The most flexible way to grow lots of plants and vegetables is in containers. Whether it’s baskets, buckets, boxes, and barrels … your options are endless. 

Container gardening is extremely versatile, you can grow anything and everything. Vegetables, flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, you don’t have to pick one you can or all of them together. A filled planter can be heavy to move, so decide where your container garden will go and set up there.

coolest container combos

In gardening there is a saying, it’s thriller, filler, and spiller. The “It” is the wow factor and getting it in your container garden is as easy as 1-2-3. 

nurturing your container garden 

All container gardens need a little TLC. Container plants need airy soil that lets them spread their roots, plain soil is too dense. That means using something that promotes good drainage and proper airflow like Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix. 

Your first step before planting, is to wet your potting mix well. Water the mix well and stir, making sure it’s moist all the way through. Next add your plant and top with more mix, leaving a little room at the top for watering. 

up next… give those roots a trim

Next trim any circling roots, then plant to about the same depth as the grow pot. Water often, making sure the mix doesn’t dry out. 

start your plant babies off on the right foot.

An important ingredient to a thriving garden that is often overlooked is plant food. Plants pull nutrients from the soil to grow and those nutrients need to be replenished. Using a slow release fertilizer on its own is a great, low fuss option. It provides a small amount of food for an extended period – up to 3 months. Water soluble plant food is a great option too, but are more high maintenance. They provide a lot of nutrients instantly, and deliver results for your garden when used every 7-14 days. 

pro tip

For those who want results but find it hard to stick to a schedule, use a bit of both. Put down Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® at the beginning of the season and after the first month, and boost your garden with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Plant Food when you remember throughout the season. 

what is the difference between annual and perennial flowers? 

We’re here to tell you. Annual flowers grow for one season, then die with the onset of freezing weather. Annuals are a great way to change the look of your garden from year to year. They also tend to have a longer flowering period than perennials. With perennials the above ground the portion of flower dies off in freezing weather, but the plant returns from the base and rootstock the following spring. Perennials give you the most value for your money as they keep returning year after year. Their flowering season is usually shorter so make sure to plant different varieties to keep your garden colourful throughout the season.

which annuals are right for you?

We have a few suggestions to help you choose your annuals. Popular flowers include petunias, marigolds, zinnias and impatiens. If you’re looking for something a little more exotic than these traditional bedding plants, try spider flower (cleome), gazania, vinca and lisianthus. 

foliage over flowers

Some annuals are known for their attractive foliage and not their flowers. Try coleus, Joseph’s coat (Alternanthera) or dusty miller. 

perennial ideas 

Perennials are a smorgasbord of colours, textures and sizes. Some of the most popular perennials include daylilies, hostas, and peonies. For a spikey show of blue, try blazing star. For a delicate bouquet of yellow, try the coreopsis variety called Moonbeam. For dramatic late-season colour, the black-eyed susan and purple coneflower are showstoppers. 

decisions decisions

Happily, there’s no need to pick a favourite for your garden. Annuals and perennials can be combined and you’ll get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Annuals are hard to beat in terms of show stopping, season-long colour. Perennials will give you long lasting value for your money. Since the perennial flowering season is usually shorter, make sure to offset different varieties to keep the colour going throughout the season. Good planning will keep your garden blooming and thriving all season long. 

New to gardening? No problem-o. You can start your own dream garden with these 10 easy-to-follow tips. 

one last piece of advice…

Stock up on the basic tools you need to make it easier to grow, and keep at it. 

A great garden takes a little time to grow. 

We’re telling all the secrets here, keeping your plant healthy – and alive – all you need to do is picture it’s homeland, and do what you can to replicate those conditions.

Your plants might have spent their formative first few months in a greenhouse but their species has spent a long time adapting to their native territory. Give them an environment that meets their needs, it will reduce the work and fussing you have to put in to keep your plant looking fabulous. 

the finger test & weight test

An effective and lo-fi way to feel for moisture in your plant is to Poke your finger into the soil. This method is so simple you can’t go wrong! Poke a finger into the soil and stop when you feel moisture. Water your plant when you poke the soil and it’s dry up to your first knuckle. 

Go by weight. Water is heavy, and your dry container will be a whole lot lighter than a well-watered one. Get familiar with how much your plant weighs when thirsty and quenched and use that as a guide. Use both methods at the same time for extra confidence. 

ahh sunshine and light 

Plants from different areas of the world have different requirements, light isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing. Tropicals love to soak up the sun, but aren’t used to getting direct rays and can even be prone to sunburns. Check the tag on your plant to get an idea of its unique needs and find a spot in your home that best suits it – while plants don’t like being moved around too much, you can always give it a new POV if you need to. 

Your beautiful tropical can’t talk to you, but in it’s own way it does communicate. You can see signs of what it needs. Look out for pale or yellowing leaves, or a “stretching” plant that seems lanky – these are signs your tropical needs a little more sun. Brown spots on the leaves could be a sign of burning from too much direct light.  

get the size right

Right sizing is as easy as getting a larger container and repotting. No moving van required. It’s simple, but it can get messy. Here are some of our tips for sizing up a healthy, growing tropical: 

Start by only going one or two sizes bigger. You might be tempted to go larger but the proportions of your chic living decoration can be off and the excess soil will hold too much moisture and may invite rot into your container. 

Buy Choose a container with good drainage. No matter the size, water needs to get in and then get out the bottom. It happens sometimes we fall in love with a decorative pot without drainage, never fear! You can DIY by drilling holes yourself or cheat by planting your beautiful tropical in a container with drainage, and simply hiding that well-draining container inside your decorative one.   

Buy potting soil suited to your tropical beauty. When you use tropical-focused soil it will give you both the drainage and nutrition your plant’s needs.  Planting from a sterile bag instead of taking soil from outside helps to keep pests out of your home and away from your plant. 

#easypeasy

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