- Home
- Gardening, lawn and landscape
- Gardening techniques
- English
- Español
Selecting containers
- Be sure your container has good drainage.
- The container should be slightly larger than the combined rootballs of the plants you will put into them. Containers that have a lot of unfilled space retain too much water and encourage root rot.
Selecting soil
- Always use an all-purpose potting soil that contains perlite or vermiculite, to allow for good drainage. Compost or bark provide organic matter that will hold moisture.
Selecting plants
- Mix different plant shapes that include plants that are spiky (usually in the center, often called Thrillers), mounding plants to fill in (fillers), and trailing plants(spillers) that cascade over the sides.
- Use a variety of leaf colors and textures.
Planting and care
- Moisten potting soil before planting.
- To take up space in your large containers, turn a 1-gallon plastic pot upside down and line the bottom with these to take up space. This will reduce the amount of soil you need to fill the container.
- Fill container with soil to within 1” of the lip of your container. This will allow you to create a water reservoir when watering.
- After planting, water thoroughly. If you have a tray or saucer under your plant, be sure to empty it so the roots do not sit in excessive water.
- For the rest of the season, water when the top 1-2” of soil is dry. Water thoroughly so that water comes out the bottom of your container to be sure you have saturated the soil.
- Use a slow-release fertilizer or worm castings and apply several times throughout the season. You can also add these at the time of planting.
- To encourage lots of annual blooms, use a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 10-60-10.
- Deadhead annuals throughout the season by removing spent blooms. This will keep them looking fresh.
Find more gardening tips in Gardening, Lawn, and Landscape.
Suggested annuals for container gardening
Thrillers
Usually buying just one or two per container
- Cordyline (cabbage palm)
- Dracaena spikes
- Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum)
- Spider flower
- Whirling butterflies (Gaura)
Fillers
Buy several in groups of three of each.
- African daisy (Osteospermum)
- Ageratum (Floss Flower)
- Alyssum
- Annual baby’s breath
- Basil
- Browallia
- Cockscomb
- Coleus
- Cosmos
- Dianthus
- Dusty miller
- Euphorbia Diamond Frost
- Flowering tobacco
- Geranium (zonal)
- Impatiens
- Lobelia, upright type
- Marigold
- Ornamental pepper
- Pansy
- Petunia
- Plume Celosia
- Pot Marigold
- Salvia
- Snapdragons
- Verbena
- Wax begonia
- Zinnia
Spillers
Buy one or more.
- Bacopa
- Creeping zinnia
- Licorice plant
- Lobelia, cascading type
- Million bells
- Moss rose
- Nasturtium
- Spreading verbena
- Swedish ivy
- Sweet potato vine
- Vinca vine
- Wave petunia
This piece is part of the collectionCentral Oregon Garden Publications
Was this page helpful?
Related Content from OSU Extension
Photo: Jeannette E. Spaghetti / CC BY-NC (Cropped from original) As winter months drag on, some people with the gardening gene find themselves seeking to bring nature indoors. Houseplants are one way to address that desire. Here are five easy ones that will bring the greenery inside. Nicole Sanchez |Feb 2019 |ArticleFive easy houseplants that bring the greenery indoors
Photo by Carla Albright (Cropped from original) Gardening on the often-extreme Oregon coast might seem intimidating and risky. But Carla Albright, a Master Gardener trained by the Oregon State University Extension Service who lives just north of Tillamook, wants to reassure you... Oct 11, 2013 |News storyCoastal gardening brings challenges and rewards
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium aren't just an alphabet soup of chemicals. They are essential plant nutrients that, when used correctly, help to grow a healthy garden. Learn what fertilizers to apply when in this handy guide. Lisa Ehle |Jun 2018 |ArticleThe ABCs of NPK: A fertilizer guide
Mechanical and physical controls are among the most fascinating components of an integrated pest management program. This arsenal involves numerous physical barriers, traps, nets and other mechanical devices. Nicole Sanchez |Jan 2020 |ArticleThe physical means of integrated pest management
Viruses in plants can be tricky. Some plant virus symptoms can result in attractive attributes, such as in variegated tulips. But with rare exceptions, plants with virus issues will not perform well. Nicole Sanchez |Mar 2020 |ArticleViruses in the garden are a lethal foe
Photo by Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original) Red wigglers are the wonder worms of composting. In areas where naturally formed compost takes forever to develop, inviting actual worms into your home via vermicomposting may be worthwhile. Nicole Sanchez |Oct 2019 |ArticleUse worms to speed up the composting process
When most people think of pollinators, they think of honeybees. But there are literally hundreds of species of pollinators all around us — including native bees and a variety of other insects. Nicole Sanchez |Oct 2019 |ArticleHoneybees aren't the only hard-working pollinators
Photo: LearningGarden (Cropped from original) The best options for late-season plantings in areas with short growing seasons are vegetables that mature quickly or tolerate frost once mature. Many of the appropriate choices fall into the category of “leafy greens.” Nicole Sanchez |Jul 2020 |ArticleFor late-season plantings, think leafy greens
