Container Gardening

I checked out a book from the library called Step By Step: Container Gardening by Stephanie Donaldson. It has been really helpful because I have not been very successful at keeping my plants alive in a container. Here are some things that I learned:

• Terracotta Pots require some form of drainage material. Put broken pieces of pot, aka crocks, or gravel in the bottom of the container before adding potting soil. Styrofoam works really well for larger pots.
• When planting in hanging baskets, add slow-release plant food granules into the soil mix to ensure adequate nutrients.
• Most potting soil only feed the plant for about 6 weeks, add slow-release plant food, composted manure or liquid feeds.
• If you have a large pot but your plants don't need all that space; put a smaller plastic pot inside the large pot to fill some of the space. Saves on soil.
• Mix evergreen plants with annuals to have a year-round container.
• Don't over water, it's as bad as not getting enough.