Container Gardening

The only danger is spending too much on store-bought pots - especially if you want to grow a number of plants. Luckily, to successfully container garden, you don't have to buy an expensive, hand-painted, glazed ceramic pot with a special watering system and a self-pruning robotic arm (which is good, since that doesn't exist).

You can grow all sorts of plants in all kinds of containers, saving your plants and your laughing wallet.

Containers

Common types of holders include:

• pots made of various materials, such as terracotta, ceramic and plastic;
• hanging baskets;
• planter boxes; and
• decorative crates, such as barrel-style or picket-style rounds, or baskets made from materials such as wood, wicker or bamboo.

Wooden holders generally need to be sealed or lined to avoid rot. You can also place a potted plant inside a decorative crate or basket so that the soil and water aren't in direct contact with the outer container. That will make the planter last longer.

Creative containers. It's much more fun and frugal, though, to get creative about your containers. You can turn any vessel into a planter just by drilling or punching out a few drain holes. Some suggestions:

• Old boots or shoes. You might consider lining a shoe or boot with plastic to increase its longevity, but they hold up surprisingly well.

• Teapots. These are especially nice if they still have the handle. Want to move it? Just take it by the handle and go!
• Mailboxes. The rounded ones usually found perched on a post look cute, or you could hang one of the vertical letter-box types on a fence.
• Coffee cans. The metal ones take on a vintage look after being out in the elements for a while. If you needed a smaller size, you could use a can left from soup, tea, etc.
• Lunch boxes. The round-top kind or old-school square metal ones look coolest. If you find an old one, though, make sure it's not actually a valuable antique!
• Watering cans. This one adds a touch of irony. If you've got a watering can that leaks or doesn't pour right and you don't want to use it anymore for watering, though, it can be repurposed as a fun planter.
• Fishing tackle box.
Take out any shelves on the interior, but leave a few lures hanging on it for decoration.
• Mugs. Somehow, at my house, we end up with all kinds of random mugs. While we don't need them all for coffee (no one drinks that much coffee), they're perfect for small plants.

Growing Tips

Grow anything. Anything that grows in the ground can also grow in a container if the vessel is large enough. So, container gardening is not restricted to just decorative houseplants, like ferns and flowers. You can grow your own herbs, vegetables and fruits, just like an in-ground garden. Not only is it healthy and fun, it's economical to eat food you've grown yourself.

Make sure your pots are clean. If the container you want to use once held poison, it's probably not a good choice for growing a plant. Choose a safe receptacle to begin with, and then clean it thoroughly before you plant anything to make sure it's free of toxic residues.

Line the bottom. A plant container must have drain holes at the bottom. Without proper drainage, your plants are likely to get root rot and die. But over time, you can lose soil, as well as excess water, through the holes. To prevent soil loss, put a thin layer of weed barrier fabric, newspaper of coffee filters in the bottom of the pot before you first put in soil. Water will seep through, but soil will stay in place.

Use filler. Putting filler material in the bottom of a pot before you put in soil serves several purposes. It helps you save money by using less soil, keeps the pot lighter (making it easier to move), aerates soil and reduces soil compaction. It's also a great opportunity to recycle! A few ideas for filler material:

• packing peanuts,
• crumpled up plastic bags,
• empty cans,
• plastic bottles,
• shredded paper,
• old pantyhose.

Keep 'em moving. Part of the appeal of having plants in pots is that you can move them, so do so when you need to. If you discover a certain location is too hot in the summer or at certain times of day, or maybe there's not enough light, try new places until you find just the right spot. And if your area has harsh winters or will be suffering a cold snap, take advantage of the mobility of your contained plants by moving them indoors.

Potted plants can require more regular watering since plants in pots can't retain water as well as in-ground plants. but there's no special skill needed for container gardening. So go find a mug and get started!

What do you use to container garden?

Do you garden in containers? Have you used something creative or unusual as a planter? Tell your fellow readers about it!

Frugal Gardening

Garden Watering

Frugal Food

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