There’s something about gardening that just makes people happy. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the sun on your face, or the satisfaction of growing your own fruits and vegetables.
Whatever it is, gardening is a fun and rewarding activity for people of all ages, and if you don’t have a lot of space to garden in, don’t worry – you can still get started with gardening in pots!
In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips and tricks for keeping your potted garden thriving all summer long. Read on to learn more!
1. Choose the Right pot: Make Sure it has Drainage Holes and is Large Enough to Hold Your Plants
Whether you are a new or an experienced potted plant grower, choosing the right pots makes a big difference in how well your plants grow.
If you’re just starting your potted plant journey, getting familiar with the basics is best before investing in pots for your plants. Remember – you’ll be watering and feeding your plants regularly throughout the summer, so make sure you choose a pot with sufficient drainage for them to flourish.
When it comes to choosing pots for your garden plants, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Pick a Pot That Has Good Drainage Holes
This might seem obvious, but ensuring your plants get the water they need to survive is essential.
Most pots come with drainage holes, so be sure to check before you purchase. Choosing a pot with drainage holes is vital because most plants can’t survive in soil that stays soggy for long periods, so by choosing a pot with holes that excess water can drain out quickly, you’ll ensure that your plants get the water they need to stay healthy.
Planting your potted flowers in pots with drainage holes is a sure-fire way to keep them healthy and growing all summer long!
Make Sure That Your Pot Is Big Enough to Accommodate Your Plants
If they are too big, they’ll probably overcrowd the pot and stunt their growth.
So you should consider the size of the pot that you choose, as you will want it to be big enough to accommodate your plant’s roots as they grow and spread out. However, if your plants are in too small of a pot, they’ll probably dry out quicker than you’d like—not good!
The pot you choose for your plants should be deep enough to accommodate the root system of the plants you wish to grow. If you are unsure about the best size or type of container for your garden plants, you can always ask us, as we offer a range of sowing pots and trays for all your potted planting needs.
What Can You Grow in Pots?
You can grow almost anything in pots as long as you avoid plants known to grow too tall or too wide for container gardening. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Dahlias: These beautiful and cheerful blooms are great for pots on deck, patio, stairs, or balcony. They are easy to grow and look great all season. We have a collection of Organic Dahlias, such as “Joy of Summer” or “Summer Overture“. These plants will thrive in places with the right sun daily.
- Perennials: Perennials are a great option if you want to get a lot of bang for your buck because you get them yearly! This is perfect for people with small gardens who want to grow many flowers at once.
- Vegetables: Some vegetables and herbs can be grown in containers, provided you select the right type of pot and potting soil for their needs. There is no doubt about it—vegetables and herbs are great and easy additions to your garden and can provide you with many healthy vitamins and nutrients.
- Herbs: We recommend growing a herb garden in pots because you can pluck herbs from the garden all year round and incorporate them into various dishes, also if it is winter you can move them into the house. One of our favourite herbs to grow in containers is basil because it is versatile and smells delicious!
- Hanging Baskets: If you want to hang a container garden plant, hanging baskets are a great choice. You can place your hanging basket against a fence or on a front porch or patio to add a beautiful touch to your garden.
Taking Care of Your Potted Plants
Potted plants can be a great addition to your garden and home because they add colour to your decor and allow you to grow your own food!
However, potted plants need special care, so they don’t perish! Here are some tips to make sure your plants thrive:
- You should check your plant’s location in the garden as some will require direct sunlight, whereas others may require shade or partial shade.
- Keep your potted plants watered and feed them regularly. Your potted plants need water to stay healthy, so ensure to water them regularly. When your plants need water again, water until the soil feels dry on top and shut down your watering until the next time!
- Fertilise your plants frequently to ensure healthy growth.
- Make sure you don’t overfeed your plants—it’s tempting to feed them every time they don’t seem happy, but overfeeding can burn them and damage the roots and overwatering can cause the roots to rot, so if your plant looks unhappy, ensure you are not overwatering it, causing the roots to rot.
These are just a few tips to show how cultivating a successful container garden is all about taking care of your plants and giving them what they need to thrive.
2. Use Quality Soil: It’s Important to Use Soil That Drains Well and Provides Good Nutrition for Your Plants
Many gardeners are surprised to learn that not all soil is the same—some soil drains better than others, and some soil holds nutrients better than others.
Soil high in clay or silt tends to hold water for extended periods and doesn’t allow nutrients to move through the soil quickly, so it can be challenging to grow healthy plants in it. On the other hand, soil with high levels of sand, or coarseness, drains very well and is nutrient-rich, but does not hold water very well and dries very quickly, so your plants might dry out more quickly.
A mixture of soil types will provide the best drainage and nutrition for plants for the best results when using containers for growing plants. Organic potting and container compost can also be used in pots, containers, and hanging baskets and is ideal for seedlings.
Organic compost has plant-based organic nutrients that give your plants everything they need for strong and healthy growth.
3. Plant in Stages: Don’t Try to Plant Everything at Once; Stagger Your Planting So You Can Get the Most Out of Your Garden
If you want to get the most out of your garden, it’s essential to plant your potted plants in stages.
Soak the seeds or plants for an hour before planting to give them a head start and make sure the seeds are at their optimum moisture level. Plant the seedlings in stages as they grow, ensuring they have enough time to grow to their full potential before planting the next batch.
This way, the plants are at optimum health before transplanting, and the gardens will not dry out too quickly.
