Container Gardening Offers Many Benefits

Container Gardening Offers Many Benefits

Rick Gibson
 Cooperative Extension Agent, Agriculture

Pinal County, Arizona

As residential lots get smaller and smaller, there seems to be a growing interest in using containers to grow plants outdoors.
 
I can see why.  Trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and vining plants all do well in containers.  Containers can be moved around, within reason, to accommodate changing needs and to create different landscape moods.  Container gardening creates opportunities where people of all ages can mix and mingle in wholesome activities.  Children, as well as adults, often find great satisfaction in mixing soils, potting plants and watching new life begin.

Container gardening is similar in many ways to regular gardening in native soils, but it also is very  different.  It is these differences that offers challenges, and sometimes failures, to those who attempt to grow plants in containers.

Obvious benefits of gardening in containers are many.  One of the greatest is the amount of gardening  space required.  Because container-grown plants are often kept smaller in size by  reduced root volume,  less space need be dedicated to plants.  Container gardening lends itself well to those living in apartments and to those with small outdoor living space.  However, the joy of gardening in containers can be enjoyed by all.

Another great benefit of container gardening is that it avoids all of the problems and pitfalls of gardening in our alkaline desert soils.  Because container gardening allows us the opportunity to select our own potting mixture, we can control the nature and chemistry of the root environment and avoid the common problems of salt, caliche, and low fertility found in our native soils.

Container plants also provide great flexibility in decorating for special events and for special needs.  Many have discovered the potential provided by container plants for enhancing the appearance of outdoor property for weddings, outdoor parties and other activities.  Many also find it easy to add attractive color and variety to the property when a home is up for sale.  

A final benefit of container-grown plants is the potential protection that containers can provide from gophers, ground squirrels and rabbits that sometimes ravage soil-grown plants in outlying areas near non-developed areas.

Just about any plant, even trees with the correct-sized pot, can be grown in containers.  Plants that grow rapidly actually seem to do best.  Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, melons, and leafy vegetables are some of the edible plants that can flourish in containers.

With the exception of metal, any container will do.   Metal containers get too hot during the summer and damage tender roots and lower shoots.   Make sure that the container is deep enough to hold sufficient potting soil to support plant growth.  It really doesn’t matter how attractive the container is.  Less attractive containers can be hidden behind more attractive pots as plants are grouped together.

Use a standard potting soil.  Regular desert soil, dug right out of the garden, will carry weed seeds and disease pathogens and these problems will be magnified in pots.  Most potting soils purchased commercially have either been well composted to eliminate weed seeds and disease organisms or have been sterilized.  A good potting mix would combine equal amounts of compost, peat moss or vermiculite and pumice.  While expensive, pumice is useful because it  holds water well and helps provide drainage and aeration. It also can help prevent compaction as the mix dries.   Regular sand can take the place of pumice, but make sure that it is well washed before use. 

Every container should have good drainage out the bottom.  Drainage is essential because of the root’s need for air.  A good mix will be about 50% solid material and 50% water and air.  The spaces between the solid matter is where the water and air are found.  Obviously, when we water,  most of the air in the mix is driven out.  As the plant uses the water in the soil or as the water evaporates from the surface of the mix, air will follow down through the spaces.  Ideally, there will be both water and air sufficient to maintain the good health of plants.  Match the size of the pot with the size of the plant.

Drainage holes in the container can be covered with a shard of pottery, a stone, or a piece of  plastic or metal screening to keep the potting soil from dribbling out the bottom.

When selecting plants for container culture, select plants for different colors, types and textures.  Plant a trailing vine to an upright stalk.  Mix in herbs and perhaps vegetables with grasses and ground covers.  Plant annuals together with perennials for an interesting change .  Build a trellis for vining plants like beans, cats claw or sweet peas.  Experiment with different arrangements and plant types to see what works best for your situation.

Potted plants dry out more quickly than those planted in the ground.  Proper timing of irrigations is critical.  It helps to group plants of similar need together and then hook up a drip system on a timer to deliver the amount of water at the frequency necessary to maintain good plant health.  Many problems associated with container plants can be solved by careful management of water. 

Plants in containers also need adequate fertilization.  Because the root system is confined to soil within the pot, available nutrients are more frequently mined from the relatively small area. With the exception of cacti and succulents, such as the agaves, add a diluted water soluble fertilizer with each irrigation.  The constant but light application will provide the plant with the necessary nutritional needs required for good growth in the containers.

Make sure that the fertilizer applied contains all three of the major nutrients commonly provided by commercial fertilizers.  These are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.  Artificial container soils will not provide large amounts of nutrient and the use of a complete fertilizer will be necessary.  The label of the product will tell exactly what nutrients are provided.

When beginning to garden in containers for the first time, it is advisable to start small and work up.  There is a knack to growing good plants in containers.  To avoid major failures, it is a good idea to work with one or two pots until you are confident that you maintain the plants in good condition.

Container gardening can be an exciting experience for all who love plants.  Following a few basic rules will help bring success.

For more information on how to garden in containers, ask for a copy of the Cooperative Extension leaflet, “Growing Vegetables in Containers”.  If you have questions, you can reach a Master Gardener at the Cooperative Extension office, 820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Building C, in Casa Grande.  The telephone is (520) 836-5221, extension 204.  The author’s email address is gibsonrd@ag.arizona.edu.

The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.  The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.

Rick Gibson
Extension Agent, Agriculture
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Building C
Casa Grande, Arizona 85222
Voice:    (520) 836-5221
Fax:    (520) 836-1750
email:    gibsonrd@ag.arizona.edu