With gardens getting smaller and the increase in people living in apartments, planting in pots (or container gardening) is becoming increasingly popular. Flowers, herbs, vegetables and even some trees will grow well in pots. They are easy to move around or replace as you need to and you can use pot plants indoors or out on the deck. There is no easier way to extend the indoor/outdoor flow of your home than with pot plants.

In this Gardening How to Guide from Mitre 10 we will give you advice on how to choose pots and suitable plants. We also have tips on planting, watering and fertilising pot plants.

Choosing Containers and Pots

Pots come in all sizes, shapes and materials. When choosing a container to use, consider the following:

• The pot needs to be the right size for the plants that are being grown. Large plants need large pots.
• Larger pots are easier to look after as they are less prone to drying out.
• The shape of the pot needs to be considered for a few reasons. A narrow base will be prone to topple over if it is not supported well. Pots that are smaller at the top than at the bottom or even the middle, make it virtually impossible to save the plant inside when repotting as the roots will fill out wider than the opening.

There are no rules about how your pots should look, they are your creation. However as a general guideline, use a feature plant to form a centre piece. Then use smaller, clump forming plants, or plants that have a cascading effect around the bottom. You can colour co-ordinate, add texture or keep it a single plant in a pot.

Browse some Garden Decor and Pots online.

Plants Suitable for Pots

When selecting plants, think about where the pots will be situated. Will the pot be in full sun, shade, exposed to prevailing wind or sit in a conservatory? Choose a plant that suits the environment.

Flaxes and Dracaena can create a contemporary look. For a more traditional look try terracotta pots with colourful flowers. Standards can provide a formal touch to a garden, or create an English Country Garden feel by filling hanging baskets with Alyssum, Lobelia and Pansies.

Shrubs in Pots

Plant shrubs on their own in one large pot as a feature or as a centre piece, planting potted colour around the base. The potted colour can be changed with the seasons. Evergreen or deciduous shrubs are suitable - just make sure the pot you are using is big enough for the plant. Roses grow well in containers especially floribunda and miniature types.

Perennials

There are many flowering perennials that are suitable for pots and hanging baskets. Perennials can be planted on their own or in a mixed planting. Consider not only flowers when thinking of perennials, but the many attractive large leaf perennials too such as hostas, which do well when grown in containers.

Annuals

For instant effect and a colourful display all season, flowering annuals are the easiest way to create colourful pots and hanging baskets for shade and sun. Remember that slugs and snails love plants wherever they are so protect them with snail bait.

Flowering Bulbs

Spring and summer flowering bulbs are great in pots. Bulbs enjoy a well drained soil and so potting mix suits their needs well. Consider spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, freesias, hyacinths and crocus.

Summer flowering bulbs include begonias (the pendulous ones are great in baskets) dwarf canna lillies, calla lillies, dahlias and lillies.

Once the foliage has died down, plant spring flowering bulbs into the garden or remove them from the pot, knocking off the potting mix, and store over winter in a cool, dry place.

Succulents

Drought tolerant plants have become very popular as they need little maintenance. They can stay in the same pot for several years as they do not require regular feeding. When planting succulents, mix in some fine gravel with the potting mix. This will add more drainage properties for these dry loving plants.

Handy Hints: Annuals, perennials and bulbs have a short container life and are usually good for one season. For instant effect, annuals, perennials and bulbs are planted closer together in containers than they would be in the garden. This creates intense competition for space, nutrients and water. Try for one colourful display in a season and then throw away the annuals or plant perennials and bulbs in the garden. Use fresh soil and reuse the container for a new look.

How to Plant into Pots

Buy garden hand trowels online that are suitable for pot plants from our Garden Spades and Forks section.

Watering is Important

Plants grown in containers dry out more than plants in the garden. As the plant grows and the root ball becomes denser, it is harder for water to penetrate.

Water plants daily in summer – early morning or late afternoon is best. Light summer showers will not be enough to thoroughly water plants in containers and so plants will still need watering, even after rain. In winter, depending upon the weather, patio pots and tubs may need watering once a week.

Think about grouping your pots together as this will help shield some from the sun and make watering easier. Re-applying a water retention product like Saturaid during the summer season will make better use of water by drawing it down into the roots zone where it is needed.

Using stones to decorate the top of your container will not only look great but also acts as mulch, conserving water.

Automated irrigation systems can be installed to take away the worry of watering patio pots and tubs.

Feeding Pot Plants

Additional fertiliser will be required to ensure continuous flowering and to maintain plant vigour and health. Premium mixes contain 8-9 month controlled release fertiliser with the more budget mix containing 3-4 month. With regular watering, fertilisers are leached out of the potting mix. Throughout the growing season, fortnightly feeding with a soluble fertiliser is a good idea. A side dressing of controlled release fertiliser will also be beneficial to flowering plants.

Find a selection of pot plant fertiliser in our Growing Media section.

Re-Potting and Potting-On

After selecting the right plant, pot and place, consider how long the plant will be in the container. Trees, shrubs, succulents and alpines do not need to be re-potted every year and will survive quite well for a number of years with regular watering and feeding.

Re-potting trees and shrubs can be difficult. Because the roots become so tightly meshed, you may need to use a knife to run around the outside of the root ball and loosen it up. Once the plant is removed and before re-planting, gently break-up the roots to stimulate new growth. Always re-pot plants to the same level of the potting mix in the previous pot.

Using Pot Plants Effectively

Planting in containers can be helfpul for physically handicapped or elderly people as you can place the pots on tables to avoid having to bend down while you garden. Another option is to build up planter boxes (raised garden beds) so that they are at a height that is easily reached while sitting on a chair.

If you are selling your home, pop some plants into pots and place them at your front door and on the deck for instant colour and impact. Indoor plants are also excellent to soften an interior space.

Container gardening offers endless opportunities. Visit your local Mitre 10 store for a wide array of pots and plants.