Container gardening basics (2024)

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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
co*ckscomb
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

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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, co*ckscomb, 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!