Potted Garden Plants Design

Gardening out of pots and using containers for plants is a great way to start a garden. If you do not have the space to dedicate to a garden -- maybe you live in the city or maybe you just do not want to commit to creating a full blown garden -- but you would still like to benefit from enjoying farm fresh food and the satisfaction of growing you own vegetables and fruits, the pots gardening route is the one to take!

How to pick containers for plants

The gardening pot needs a wide opening at the top
Glazed ceramic pots are the best choice. Clay can be used but you should keep an eye on your plants to ensure over-drying does not occur.
Use containers with a capacity between 25 - 110 quarts.
Ensure sufficient drainage. Drainage holes should be 1/4 - 1/2 inch across.
Keep the gardening pots off of a solid, dense ground. Set the pots on bricks, blocks or even a gravel surface to allow for drainage.
Keep baskets away from the hot afternoon sun.
Something to remember for your pots gardening to be successful: Not only do the smaller pots restrict the root area, but they also dry out quicker. If you do choose a smaller pot size, you need to keep an eye on your plants. The size of the containers for plants that you choose also depends largely on the size and amount of plants you intend to place in them.

Here are 6 great plants for pots gardening

1. Tomatoes
2. Strawberries
3. Onions
4. Peppers
5. Radishes
6. Basil

Plants in their natural surroundings will send out their roots to search for food and water. However, your indoor plants can't do this as they will be dependent on what you give them. By learning the proper way to pot your plants, you can ensure their survival for years to come. The soil they are planted in should be absorbent and able to store enough nutrients for the plant at the same time it must be loose enough to allow the plant to drain easily and for the roots to breathe.

You can buy ready to use compost from your garden centers or you can make your own. It is easier to buy it if you don't have the knowledge or the right stuff to make your own. You will need about equal parts of sterile soil, some moss peat and washed sharp sand if you are to make your own. If you know someone who may do this for you such as a keen gardener, so much the better.

If you want to try and sterilise your own soil you need to bake some moistened garden soil in a dish for about half an hour at about 160 to 180F. Leave it to cool overnight.

Knowing when your plants need re-potting is important too as they may begin to die if left in the same pot without any room to breathe. If you notice that there is very little growth or that they dry out very quickly then they may well need a new pot.

One way to see if they need a new pot is to lift your potted plant carefully and look underneath to see if any roots are growing out of the drainage holes. If this is the case it definitely needs a new pot.

Before you take your plant out of the pot, make sure it is slightly damp. Take your plant out of the pot by protecting if with one hand over the surface of the soil and then turn the pot upside down until the plant comes out.

If your plant has a mass of roots showing it will need to be re-potted in a bigger pot. If there are only a few roots showing it may not need a new pot but just some new compost.

To re-pot your plant, put some fresh compost in the bottom of a bigger pot and place your plant on it. Then fill the sides of the pot around the plant with more fresh compost until it is nice and snug in its new pot. Leave about 2.5cms from the top of the pot.

Now you will need to water the plant thoroughly.

You will find that most potting compost has all the nutrients your plants will need. For young plants there are compost mixtures that contain less fertilizer than those needed for mature plants.

If you are not sure which ones to buy, simply have a look on the packet as they usually give you the instructions and which plants they are for.