Gardening news and handy tips from Scotts

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No space or time for a garden?

 

When outdoor space is limited or you just don't have time to spend on gardening, growing plants in containers is the solution. Positioned on a veranda, deck or balcony close to the house, your potted garden will be quick and easy to maintain.

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Pots, tubs and window boxes

 

Deciding what size and shape pots to use for your container garden is not just a matter of how much space you have available. Most plants prefer pots, window boxes or baskets that comfortably hold their roots - not too big and not too tight. Never put a tiny plant into a large pot.

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Special plant, special mix

 

While a general purpose potting mix will suit most plants, there are some plants that have very specific needs. Orchids, for example, require a medium to coarse bark while cacti and succulents need a gravelly mix. Which mixes do you need?

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Potted plants need regular feeding

Even when the best quality potting mixes with included controlled release fertiliser are used, plants in pots should be given additional food on a regular basis.

Most plants remain in pots for far longer than the release period of the fertiliser included in the mix (normally six months). There are two options to ensuring potted plants remain well fed:

Choose the fertiliser type that is best suited to your plants and apply or dilute it according to the instructions on the tub or packet.

Don't over-fertilise - nutrients not taken up by your plants will be washed out the drainage holes and may end up in groundwater or catchments.

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Indoor plants need special care

Most indoor plants are kept inside because they will not survive outdoors where we live. They don't grow indoors in their natural habitats! Like all plants, they need good ambient light, fresh air, fertiliser and moisture to survive. Choose locations that provide the conditions they enjoy.

Pots-indoor

Don't keep bonsai permanently indoors

Bonsai are garden plants in miniature, where their size is limited by frequent pruning of shoots and also roots. Generally, bonsai are small versions of the trees and shrubs that grow well in our gardens - they are not indoor plants and should only be taken inside for a couple of days at a time. To prevent rapid drying of the potting mix, place them outside where the pots are shaded from mid-morning.

Bonsai

Hanging baskets

Hanging planters are susceptible to rapid drying out because they are often exposed to wind as well as the sun. For this reason, it's important to choose a container that suits the location it will hang in. Wire baskets with fibre or woollen liners are fine in shady spots but in full sun positions, plastic, terracotta or ceramic planters may be the better option. Always use a potting mix that includes both wetting agent and water storing crystals.

Hanging-basket

 

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