Plants such as flowers, herbs, shrubs, and even fruits and vegetables can be grown successfully in pots on the patio, balcony or back door step. With a few tips on growing healthy plants, you will soon be harvesting vegetables and fruit just at the right time.
Plants particularly love sunlight for at least 6 hours daily so position your plants for maximum exposure to the sun. They can also be moved around to take advantage of the best sunny spots.
Table of Contents
Small pots tend to dry out very quickly and hot weather can heat up the container , effectively “cooking” the root system and causing the roots to die. Small pots can also inhibit proper root growth if left too long in the container, with roots becoming tangled and stunting the plant’s growth.
To prevent dehydration or overheating, use a smaller plant container inside a bigger, more decorative pot with a filling of pine bark between the two pots. This provides insulation and will prevent the soil from drying out too quickly. It also allows for easy removal for repotting, etc and avoids the expanding root systems from breaking through the pot.
Potting mix is usually made up of a mixture of composted bark, peat, coir ( a mix of fibers – a by-product of the coconut fiber industry), sand, compost and fertilizer to encourage healthy root growth. It is advisable to purchase a good quality, organic potting mix in the mid-price range to ensure a proper balance between holding moisture and draining well.
Plants soak up nutrients through their roots but this is impossible if the soil is dry. Harsh winds and sun dry out the container quickly so consistent watering is advisable in the hotter weather. It is best to water them deeply into the pot until properly soaked rather than a light sprinkle on the top.
Another method to give your plant a good soak is to plunge the pot into a bucket or bigger container such as the laundry tubs filled with water. To ensure the pot is fully soaked, keep it submerged up to the edge of the pot until all the air bubbles have been released.
However, as more plants tend to die from over-watering than under-watering, it is good to check that the plant is not sitting in a saucer of water, saturating the soil. If the soil mixture gets waterlogged there is little or no air in it and therefore nutrients cannot travel freely to the plant roots.
Plants can get root rot very easily if they are left sitting in saucers of water everyday but there are also good reasons to use them.
If using saucers for your plants, they can be filled with sand and then kept moist. This will boost humidity for certain plants such as ferns and begonias that love those conditions, and also keep the roots cool.
Saucers also have the advantage of catching any leaking of fertilizer, etc which can stain tiling or patio surfaces.
Potted plants need more attention to feeding than their garden cousins. Ask your local plant nursery for an organic fertilizer made specially for potted plants. Use this when planting new vegetables or fruit trees, etc and then every 3 months after that. Combine this with a liquid fish fertilizer or a combination of liquid from a worm farm and liquid seaweed which can be used every 2 weeks.
Most homeowners have probably spent hours looking at the different types of garden seeders. You may have even come across…
When it comes to vehicle lovers, cleaning their cars on a regular basis is essential to maintaining the paint job's…
Gas chainsaws are the perfect tool for a variety of outdoor tasks, including chopping up logs for firewood, clearing brush…
A home can be a daunting project, one that takes some time and energy to maintain. With hard work, determination,…
Today ginger is grown all over tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, in parts of Africa and South America, and…
Onions are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and growing onions is a snap in the home…