Organic Gardening Tips and Methods Container Gardening (Pot Gardening) Part Six Section One Choosing Containers A suitable container in which to grow plants must satisfy many criteria. It should hold sufficient compost to give plants adequate space for root development and to supply the moisture and nutrients necessary for growth. A container must also allow excess water to drain away, usually by means of one or more drainage holes in the base. Stability is also important, if a container is easily knocked or blown over, it may create a safety hazard and both the container and plants in it may suffer damage. Many commercially available containers satisfy these requirements and, being mass-produced, are relatively inexpensive. Other, more expensive ones are made individually or in small quantities, but these, along with home-made or improvised containers, often have more character and make an eye-catching statement of individual taste. Materials and Finishes, Containers are available in a range of materials and finishes, each having practical an aesthetic advantages that should be taken into account before making a choice. Bear in mind where a container is to stand, its weight, for example, can be an important factor. Decide whether the style of container is to compliment that of the garden or whether the container will play a functional but subordinate role to the plants it contains. Consider also matching accessories, such as trays or saucers, which are useful for watering from below and help to keep the surfaces the pots stand on free from stains. Detached clay pot feet are particularly useful for lifting flat-bottomed containers above smooth surfaces so that excess water can drain freely. Clay, Traditional unglazed pots of fired clay (terracotta) have been valued for centuries for their beauty as plant containers, large jars and urns can be very handsome features in a garden, even when left unplanted. Clay is readily moulded to many sizes and shapes, and can be either plain or have a moulded decoration. Small to medium-sized plain pots are generally inexpensive, although costs rise as sizes increase. The most expensive are frost-resistant ones, which will not flake or crack if exposed to low temperatures during winter. Before winter cold sets in, clay containers that are not frost-proof should be protected with an insulating material, such as bubble plastic, or be moved under cover. All clay pots must be handled carefully; any kind of shock is likely to cause chipping, cracking, or breakage. Clay is a porous material, so a pot must be soaked in clean water before being filled with potting compost. Evaporation from planted clay pots helps keep plant roots cooler in summer than in non-porous ones and, while more frequent watering is necessary, there is less risk of water logging. This makes clay ideal for alpines and other plants that demand good drainage. The porosity also gives acceptable results with capillary watering systems. In most circumstances, the weight of terracotta pots filled with moist compost is an advantage because it produces stability. Once planted, however, they are hard to move and the weight can be a serious drawback if they are to be placed on balconies or roof gardens. Clays warm, earthy colour, in shades of orange or red-brown, can at first seem rather brash but, once weathered with algae, terracotta blends unobtrusively into many settings and compliments a wide range of plants. If necessary, algal growth can be scrubbed off between plantings, using warm soapy water and a stiff-bristled brush. Glazed Ceramics, Whether glossy or matt, the variously coloured, shaped, and textured finishes on glazed pots can make them distinctive ornamental features in the garden. In addition to brightly coloured and vividly patterned glazes, those imitating the subdued green of celadon ware may also be worth considering for a more subdued design. Unless specifically labelled as frost-resistant, glazed containers should not be left outdoors during winter. Since their surface is not porous, there is less water loss than from unglazed pots and they are easier to wipe clean. Wood, Wood is a particularly useful material for made-to-measure containers such as windowboxes. It is also the material of first choice for a number of other traditional containers, including Versailles tubs and half-barrels, in which the timbers are held together by metal bands. Hardwoods, which should come from a renewable source, last longer than softwoods, but are more expensive. Preservative treatments will extend the life of softwoods but check before using that the preservative is labelled as being harmless to plants. NOTE; All information given coincides and complies to the guidelines of The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)....
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:46:20 +0000