Download Container Gardening

Container Gardening
– A World of
Possibilities
Container Gardening
• Excellent for a small area
• Gardens can be grown inside or
outside.
• Offers endless opportunities.
• Offers creative opportunities.
• Provides you with options that are
unavailable with permanent plantings.
Container Characteristics
• Need to include a drainage hole(s).
• Desired plant needs to match the
container.
• Containers need to compliment
surrounding décor or architecture.
Do not let containers overpower your home!
• For wooden garden box, use rotresistant wood for the containers.
- CCA treated wood is usually chemically stable.
• Terra-cotta pots are porous and can
leach water.
– Coat inside with paint
• Plastic pots
– Are impermeable
– Less expensive
– Lighter
Types of Containers
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Pots
Wastebaskets
Aquariums
Waterproof bushel
baskets
Washtubs
Hollowed-out logs
Crates
Bowls
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Crocks
Urns
Tubs
Barrels
Cans
Pans
Chimney flues
Baskets
Cement blocks
Old pair of work
boots
Soil for Containers
• Growing media is extremely important. It
must have the capability of holding water, but
drain easily.
• Ordinary garden soil is generally a poor
choice.
• Garden soil increases the risk of insect
infestations and soil borne diseases.
• The ideal growing media is a
commercially prepared “soil-less”
media.
* Composed of the following materials:
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peat moss or composted pine bark
sand
vermiculite and/or perlite
lime
minerals and nutrients
* Light weight
* Relatively expensive
• Cost can be a factor when needing a
large amount of potting media.
* Fill container half full of styrofoam
packaging peanuts or pine cones.
• Container should be filled to within 2
inches of the top.
Seven Rules for Creative
Container Gardens
1 . It is your garden!
• Use any and as many container you want
or can find.
Go Garden?
2 . There are very few plants that can
not be grown in a suitable
container.
3 . Plants in containers need regular
watering and feeding.
Watering
• Plants in containers need watering more
often.
• Under-watering major problem in the
summer.
• Over-watering is the most common reason for
container plants dying.
* Finger test
* Check bottom
• Best time to water plants is in the morning.
* Allows leaves and soil surface to dry.
Fertilizing
• Frequent watering will wash the plant food
out of the soil.
• A regular feeding program
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based on the type of plant.
during the growing season
slow release type plant food (Osmocote)
soluble complete fertilizer should be used every
two weeks(Peter’s Special, Miracle-Gro., etc).
4 . Containers look better in a group.
• Unless your container is exceptionally
decorative.
• Pots can be added, replaced or rearranged
5 . Grow permanent plants in their own
container but add single season plants
– better to use one plant per pot and group the pots
6 . Provide winter protection and guard
against spring frosts.
• Container and roots can freezing during
the occasional cold spells.
7 . Place permanent plants in proper size
container.
• Put in smaller containers and move up as
plant get larger
Time to move
to larger container!!!
Types of Container Gardens
• Desert garden
• Tropical garden
• Water garden
• Herb garden
• Vegetable garden
Desert Garden
Water Garden
Herb Garden
Tropical Garden
Vegetables in Containers
Container Gardening
– A World of
Possibilities
Wayne Porter
Area Horticulture Agent
Mississippi State University Extension Service