by Jennifer Poindexter
One of my favorite way to garden is in containers . Many people have found how easy and functional it can be . This is n’t my only style of gardening , but as far as simplicity , it ’s my go - to for a variety of plant .
If you ’re new to gardening , have a smaller arena for horticulture , or are interested in using different horticulture dash , container gardening could be a slap-up choice for you . However , before you get too far into this way of gardening , it ’s crucial to reap from the wisdom of those who blazed the way of life before you .
In short , you should learn the unwashed mistakes gardeners make when using this method . I ’m sound to take the air you through each misunderstanding and how you may avoid restate it . Here are the common mistakes gardeners make when container horticulture .
1. Using Containers That are Too Small
When container horticulture , you must get outside of the distinctive houseplant . you’re able to grow flowers in a container garden , but it can also be for so much more than this .
Container gardens can be used both indoors and outdoors . It can also be used for growing blossom , trees , bush , yield , and vegetables . Therefore , you ca n’t stick any plant in any size container .
How to stave off this Mistake :
Look at the source system of the plant life you ’re choose for your container garden . If they ’ll become larger plants , they ’ll have bigger root arrangement .
Therefore , they ’ll require a deeper and wider container than plants which might have a shallow root arrangement . If you engraft in too small of a container , you ’ll be transplanting frequently because the root will become easily bounce .
2. Wrong Type of Container
You do n’t need fancy containers to container garden . Some of my favourite way to container garden is in five - gallon bucket .
However , container are made of different materials . You must be aware of your plants ’ postulate to ensure you pick the correct cloth for them to develop in .
If you have plants which like persist systematically moist , you should go with a terracotta kitty . They hold back moisture much longer than other diverseness .
However , if you have plant which need to be dried completely between tearing sessions , go with a glassed or charge card container . What your plant penury will reckon upon which vogue of container you practice .
3. Under or Overwatering
This mistake will calculate upon the nurseryman . There are some nurseryman which water their plants and wait too long between lachrymation sessions .
There are other gardener who worry their plants are go to dry out and apply too much water . There ’s a method acting to water a container garden , and it ’s critical to the garden ’s survival .
When raise plants in a container , you should always use the grime test prior to applying more water system .
slip in your digit into the soil . If it ’s dry to your first knuckle joint , the plant can handle more urine . If not , wait .
The only exceptions to this linguistic rule are shallow rooted works . Crops , such as sugar , like to be water shallowly and remain systematically moist .
4. Not Choosing Proper Lighting
The great thing about container gardens is you could move them . If you have a cheery location in the aurora and another sunny location in the afternoon , the pots can move with the sun .
However , you must be cognizant of what your plants demand . Some plant need full sun while others only want partial . This makes all the difference when care for plant .
Some works want as much sunshine as they can get . There are other flora which only need partial sun or indirect sunshine .
This will cause their locating to depart . Pay care to this and move the planters where the crops get what they need . If you do n’t , your plant could end up with too much or little sunshine . This would impact the overall health of your container garden .
5. Not Fertilizing Enough
Container garden have certain things you must be aware of . How much wet the plants receive is a top precedency because you ’re working with a deoxidise amount of soil .
You also need to be aware of the amount of fertilizer plants receive . They only have so much soil to commit from . Therefore , this can deeply impact the flora ’s overall wellness .
When learning how to care for a plant , be certain to inquire what it needs . This will admit how often the plant should be fertilized and what type of fertiliser should be used .
If the tutorial is n’t specifically for container horticulture , you might need to keep a closer eye on your plant life . If it shows sign of the zodiac of distress , it might require more eating . It ’s also important to adulterate the plant food by 50 % , in most cases , when container gardening .
6. Ignoring Pests and Diseases
This is a rough-cut error in any style of gardening . When you choose to raise a garden , you must be cognisant of potential threats for each of your plants .
These threats may variegate depending upon whether you ’re raise the container garden indoors or out . However , you should n’t ignore any signboard of trouble in your garden .
The best way to avoid this misapprehension is by ensure you take the time to ensure your plants for issues . I recommend each night , looking at your plant to see if you notice any signs of pests or diseases .
If you do , most pests can be treated with an insect powder . If you ’re concerned about diseases , there are many tutorial , through the internet , which can help you identify the issue and help you treat it .
7. Too Many Plants Per Container
When you go to a local glasshouse , or commence your own seeds , do you ever get carry out ? I do ! I want to purchase all the industrial plant I can get my hand on .
The only trouble is , you must have a billet to plant them all . When growing a container garden , realize you wo n’t have room for an abundance of plant .
