No place for gardening? Containers will be working Container Gardening is the answer for residents of apartments, mobile homes and condominiums that say they have no room to grow anything.
By using containers, large or small, it is possible to grow almost anything you can grow directly into the ground. Patios, balconies, staircases, window sills and are good places for as long as there is enough sunlight (about 6-8 hours of U.S. dollars), the only limit being the size and weight of your containers.
Containers are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials and in fact may be about anything that will hold the soil, even old shoes and sneakers can be harnessed flowerpots with admirable results. Materials can be wood, plastic, terra cotta, clay or metal. All containers must drain, it is good advice to add an inch of coarse gravel on the bottom and drainage holes were ideally a half-inch from the bottom. Drainage can be seriously hindered by placing the pot directly on a hard surface such as concrete to raise the container an inch or two to ensure proper water flow.
The size of the container will be determined by the plant selected. Common sense is the rule here, more and more to provide enough space for plants and what you can not see the roots. In general, more container, the better, but is there enough support under the facility to support the weight? Consider, if you need to change the plant if you drop them for the winter or, if you are a tenant and you want to take your plants with you?
The ideal planting medium must be fairly light and drain well, but still retain moisture to keep roots moist. Soilless mixtures, which are available in your garden center are ideal and have the added advantage of being free from soil borne diseases, weed seeds and nematoids.
However, because these soilless mixes drain so well and whatever the origin leech nutrients provided, fertilization will be necessary. Water soluble fertilizers are recommended. Follow the signs for the fertilizer selected, but does not exceed the recommended dose, because too much fertilizer can burn and kill your news plants.Time nutrients are also very effective.
proper watering is extremely important because the containers have a low volume and tend to dry quickly, especially if they sit in the sun or wind all day. Plastic containers will normally require more frequent watering. Learn to control your plants daily and water as needed. Preferably use a watering can to prevent water from entering the plant leaves, as this encourages disease. The water until the water starts to run out of drainage holes. A moisture meter, which can be purchased at any garden center, is a valuable tool for proper watering.
Make sure the drain holes are clear to avoid mixing soil to flooding and rotting of the plant. Too much water is as bad as too little water.
Posted on May 11, 2010.
