Container Garden Designs

Container garden designs can be as simple or as complex as your design permits.  The beauty of a container gardening is the versatility provided.  You can plant just about anything in a container or pot; it’s just a matter of size.  Also, designs can change with a continuing process because they are simply moved around to suit your taste and style.

Your containers may vary from place to place over time as you create a theme around your home.  Also, you may decide to start a collection of your most favourite plants.  This can be anything from Bonsais, ferns, orchids, cacti, herbs, vegetables or a mixture of each.

You may also decide in your container garden a set theme and follow with one, such as a Spanish or Mexican garden with fantastic flowering succulents, cacti with deep reds and ochre containers.

Container Garden Designs Tip:  Paint your pots and containers with triangles along the rims to produce a Mexican theme!

Then again you may choose a Mediterranean feel with window boxes and herb gardens spilling over the sides of the containers, and poking out of strawberry pots.

Another option maybe a water container garden surrounded by tropical plants such as ferns, orchids, palms and exotic bromeliads  Bromeliads have wonderful blooms, and come in a variety of shapes sizes and colours.   

Container Garden Designs & Watering your container garden

Depending of the time and year and the species you are growing will depend on how much water you provide each plant and container.

Succulents and Cacti- Over loving your succulents and cacti will kill them over time, they actually like a little bit of neglect.  These hardy plants when in optimum health can provide spectacular blooms which can match any species.   Water every second to third day in summer months, and once a week, to once a month in the dormant winter season.   Allow to dry out between watering to avoid rootrot.

Rule of thumb – Stick your finger down into the soil about one third of its length to check moisture content.

Ferns and palms – These plants can get extremely thirsty, and in the heat of summer will need a drink every day.  In the dormant growth period about once a week is suffice.  Also, provide a humid environment for these humidity loving plants.  A fountain, small pond or water container garden will provide this.

Indoor plants - Provide indoor plants in the growing season (spring summer) a drink every second or third day.  Keep the soil damp not wet, and on occasion let the soil dry out just a little.  Over watering your container plant can kill them, as many indoor plants can suffer from root rot.

Tips for container garden designs: 

1. Provide your plants with trays (saucers) in the heat of summer, but beware mozzies like to breed in these.  They have a three day cycle before the larvae hatches; so, change the tray water every second to third day.  This should not be a problem in summer just let the trays dry out between watering.
2. Rotate your plants to sunny positions and spin them to receive light all over, so they don’t become in-balanced (one side higher than the other).
3. Buy large containers with wheels to save physical exhaustion and injuries.
4. Purchase a mini greenhouse to place sick plants and nurse them back to health.
5. Mount your mini greenhouse against the wall to stop it getting blown over in storms.
6. Place warmth loving plants near rock or concrete walls that store the warmth, because it will release the warmth back through the night.
7. Small gardens with concrete or brick walls, paint them flat white to reflect the light.
8. Place trays of water with pebbles around humidity loving plants.
9. Plant herbs and vegetable together in containers to save space.
10. If you go away remember to organise a friend or family to water your container garden.
11. Fertilize in the growing season every two weeks with an organic liquid fertilizer.
12. Try to use organic compost in potting mixture, to obtain great results for your plants.
13. Do not over fertilize and burn the roots of your plant, leaf curl and leaf burn is one sign of this.
14. And Happy Gardening!

References

Container Garden Designs