like upright geranium, marigold, lantana, mounding petunias, nemesia and coleus.

THRILLERS are stars, a tall centerpiece, such as Yucca, Canna, or one of the dramatic grasses, or any tall flower that blooms a long time. FILLERS weave through the thriller, adding mass, contrast and texture, such as Coleus, Begonias, Dusty miller, Heliotrope, Lantana, Pentas, Petunia, Salvia.

Tomatoes can thrive in pots as long as they are grown in high-quality potting soil and receive plenty of sun, water and fertilizer.

Can I use bagged topsoil for potted plants? ›

Do not use topsoil alone in containers. It can become compacted and saturated with water limiting air space that is important for healthy plant growth. Topsoil is occasionally added to potting mixes in large containers for increased moisture-holding and added weight needed to support large plants.

Potting Mix is formulated to feed the soil for plants growing in indoor and outdoor containers, while Raised Bed Soil with its slightly larger particle size, has versatile uses for both larger containers and raised bed gardening.

One of the best things to put at the bottom of a planter for drainage is broken pieces of pot. You can use any unwanted plant pots or chipped crockery for this – simply smash them up into small to medium-sized pieces. Adding a layer of broken pieces of pot like this will prevent compost loss out of the drainage holes.

Repurpose old, damaged or about-to-be discarded items into smart-chic containers. If the items don't have drainage holes, add some. Or keep the plants in their pots so you can easily slip them out of the container to dump excess water.

Generally, using three or four plants in 10 to 12-inch planters, four to six plants in 14 to 16-inch planters and six to eight plants in 16 to 20-inch planters will fill out containers nicely while allowing room for the plants to grow without excessive crowding.

In a too-large pot, soil dries slowly, making your plant more susceptible to root rot. When a plant is too large for its pot, it also has a tendency to tip over. In a too-small pot, soil dries so quickly that you will be challenged to water frequently enough.

Some types of plants, such as lettuce and herbs, have shallow roots. So, they can thrive in a gardening container that's only 6 inches deep. Other plants like tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes require more rooting depth. They need a planting box that's at least 12 inches deep.