Container Gardening Maintenance

By: Pamela Nobles
7/17/08

After many hours of preparation and gathering plants together for that container, it is essential to maintain them. The end results can be breathtaking and quite showy. After planting and watering them all each day, you might say " that’s it". Well, that is far from reality as the scorching heat along with humidity and the winds of the summer play heavily on the plants, as by now I’m sure you’ve noticed. The best way to care for a container garden is to water often and feed freely. Containers dry out quickly, and water requirements for plants in pots are different from those in the ground as I’ve mentioned before in previous articles. On hot sunny days, you may have to water twice. A rule of thumb is to test the soil by inserting your pointer finger up to the second knuckle, whereby, if the soil feels dry, it needs water. Remember that no matter what kind of potting soil you use, constant watering will leach all the nutrients out of it. Plants need to be nourished with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. In my containers, back in the spring, I used a timed released granule fertilizer. However, even that will not last through summer. In the latter part of May I begin to fertilize every week outdoors and every other week indoors with a water-soluble fertilizer. These are bottled fertilizers that are quite simple to use by attaching them to your garden hose. It is very rewarding to watch the transformation as your plants are revitalized within a few days. Next comes the deadheading or pruning which is essential for many of your plants, particularly the Coleus, Impatiens, Sweet potato vines and verbenas. The first two varieties can grow quite tall and leggy, so pruning will enhance their growth towards becoming fuller and showy. The Impatiens and Verbenas will produce more blossoms if pruned. Sweet potato vines are rapid growers and will need to be trimmed, especially when in hanging baskets or pots. By the way, when the sweet potato vine is cut, you may toss them in a flower bed where there is ample mulch and watch these cuttings grow. Till next time, May Grace and Peace be multiplied to you, Pamela.