4. Water Regularly, but Not Excessively: Water Regularly, Especially in Hot Weather
It’s best to water your plant early in the morning or evening when the sun isn’t shining as directly down on it as it would on a hot summer day.
Watering your plants on a sunny day can encourage mildew growth on your plants, which can turn the leaves black and affect the overall health of your plant. If your plant is in a container, ensure there’s always some water in it by watering it whenever the top inch or two is dry.
However, ensure you don’t overwater your plants because too much water can drown them.
5. Fertilise Regularly: Use a Balanced Fertiliser Every few Weeks to Help Your Plants Grow Strong and Healthy
So you’ve planted your plants and started caring for them properly, and they’ve started to grow and bloom nicely, but now you’re wondering when you should fertilise them.
Well, the answer is simple; you need to fertilise them regularly! Most plants require a consistent supply of nutrients to grow and bloom properly; typically, water your plants every few weeks with a balanced fertiliser that contains essential nutrients to help your plants grow strong and healthy.
But what type of fertiliser should you be using? Well, this depends entirely on what type of plant you’re growing.
Using mulch or compost as a fertiliser for your plants not only saves you money but also helps the environment by eliminating the use of non-natural fertilisers. On the other hand, if you’re using synthetic compost, you’re not doing yourself any favours.
Synthetic compost is made from chemicals that can harm the environment as well as you and your family. When your plants begin to grow, their root systems will grow deep into the soil in search of nutrients and water so that those nutrients can be returned to the plants in the form of flowers and fruit.
But if you’re unsure about which type to use, you can always get in touch with us, and we will endeavour to help you choose the right one.
6. Prune as Needed: Remove Dead or Diseased Limbs and Pinch off any new Growth to Keep Your Plants Looking Their Best
Pruning is often necessary to keep your garden looking its best and in check.
Dead or diseased branches should be removed as soon as they’re noticed. If your plants need pruning for other reasons, such as removing overgrown limbs or eliminating any weak or unproductive shoots, you might want to wait until later in the season when your plants have had a chance to set fruit or flower.
New growth should be pinched off when it’s completely unfolded. Removing it too late may cause the plant to expend valuable energy on growing that extra growth, which could affect its ability to flower or fruit well.
7. What You Can Achieve in a Relatively Small Space
If you love gardening but don’t have a lot of space to work with, don’t feel defeated. There are plenty of things you can do with even a tiny garden, and here are some ideas to get you started:
- Growing Herbs and Vegetables: Give your culinary creations some tasty homegrown ingredients by adding fresh herbs to your dishes or growing some vegetables on your windowsill.
- Grow Plants for Shade and Sun: If your garden is short on sun, you can still grow some plants by planting them in pots that can be placed in sunny areas of the garden that receive less sun.
- Grow Flowers for Beauty: Whether you have a large or tiny space, you can always have beautiful flowers by growing annuals or perennials in containers or hanging baskets from a wall.
- Start Your Own Garden Patch: If you don’t have any outdoor space, you can begin a garden patch indoors or outdoors by growing plants in small containers.
- Growing Plants for Wildlife: If you have a small garden, consider growing some plants that will attract wildlife to your garden. Attracting wildlife to your garden is essential if you want your flowers to attract pollinators.
- Plants for Organic Pest Control: You can grow some plants that naturally deter insects or help control pests. Pest control is essential when growing fruits and vegetables in a garden.
- Grow a Container Garden: You can use containers to grow plants in small spaces or sunny areas in your back or front garden.
- Vertical Gardening: is especially useful for people living in apartments or houses with little garden space, like balconies or patios.
These kinds of gardens require little maintenance and are less prone to pests and diseases than other types of gardens.
It also benefits the environment by reducing the need for pesticides and fertilisers. In addition, growing plants in a vertical manner can reduce a city’s need for water and electricity.
8. A Brief Overview of Vertical Gardening:
You may or may not be familiar with vertical gardening, but we’ll give you a quick rundown of what it is.
Vertical gardening is a way to maximise growing space for plants in a small space. It can be used to grow food plants or wildflowers. It benefits people who live in apartments or have little garden space.
There are many benefits to vertical gardening, including:
- Fun and Rewarding: Vertical gardening can be a fun and rewarding hobby for adults and children.
- Perfect For Beginners: This DIY project is perfect for beginners and anyone who would like to grow their own food, herbs, or flowers, indoors or out!
- Saving Space: Vertical gardens occupy little space so you can use them anywhere. Plants can be grown in small spaces such as balconies and rooftops and in larger spaces such as gardens.
- They can be Grown Indoors or Outdoors: This makes them ideal for growing herbs and other crops in small spaces or in harsh climates where outdoor gardening is not possible or practical.
- Can Grow a Variety of Plants in a Small Space: Vertical gardens are perfect for growing herbs, tomatoes, lettuce, and other small plants in small spaces such as balconies and window sills.
- You Can Use Recycled Containers to Grow Your Plants: You can recycle old plastic bottles, milk cartons, and egg cartons to grow your plants in vertical gardens.
So, are you going to try vertical gardening? Tell us how it goes in the comments section below!
Conclusion
If you’re looking to get into organic gardening or just want to improve your skills, these tips should help.
Start by choosing the right pot—make sure it has drainage holes and is big enough to accommodate your plants. Then, use quality soil that drains well and provides good plant nutrition.
Plant in stages to get the most out of your garden, and water regularly but not too much! Fertilise occasionally with a balanced fertiliser and prune as needed. These essential tips will set you on the right path to becoming an organic gardener extraordinaire!
Do you have any additional tips to share? Let us know in the comments below.