There are some case where you’re able to grow multiple industrial plant in one container . If you ’re growing a tall heyday and want to place smaller flowers around it , this could work in a large enough container . The same could work with herbs .
However , if you ’re grow marvelous vegetables , it ’s in force to only place one plant life in each container . If your crops become overcrowded , they wo n’t grow properly .
8. Using “Filler” Material in the Bottom of Planters
Some people aim pebbles in the bottom of their plantation owner with the intention of help the water drain better .
This is n’t recommended in most container gardens . Your container should do all the work when it come to run out water .
Avoiding this error is wide-eyed . Do n’t place anything in your plantation owner with the exclusion of land and the plant .
This will ascertain the body of water enfeeble aside from the flora , and it wo n’t decrease the amount of grease the plant life has to pull out from within the container .
9. Watering the Foliage of Plants
This mistake can materialize with all styles of horticulture . It ’s a good idea to see the right time and way to water your plant .
If you water them improperly , you could open your container garden up to pest and disease offspring .
When irrigate your container garden , irrigate the filth . You want to head off the foliage as much as potential . It ’s also a dependable idea to water the plants originally in the day .
This way , if you get the foliage wet , the plant life will have all day to dry before the cooler dark temperatures dress in . Wet leaf and cool temperatures could bid fungous event to your plant .
10. Picking Containers with Poor Drainage
When choosing a container , for your container garden , it ’s authoritative that you pluck one that ’s an adequate sizing to support your works .
The container should be made of the right textile to match the plant ’s drainage needs . It should also be well drain to ensure the plant life is n’t left in a muddy land .
calculate at the planter prior to planting . check that the drainage hole or holes are large enough to pull out water aside from your works quickly .
If you do n’t , the industrial plant will be left standing in water . This could cause the works to stifle over time .
11. Putting Plants Together with Different Needs
Container gardens can consist of multiple plant in one stool or single plants in multiple pots . It ’s up to you and your vision for the container garden .
Either way , you must select plant life which have similar needs . Otherwise , they ’ll constantly be working against each other .
I typically container garden inside my greenhouse . Therefore , I must prefer plants which have interchangeable desires for temperatures .
If I ’m develop a moth-eaten - intrepid craw and a tropical plant over wintertime , inside my greenhouse , it wo n’t work . One requires I heat the greenhouse while the other plant does n’t enjoy as warm of temperatures .
Pay attention to the lighting , water , and temperature needs of the plants you mature together in a container garden .
12. Not Considering Placement of Your Container Garden
This way out is mainly for gardeners who container garden alfresco . You must be mindful of where you place your planter .
If not , the plants could be left in injury ’s room which would waste the drive you ’ve placed into the garden .
cognise the location where you pose your containers . If you ’re placing them in a humble country that you know pools rainwater during a storm , you ’re gear up your plants up to become oversaturated .
If you set them in an arena where you bonk the wind can ping them over , you ’re place them up for failure as well . Be mindful of the position of your containers to secure the elements ca n’t harm them .
13. Not Providing Adequate Care to Plants
Container plants require the same , if not more , care than plants growing in other types of garden . The reason is these plants have less soil to overstretch nutrients and water from .
Yet , some gardeners omit main items most plant life postulate when develop in a garden . Do n’t overlook the obvious in your plants .
An obvious item many works require is rationalize . If you see your plant becoming disobedient or await leggy , give it a trimming .
This will help the overall health of the plant and , in many case , prolong the lifetime of the plant . Be sure you know everything your plants require when growing them , and be trusted to fulfill your duties as their nurseryman .
14. Picking the Wrong Plants for a Container Garden
When container gardening , you ca n’t acquire every variety of plant . You must be aware of this when pick out what you want to grow .
Therefore , look at the sizing of your containers and the space you have allot for a container garden when choosing what to include .
you may avoid this fault by arise terrace varieties of many vegetables and picking dwarf varieties of fruit .
However , you should be capable to spring up most any flower or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in a container , as long as they do n’t become too large .
This concludes the mistakes many gardeners make when container gardening . Though this manner of gardening may be new to some , it ’s a great way to grow your own flowers or food even if you have limited grow space .
As I advert , I have it off using container gardening in my house and greenhouse to extend grow seasons or produce crop year - round . However you prefer to use this horticulture expressive style , forefend these mistake to ameliorate your experience .
Learn More About Container Gardening
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/containergardening/
https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C787&title=Gardening%20in%20Containers
http://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/container-gardening/
