Container gardens can be a work of art. Check out these decorative metal planters from Pale & Interesting. Inspired by decorative old French washtubs, I reckon they’d be just the ticket for my front door. Closer to home, The Company Shed in Canterbury stocks some great vintage looking pots too, which can be shipped anywhere in NZ. Or dig out that rusty metal washtub that grandma once used.
Container-grown plants need more attention than those in the ground. Lack of water can quickly kill plants because they can’t dig down deep in search of moisture. Choose a reasonably large container, unless you have the time to water daily. If using terracotta pots, paint the inside with a terracotta sealer or line with plastic so that the water doesn’t leach out the sides. And use a potting mix that includes water-retaining crystals and slow-release fertiliser.
Avoid positioning pots in full midday sun. Even though certain plants like the sun’s rays, containers heat up much more quickly and intensely than garden beds.
And feed regularly with a balanced fertiliser. Because containers are watered regularly, plant food is easily washed out.
Planting annuals? Deadhead regularly. An annual lives in order to produce seed, so once it’s flowered, all its energy is directed toward making seeds. Pick off spent blooms and the plant will produce more flowers in an effort to ultimately produce seeds.
