CONTAINER GARDENING
From Practical to Whimsical

by Beth Lopez
(click on images to enlarge)

I have an early memory of a bright red geranium in an old coffee can brightening a window sill. Apparently, some people keep coffee in a coffee can, but to me, it will always hold a geranium.

Wood, plastic and ceramics containers are happy to sit in the garden, easily moved and they add their whimsy to the garden. (Beth Lopez Photos)

When writing about balcony gardens and windowsill gardens and even some patio gardens, I’ve been writing about container gardening. Those of us without access to a yard do most of our gardening in containers, and even those with a yards will put some plants in containers for all kinds of reasons. This might be because of the needs of the plant or a desire for portability, but the container might also add whimsy or colour and a touch of your personality.

There are an endless number of containers available that can be used for plants. Plant stores have pots made of ceramic, metal, terra cotta or plastic. There are even open baskets lined with fibre to contain the soil and drain the water. Raised planter boxes are usually wood but could be plastic or even metal.

Look at any container and ask, “Will it support a growing plant?” I have seen found items that can be used that are unique, adding individuality to a display. I’ve seen old boots and blue jeans, kitchen items like tea cups, bowls, and colanders, and found items like old tires, troughs, wheel barrows, bushel baskets, burlap bags and empty tin cans.

I saw a Pinterest-worthy patio fence with lengths of eaves-troughs attached to the wall filled with strawberry plants. Vertical space should not be forgotten when there are limited horizontal surfaces. I even saw a photo of a fence wall covered in crocs – the bright sandals full of holes. Hung up by their heels, toes filled with soil, plants hanging out the tops with drainage through the holes. The article called them croc pots!

Pretty pots add to the look of the windowsill. Even a hollowed out rock makes a great succulent container.

Most plants can be grown in containers. Tropical plants like African violets and orchids do best in containers indoors, but outside, just about anything can be planted in a container. Even trees do just fine in containers as long as they are kept pruned to match the container size. I have a five foot Benjamin fig tree in a pot which I trim back regularly, and it’s over 25 years old. Bonsai is the ultimate container garden technique, working to make the plant suit the container through pruning and shaping.

Choosing plants for your container garden, you should consider where they will grow and base your choice of plant on the size of your space, whether it’s inside or out, and the amount and source of available light. Once you know the plant you want, you can choose a container to suit the plant. Some plants with large root balls will need a large, deep container; shallow root plants like succulents do just fine in a shallow container

Once you have a container and a plant, you have to choose your soil. There are special blends in your garden center that are made for container gardens. These soils tend to be blended with peat moss and moisture-holding substances like perlite (a volcanic glass) or vermiculite (a natural mineral). Containers dry out more quickly than the soil in the yard because of the smaller volume so the perlite or vermiculite makes a loose soft soil that doesn’t compact easily and helps retain moisture.

Most containers have drainage holes in the bottom to keep from overwatering, but this is not a necessity. When potting the new plant, the hole can be covered with a piece of broken pottery or small stones. I recently saw the idea of using a coffee filter as a pot liner. As long as the hole is not completely blocked, this will allow water to seep out while holding the soil in the pot. If your container does not have drainage, you just have to work at finding a balance between giving enough water but not too much. If your container is outside and is watered by nature, drainage is important. Nature does not turn off the water when there is enough.

There are bags specially made for growing potatoes.

There are gizmos to put inside a pot which will monitor how moist the soil is and alert you when it is time to water. I find a finger pressed into the soil will give you the same information. Water regularly as the soil dries out. Some plants need more water than others – it is easy to over-water a cactus but my peace lily and tomatoes need lots and lots of water. The feel of the soil is the best way to tell and many plants will let you know by their droopy leaves that they are thirsty.

Besides water, container plants will also need food and luckily there are specialized fertilizer blends for various plants. African violet food and orchid food are available, but a good basic fertilizer like a 10-10-10 mix will meet the needs of most plants. A good feeding early in the spring will be most welcome and then every few weeks throughout the growing season. Indoor plants will need food all year long.

Container plants are susceptible to insect and disease, outdoor maybe more so than inside. As with all plants, keep an eye out for insect damage or signs of disease. Dead flowers and leaves should be removed to discourage mould. Organic pest and disease controls are available and can be easily researched if you see signs of trouble.

Even if you have room for an actual garden in the yard, some plants are better suited to containers. Mint planted in your garden will be happy to take over. Invasive plants like ivies, oregano, and mints are best kept contained. Outside, containers become another element to express your creativity and your unique take on what is beautiful.

The next time you’re wandering through the thrift store, look at items with the thought, “What would that look like with a plant in it?” You might be starting your own unique and creative container garden.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL GARDEN?

Do you have a garden in the West End or Coal Harbour that you would like to share? It could be a curb garden, a boulevard garden, a round-about garden, a building, roof, or patio garden, a community plot, or something entirely new. If you would like me to write about your garden, please contact me at beth.twej@gmail.com.