Container Gardening Mistakes

Apartment dwellers are increasingly using container gardening to grow plants without a yard. Container gardening is similar to gardening in a raised bed or in the ground, but it does have some unique challenges. Here are the most common container gardening mistakes we see and how to fix them

Choosing Containers

Not surprisingly, the first mistake many people make is when they choose a container. Here are some tips to remember.

Container Materials

Containers are usually made of either plastic or clay. Clay pots are breathable and durable. However, clay breathes water out much faster than plastic. If you have a plant that likes a relatively dry climate, clay may be a good choice.

Plastic pots are usually lighter than clay pots. If you are getting a big container, a clay vessel can be impossible to move once it is filled with soil, some plants, and water.

Plastic pots hold in moisture, so you must be careful not to keep the soil too wet. Wet soil leads to root rot. On the positive side, plastic pots come in many cheerful colors and last a long time.

There are some pots made of metal or wood. Metal heats up too much in the summer and can actually cook your plant, especially in a hot climate. Wood looks nice, but it is impossible to clean well. Sterilizing a pot that is being reused is almost impossible to do if the pot is wooden. There are too many nooks and crannies for insects and diseases to hide in. Some people get around this by putting a plastic pot of plants inside the wooden one, so the plants do not touch the wooden shell.

Container Size

The size of the container depends on what you want to grow in it. Vegetables need deep pots. The pot should be at least 8 inches for lettuce, spinach, and greens without large root systems. If you are growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, or melons, the pot should be at least twelve inches deep. A five-gallon bucket works well for these plants.

Drainage Hole Mistakes

Make sure whatever container you use has drainage holes. For example, drill four ½ inch holes in the bottom of a five-gallon bucket before putting potting mix in it. If you are worried that your soil will come out the drainage holes, place a layer of pebbles on the bottom of the container to make an air space and keep the soil in. You could also put a piece of window screen on the bottom.

Planting Soil

While you can buy topsoil to put in a raised bed, containers are different. You need to use a potting mix. These mixes, many of which do not contain soil, are mixed to provide air spaces and the ability to absorb water. Topsoil becomes too compacted in a container. Digging soil out of your yard doesn't work well, either.

The nice thing about a container is that you can find potting mixes formulated for almost any type of plant. If you want to grow vegetables, there is a potting mix that contains just what they need. For flowers, such as purple coneflowers, you can use a general-purpose potting mix. If you want to grow a dogwood, but your soil is not acidic enough, you can make a potting mix for acid-loving types and grow it in a container. Even succulents and orchids have their own potting mixes.

Use Compatible Plants

As with in-ground flower beds, you will need to choose plants that have the same water and sunlight needs for each container. Many professionals use a thriller, filler, and spiller approach to filling containers with flowers. The thriller is taller and usually looks really spectacular, the filler is masses of flowers in front of the thriller, and the spiller is a plant with a trailing habitat that hangs over the side of the container.

Most vegetable growers plant one species of plant per container for large plants like tomatoes or cucumbers. Several small vegetables can go in one pot. You can surround your vegetable plants with pots of aromatic herbs to help repel pests. Basil and tomatoes go especially well.

Wrong Place, Dead Plant

Be sure that the plant you put in a specific place on your patio or balcony is in the right place. Don't put a plant that grows in partial shade in direct sunlight or vice versa. If you place your container on a furniture dolly (the square platform with four wheels), you can move it from a sunny location to a shady one if the afternoon sun is too intense. You can even bring it inside if you have too much rain, so it doesn't have problems with root rot.

Watering Mistakes

You will need to water frequently to keep the container's soil at the proper moisture level. Investing in a cheap moisture meter so you can tell the soil moisture quickly will help you keep your plant hydrated without keeping it too wet. Wet soil tends to cause root rot. Keep in mind that some plants, such as succulents, have evolved to store water and need to be watered only after the soil dries out.

Fertilizer Frequency

All plants need the same sixteen elements to survive. If a plant in the ground uses up the nutrients in a spot, it can spread its roots out and find more. A plant in a container doesn't have that luxury. It has to use only what is in the potting mix.

You will have to regularly fertilize your plants in containers. Most potting soil has a week or two worth of nutrients in the soil. After that, you will have to fertilize the plant to maintain its health. The frequency and amount of fertilizer you use depends on both the type of plant and the type of fertilizer you use. Your best bet is to get some fertilizer that is tailored for flowers if you are growing ornamental plants and follow the directions on the label. Specialty fertilizer is available for vegetables, acid loving plants, orchids, succulents, and other plants that have special nutrient requirements.

Odds and Ends

If you will be growing plants on a balcony, find out how much weight the balcony can hold before putting pots there. The pot, plant, soil, and water can add up to a lot of weight and you would hate to damage the balcony or make it fall off.

Many vegetable breeders are developing plants that are smaller versions of regular vegetables but produce a lot. If you search on "patio plants" you can find seeds and transplants that do not take up as much space as regular size vegetable plants. We carry a dwarf peach tree designed for container gardening, too.

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TN Nursery staff can answer questions about the best plants for containers in your climate. Give us a call at 931.692.7325 with questions and to order your plants.