Plant Care & Gardening Tips@ HortChat.com©

Container gardening offers a wide range of gardening possibilities especially for those who have limited space. Any container can serve as a planter as long as it can hold soil and have drainage; but container gardening is not just filling a container with soil and adding random plants; a few planting tricks can result in a vibrant container garden that will delight you all season long.

Here are some tips & techniques to try when planting your container:

- Choose plants that are compatible with size, color, light and moisture requirements.

- Start with a container that is large enough to maintain the plant or combination of plants through the whole growing season. If the container is too small it will dry out much faster during the hot days of summer. The bigger the better-but also keep in mind that you may have to move it. Clay pots are heavier, porous and dry out faster than metal, plastic or wooden pots. I like the faux clay pots. They seem to fit all requirements.

- Be sure your container has adequate drainage. Place a fabric filter or mesh over the drain hole and fill bottom of container with gravel, broken clay pots and peanuts to fill the space. Leave the top 8-10 inches to fill with soil.

- Use the good well drained soil, or mix your own by combining 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite or perlite and 1/3 organic material Fill the container 2 inches below the rim of the pot to allow room for planting and avoid overflow when watering.

- To conserve moisture and reduce amount of watering add a water retaining polymer (Hydro-gel) to the soil. Soak the polymer before adding it to the soil and follow label directions as to how much to use.

- Mix in a slow release fertilizer (Osmocote) that will feed your plants up to 4 months, enough to carry you through the growing season.