Growing plants in containers is an easy and affordable method to get started. In addition, it allows you to garden anywhere, which is one of its best features.
But most people don’t know how to do it properly, which is why most plants die, and people give up. Can you relate?
If yes, this blog is for you, where you will find all the relevant information to master container gardening.
Decide Where to Plant
Nothing can grow without sunlight. Examine your yard at various times of the day. Your containers should be placed where they will receive 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. It is best to try and find a spot that gets morning sun.
Additionally, you’ll need quick access to water.
Choose the Perfect Plants
Grow the foods you enjoy and try something new as well. Use your planting guide to identify the crops that grow well in your region. Also, determine when to plant them.
Make sure you have enough room to grow anything you want by looking at your accessible space. Then, choose whether to use seeds or transplants. Visit your neighborhood nursery or online for seeds and/or transplants.
Select the Appropriate Container
When selecting your containers, keep the following factors in mind:
Size
A plant’s potential growth is constrained by the container in which it is grown. Therefore, greater plants need adequate-sized pots to produce a large enough root system.
Check for Drainage Holes in the Containers You are Using
The opening allows the container’s extra water to drain away. Plants can suffer harm from both too much and too little water. The roots of plants must require both water and air, or else they suffocate and perish without air.
Fill Only the Right Amount
Regular garden soil is too dense and heavy for container gardening and does not supply the oxygen and moisture roots need to flourish.
Look for raised potting soil that includes vermiculite, coconut coir, and compost. It ought to drain well and be fluffy and airy. It gives the roots access to water, air, and nutrients.
Place the pots in a suitable place, then fill them with soil. Your plants will benefit more by having more soil, nutrients, and water available.
Offer Room to Seeds
The following considerations should be made while sowing seeds and transplants:
- For plants to be healthy and happy, there needs to be enough room and ventilation around them. Plants that are crowded together are more susceptible to disease. When planting, refer to the instructions for spacing found on the packaging.
- Plant transplants should be placed in your container at the same level as they were in the nursery pot. (The exception to this rule is tomato plants.)
- Water new transplants more frequently until they become established since they dry up more.
Water Your Container Garden
In containers, plant roots are unable to look for water sources. The improper watering of the garden—either using too little or too much water—is the root of many issues.
Try sticking your finger in the soil to check its moisture. Stick about an inch of your finger into it. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. You can also use a moisture meter to get a better sign of how wet the roots are.
Look closely for the symptoms. If your plants’ water requirements aren’t being met, they will let you know. A symptom that you waited too long to water is droopy, wilting leaves.
Water the soil sparingly and avoid watering too much. Plants absorb water through their roots in the soil, not through their leaves.
Feed the Plants
Feeding some plants is also a good idea because frequent watering results in nutrients being washed away.
For the first several weeks, your garden will be fed by potting soil that is rich in compost. After that, use a water-soluble organic fertilizer, such as liquid seaweed or fish emulsion (or a combination of both). Observe the dilution guidelines on the bottle.
Pay Daily Attention to Your Plants
Healthy plants are less prone to illness and less appealing to pests. Make it a routine to work in your garden every day.
- Take note of the emerging new growth and blooms.
- Look for pests underneath the leaves. Smaller pests and diseases are simpler to detect.
- Pick up the trash and fallen leaves.
Harvesting
The optimal time to harvest is when the crops are young and sensitive, so learn about the plants you are raising. If fruit and vegetables are left on the plant for too long, they may rot or grow hard.
Extra Care
The harsh reality is that container gardening requires a lot of work. It can be expensive, even if it doesn’t have to be, and demands time and focus. Even if you cover all your bases, some plants will thrive while others won’t; there is no failsafe gardening or plant care strategy.
There are plants out there that will fit your aesthetic. Finding what works requires some investigation and experimentation.