Home gardeners can sometimes be too eager to get plants in the ground and that can spell failure. There are methods, however, to extend the growing season by providing plants with the protection they need from the cold. Nicole Sanchez |Oct 2019 |ArticleHow to extend the growing season in tough climates
Credit: Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original) Seed packets have helpful information that assists vegetable gardeners in making the best choices for particular situations whether the goal is increased production, disease resistance, seed saving or quick maturity. Nicole Sanchez |Feb 2020 |ArticleSeed packet info is a gardener's guide
Photo: Christina Friehauf (Cropped from original) In this episode, Scott Leavengood tours OSU's main campus with Dan Blanchard to learn about the university's rich history of woody plants and the process of turning OSU into an accredited arboretum. Scott Leavengood, Dan Blanchard |Dec 2023 |Podcast episodeEpisode 43: OSU Campus Arboretum
Photo: Canva (Cropped from original) Follow along for local events and information as we sow the seeds for another successful year of learning and growing together. NewsletterGardening eNews
Houseplants are seeing a surge in popularity not seen since macramé hangers were all the rage. Driving the trend are the variety and affordability of once-exotic plants and their positive effects on indoor environments. Nicole Sanchez |Oct 2019 |ArticleA new era brings fresh interest in houseplants
Unusually wet springs can lead to more plant disease and fungal growth in our gardens than is typically seen. However, not all wet-spring plant issues are diseases although they may look like them. Nicole Sanchez |Jun 2019 |ArticleFive abiotic plant issues that mimic disease
In integrated pest management, biological controls might include predatory or parasitic insects, bacteria or fungi, and biopesticides. More and more biocontrol methods are becoming available to the home gardener. Nicole Sanchez |Jan 2020 |ArticleBiological controls are growing part of integrated pest management
Credit Lynn Ketchum (Cropped from original) Most gardeners don't cut back the vine nearly enough. Kym Pokorny |Jan 4, 2024 |News storyDon’t be timid when pruning grapes
This publication is a guide for protecting, conserving, selecting, maintaining, removing, and replacing trees on development sites in the Pacific Northwest. Dec 2009 |Extension Catalog publicationPeer reviewed (Orange level)Tree Protection on Construction and Development Sites
In integrated pest management, “natural controls” are usually not products. They are things like temperature, moisture and geographic features that affect plant-pest relationships and aren't controlled by the grower. Nicole Sanchez |Jan 2020 |ArticleIntegrated pest management uses the forces of nature
Have a question? Ask Extension!
Ask Extension is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening.
Ask us a question
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
I am an expert and enthusiast assistant. I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. I can help answer questions, provide information, and engage in detailed discussions.
In this article, the main concepts discussed are related to container gardening. Here is some information related to the concepts used in the article:
Selecting Containers:
- It is important to choose containers with good drainage to prevent water retention and root rot.
- The container should be slightly larger than the combined rootballs of the plants being planted [[1]].
Selecting Soil:
- All-purpose potting soil that contains perlite or vermiculite is recommended for good drainage.
- Compost or bark can be added to provide organic matter that retains moisture [[1]].
Selecting Plants:
- When selecting plants for containers, it is recommended to mix different plant shapes, including spiky plants (Thrillers), mounding plants (Fillers), and trailing plants (Spillers).
- Using a variety of leaf colors and textures can create visual interest [[1]].
Planting and Care:
- Before planting, it is advised to moisten the potting soil.
- To reduce the amount of soil needed, you can turn a 1-gallon plastic pot upside down and line the bottom of the container with them.
- After planting, it is important to water thoroughly and ensure that excess water is drained from the container.
- Throughout the season, water when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry.
- Slow-release fertilizers or worm castings can be applied multiple times during the season.
- For lots of annual blooms, a fertilizer high in phosphorous, such as 10-60-10, can be used.
- Deadheading spent blooms can help keep the plants looking fresh [[1]].
Suggested Annuals for Container Gardening:
- Some suggested thrillers include Cordyline, Dracaena spikes, Purple fountain grass, Spider flower, and Whirling butterflies.
- Fillers can include African daisy, Ageratum, Alyssum, Annual baby’s breath, Basil, Browallia, Cockscomb, Coleus, Cosmos, Dianthus, Dusty miller, Euphorbia Diamond Frost, Flowering tobacco, Geranium (zonal), Impatiens, Lobelia (upright type), Marigold, Ornamental pepper, Pansy, Petunia, Plume Celosia, Pot Marigold, Salvia, Snapdragons, Verbena, Wax begonia, and Zinnia.
- Some suggested spillers include Bacopa, Creeping zinnia, Licorice plant, Lobelia (cascading type), Million bells, Moss rose, Nasturtium, Spreading verbena, Swedish ivy, Sweet potato vine, Vinca vine, and Wave petunia [[1]].
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts discussed in the article. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
