Container ideas for gardening might sound like the kind of post that makes suggestions on what to plant in containers.
However that is not what this post is about.
In this post, I will be explaining how to choose containers for your container garden.
I will also be going over the pros and cons of each type of container.
Choosing Containers For Your Container Garden
When it comes to choosing a container for your garden, there are a lot of things you should take into consideration.
You need to think about the size and shape of the plants you want to grow in your container, as well as the weight, color, and size restrictions.
Choosing the right container for a particular type of plant is critical to its success.
If you choose the wrong size pot, it could seriously stunt the growth of the plant or even kill it if the container you choose is simply too large or has bad drainage.
You need to choose the right size of pot for the plant or plants you intend to grow, but it’s almost as important to choose a container that’s made of the right material.
Different materials will work better in different situations.
Wooden Planters For Container Gardening
If you’re planning to grow a perennial plant, like a large bush, you might want to choose a large wooden container.
Wood is especially attractive for use in growing plants that will continue growing for more than one season, and plants that you intend to grow outdoors in a conspicuous location.
Wooden containers are best for larger plants, and for use in highly visible areas of your yard.
Wooden pots are generally one of the most expensive types of containers, but they’re generally extremely durable.
Be sure to get one that’s sealed on the outside, but not on the inside.
If you get a pot that’s treated on the inside, you might end up with dangerous chemicals being leeched into the soil and making their way into your plants.
This can damage the plants, and potentially make you sick if you are growing a container vegetable garden.
Plastic Pots
Plastic pots are probably the most widely used type of pot for container gardening.
This is largely due to the fact that plastic pots are generally the cheapest.
But cheaper isn’t always better.
If you only plan to attempt container gardening for one year or plan to grow mostly indoors, then plastic may be a very good option for you.
But if you think you might want to have a container garden next year, you might want to stick with something a bit more durable.
You could be tempted to think certain plastic pots are durable because they’re harder or thicker than other plastic pots, but that’s not necessarily true.
If plastic is left outdoors in the elements for too long, it can start to warp and crack.
Cracked pots are of little use for anything!
Clay Pots, Ceramic Pots And Cement Pots
Terra cotta clay pots are the second most economical type of container.
They’re pretty cheap, but they do break.
They also don’t stand up very well to wet conditions with freezing temperatures, so you shouldn’t leave them out during the winter.
However, these are my favorite types of pots because I grow a lot of plants that need good drainage and they work well for that.
I also bring my clay pots indoors during the winter months.
Fired ceramic pots are a pretty good choice.
Some of them are pretty durable.
They’re usually glazed on the outside for appearance, but are left unglazed on the inside.
This is good since the glaze can damage plants if it leeches into the soil.
Lastly there are cement pots which are great but do break down over the years.
Cement pots are also quite heavy so are best placed where you are going to use them and then left in place.
Cement pots do need painted from time to time to help protect them from the elements.
Other Types Of Containers
You can also make your own containers by using things you find around the house.
Most cheap plastic containers can work if they’re large enough for whatever you want to grow, as long as you cut drainage holes in the bottom.
Some good example you can try are milk jugs and soda bottles with the tops cut off and holes cut in the bottom, empty margarine tubs, trash cans with holes cut in the bottom, and large plastic tubs with drainage holes drilled.
Some people even use bags of soil as their containers, simply cutting a hole in the side of a bag of soil that’s lying on its side and sowing seeds directly into the exposed soil!
You don’t have to use standard purchased containers.
Almost any container can be used for growing plants as long as the container is made of safe materials and allows the plants adequate drainage.
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