The Benefits of Growing in Containers

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The growing trend of container gardening is making gardening accessible to everyone! How can container gardening give you extra benefits that planting in beds just doesn't have? We’ve broken down the advantages and disadvantages of the container gardening trend.

Space, Creativity and Health Benefits!

Container gardening allows you to work in any space, with endless creativity. As an urban gardener, you can enjoy gardening without a yard. Any balcony or patio with some sunlight, or bright indirect light, will do!  As a home owner, you can increase your ‘curb appeal’ or just give yourself and your family something to smile about after a long day at work or school.

You can also grow almost anything in container gardens, from herbs and vegetables to blooming annuals. Container gardens can be displayed in any form, in groups or alone. If you choose lighter containers, or put your containers on rolling platforms, you can move them around to new spots throughout the summer, giving your porch, patio or deck a fresh look. We've got tons of gorgeous different plant containers at our greenhouse in Mission, Kansas.

If you are inexperienced, it’s no problem! Start out with a “monoculture” container, meaning using just one variety in a pot. Some varieties get so big you only need one plant in a container (though you might want more so it fills in faster)! You can easily make things interesting by having multiple monoculture containers, using different plants with different heights and shapes, and by using either contrasting, complementary, or monochromatic colors. If your area is sunny, try a pot of Sun Coleus for foliage texture, height and color, with a pot of Angelonia for spires of non-stop fragrant flowers, and a pot of Petunias or Calibrachoa for a soft, flowing look. If your area is shady, you can still use “Sun” Coleus (it’s versatile!), ‘Whopper’ or ‘Dragon Wing’ Begonias for mid-height non-stop blooms and super-easy care, and Torenia (Wishbone Flower) or Asparagus Fern for that flowing, softer look. With monoculture pots you don’t have to worry about plants competing for space and overtaking whatever else is in the pot, and you can give them more space as they get bigger. Just remember what Bob Ross the painter says, “We don’t mistakes, just happy little accidents.”

Nothing is more relaxing than watering your flowers in the evening and enjoying the fragrance and beauty of your creations. It is a proven fact that gardening of any form reduces depression and anxiety, while also being a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. Get away from the “Facebook trap” and enjoy your own private paradise!

Root Temperature

The root temperature of plants is somewhat important factor to your plant’s health. Your plants’ root systems are used to the temperature of where they originated from. A lot of annuals are from tropical climates, which means they are acclimated to warm temperatures. These annuals are popular for turning your patio into a tropical oasis. Thankfully, the soil in your container is always warm, which is ideal for annuals and other plants.

Our experts select a variety of plants that are suitable for our challenging midwestern climate. All our selections are trial-tested for two years to qualify being in our garden centers. We make sure our plant selections will acclimatize to your garden and are well-suited for your area. Our plants are even tested under wind, frost, drought, and heat conditions, so you can be sure that any plant from our garden centers will thrive in your container garden. No wonder our customers are constantly telling us “your plants just do better!”

Watering and Weeds

Your container garden may need to be watered more often than bedding plants. However, having your plants in a container garden allows for better drainage, which makes your plants’ root systems healthier. This means you can enjoy healthy plants all summer long, with the right watering practices.

Our summers can be hot, which makes the soil dry up faster and plants need more water. Here are a few things you can do to lessen your watering time this summer:

• Invest in a drip irrigation system and timer.  They are easy to set up, and you can forget about watering most of the time, making them great for travelling away from home, too. They also soak the soil better, because the water is applied slowly, meaning it will dry out less frequently. Be sure your timer is set so that your containers have time to dry out between watering, but often enough they don’t wilt too hard. Usually once a day for about an hour is about right, but on hot, windy days you might have to supplement, especially smaller containers.

• If you apply water using a hose or watering can, water your pots twice. Once to break the soil’s surface tension, and a second time to thoroughly saturate the soil. Then be sure to allow the soil to dry out again before you water again to prevent root rot. It’s always best to apply water to the soil surface instead of spraying the plants. Cut the water pressure, so that you don’t blast the soil.

• You will decrease evaporation, and your plant's roots will keep more moisture, by adding mulch. Simply add 2-3 inches of mulch, such as cedar, on top of the soil in your container. To prevent the soil from drying out faster, avoid using rock mulch.

• Bigger is better. Use the largest container you can for the location. It will hold more moisture and dry out more slowly. This is especially important with vigorous plants in sunny locations.

Container gardens can fit in almost any space and allows you to be as creative as you want. You can easily manage the temperature in your container garden by using the watering technique that suits you. You’ll enjoy your healthy, colorful plants all summer long with the help of container gardening!

Again quoting Bob Ross, who paints “happy little trees” says~

“Look around. Look at what we have. Beauty is everywhere—you only have to look to see it.”