Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Containers are simple for gardening, but they still come with a few rules:
1. Drainage holes.
No matter what size container you use, it has to have drainage holes.
This prevents unnecessary moisture from building up in the bottom of the plant and en-
couraging mold or a rotting of the root system. Having proper drainage also encourages
good root growth, which translates into a healthier plant. By preventing excess water from
congregating around the root system, you allow oxygen to make its way in, supplying the
plant with much-needed air.
But be careful: while you want adequate drainage for the plant, you also don't want to allow
a large majority of its water supply to run right through the container and out the bottom
without the plant having sufficient access to it.
2. Match the size.
Know in advance what you are going to be planting and then go out and
buy the appropriate containers to house them. This means having a working knowledge of
just how large your plants can become. The last thing you want is to find that your plant
has out-grown its container and needs to be re-potted. This puts a lot of stress on the plant.
Plants don't like stress, so if you can keep stress to a minimum, your plants will thank you
for it.
3. Looks.
You will be required to look at your containers for months on end. Make sure
that your choices of containers are appealing and something that you can bear to stare at
while they are being put to use.
Inside or Outside?
Another important choice that you will have to make is whether you want to locate your
container garden inside your home or outside. There are both good and bad points for each,
so it comes down to your particular situation, the size of your garden, your setup, your
schedule, your growing conditions and other factors.
Inside- Pros:
Pests.
Growing your plants inside allows you to virtually eliminate any possibility of pests
or insects. While a small few might trickle in when an adjacent door is left open, they will
be minuscule at best. This means that you can almost be certain to not have to treat ma-
rauding insects.
