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Container Gardening Article
Container Gardening
from: Ultimate Home GardeningWith the growing number of the population moving in apartments and condos, many believe that their days of growing beautiful and useful plants is over. Thankfully this does not have to be the case. A growing trend among yardless individuals is the option of container gardening. There are some key elements to keep in mind when growing your own container garden. The type of containers used, what type of growing mixture, exposure to sunlight, fertilizer, and watering habits all need to be considered before beginning your container paradise.
Container type is an important aspect of thess style of gardening. The containers should match or enhance your outdoor patio, yet be a safe environment for the plants you want to grow. Wood pots may be prone to rotting. Cedar or redwood are rot resistant and could be used without staining. If using wood pots, be sure that it is untreated wood to avoid any harmful chemicals polluting your plants. Plastic pots deteriorate quickly in the sunlight and will not last very long. While they are beautiful, terra cotta pots dry out fast making them prone to cracking and breaking. Glazed ceramic pots are a great option for container gardening. Just make sure there are sufficient drainage holes in the bottom.
Your growing mixture will largely depend on what kind of plants you want to grow. Due to the small space the plants have to thrive in, be sure to the mixture will allow proper drainage. You want the soil to retain moisture, but also drain off to avoid over-watering. Check into the growing requirements of your plants to see if any sand should be added to the growing mixture. The right mix of soil and other components is also important in container gardening.
Once again when determining how much sunlight your container garden will get, check the requirements for the plants. This is especially true with all flowers. Vegetables tend to need an average of 5 hours of sunlight every day.
Fertilizer is a key element in container gardening. Since the plants only have a limited amount of soil to draw nutrients from it is necessary to assist them along. The recommended time for fertilizing plants is every other time you water. Liquid seaweed is an excellent plant booster, just be sure to give the plants with a wide variety of nutrients for the best results.
You will discover with your container garden that watering is critically important. It might take some time to determine exactly how much and when to water. Every plant is different and it is important to know what your plants need. Especially in extremely hot weather you will find that plants will need to be watered daily.
Container gardening is a very rewarding hobby that provides even apartment and city dwellers to enjoy a piece of their great outdoors. Decide what types of plants you will grow, have your materials ready, and be prepared to reap the rewards of your labour.
Chris Gray is the recognized authority on the subject of container gardening. Her web page Ultimate Home Gardening gives a wealth of information and resources on everything you will need to learn about home gardening. All rights reserved. Articles may be reprinted as long as all the content and links remains intact and unchanged.