Growing plants in pots rather than garden beds can be a good way of adding some colour to smaller living spaces, but it also gives you greater control of temperature, moisture and sunlight.
Read on for some tips on potted plant growing.
Select the correct pot size
The size of pot that a particular plant will need will be clear by looking at how big its root mass is.
This can be found at the bottom of the plant, and a pot that is a minimum of one inch wider in diameter than this root mass is what you should use. It’s like selecting rattan garden furniture for your family – you need a size that provides room for movement and growth.
Add some compost
The best type of soil to put into the pots is either compost that you have made yourself, or a multipurpose mix of the kind that garden centres sell. Either of these will give the plants the sort of moisture retaining light soil with plenty of nutrients that they need to grow well.
It’s recommended to avoid filling the pots with soil from your garden though. This will be too heavy, and can contain weeds that will take the nutrients the plants need.
Pick an ideal pot spot
Do some research into how much sunlight your chosen plants need before deciding where to put your pots. If they need a lot, the pots should be positioned towards the west or the south. If they require more shade, pick a spot where there is plenty of shelter.
By following these tips, you should hopefully see a garden flourishing in colour this summer!
