For a buddy green fingered gardener, there is nothing that quite compares to the beauty and fulfilment of growing your own gorgeous flower pot.
When you master the art of growing a flower pot, you’ll never have to buy flowers for your home again, and by adding any type of plant to your home or garden, you will be creating your own happy place.
Growing flowers in beautifully stylish containers is without a doubt one of the more rewarding gardening trends, and it is really simple to get going. You don’t need extensive knowledge about gardening and soil. Ideally you just need to know your plant and what it needs in order to thrive.
There are plants and pots to suit any and every style, and to get you started, you need just a handful of helpful tricks to get you sorted.
Have a Plan
Every garden needs a plan as you need to have some idea about the direction in which you want to take things. So it makes sense that the first place you will start is with a strategy for how you’d like to create your flower pot oasis.
Having the vision will ensure that you select the right kinds of plants as well as the right types of pots. Both of these decisions will affect the look and outcome of your garden.
During the planning phase, and especially when selecting your flower plants, make sure that you know how big the plants will get, how tall the plant is going to grow, and know their growing habits, as some might grow into bushes that need constant maintenance.
Things are easier if you are growing the plants all in their own pots, but if you are using one long pot, you will definitely need to put plenty of thought into your plan so that the plants don’t overwhelm one another.
As for choosing a pot, make sure that you know the differences between the various pots, and how each plant will adapt to life in the container. Terra cotta pots are always popular, thanks to their earthly look, but plastic is often the preferred option because not only does it look fantastic, but it is also far more versatile, making it ideal for plants of all kinds.
Buy what you will need
Flowering pot plants, much like any other type of container garden, doesn’t necessarily need to come together instantly, meaning you can build on your garden rather than aim to have it completed immediately.
Some of the things that you should buy to get started include a plant or two, the pot for the plant (or plants), good quality soil and compost (a potting mix should do), and you can buy some plant food, to give the plant an extra boost.
Any pot you choose should have good drainage, and it should be able to withstand the elements, if it is going to be outside. Plastic is always an affordable, good option, although if you select a cheap quality plastic pot, you might end up finding that breaks within a few months of being outdoors.
Understand the growing conditions
Some plants thrive in full sunlight while others love shade. It is important to understand your plant, especially if you are going to be growing more than one type of plant in a pot. If some need sun and some prefer shade, you will find that the plants simply don’t grow well together. Luckily, when buying your plants, there should be a tag on the plant telling you which conditions they will grow best in, which will help with your planning.
You should also make sure that you know how much water your plant will need, especially if your plants are on a concrete surfaces. Drainage is always going to be important and you’ll want to make sure that the plants don’t sit in water if they are not keen on it.
Use textures and colours
With your flowering plants, you can be really creative with colours and textures. So when you are planning your garden you might want to give extra consideration to layering foliage textures and using flowers with unique or complementary colours. This will give your garden that extra something, and when your flowers are in full-bloom, it will look absolutely stunning.
Which plants are best for flower pots?
Under the right conditions, you can quite easily propagate a gorgeous selection of flowers, which can include some of these.
Azaleas
In summer, when azalea flowers spring to life, there is possibly not a more beautiful sight to behold. These flowers put on an unforgettable show, and every time you look at your blooming azaleas, it will be difficult to hide your delight.
Growing into a big bush, azaleas are quite suitable for pots and only need to be giving the occasional trim. After a few trims, the plant can begin to look like a small tree, and a centrepiece for your flower pot display.
Calla Lilies
Azaleas and Calla Lilies go beautifully together, with the warm tones of the azalea complementing the stark white of the lilies. The graceful lilies actually come in all sorts of colours, although white is the most popular, because it is the colour most people associate with the lily. Luckily for South Africans, this lily is native to our country, so it is easy to get hold of, and it grows easily in pots.
Chamomile
Not only are the dainty white and yellow flowers lovely to look at but this flower can be turned into a calming tea when dried out. Chamomile can flourish in a pot and they require minimal effort to maintain.
Chrysanthemums
Another favourite among South Africans, the Chrysanthemum is a gorgeous flower that comes in a variety of colours and can easily be grown in pots. They tend to prefer cooler weather, and in climates where the weather is a little warmer they might need a little more care, in terms of trimming.
Foxgloves
This stunning little tube-like flower, which grows in long stalks, simply love the shade and bloom in all sorts of muted shades of pink, yellow and red. They are a real talking point, and will no doubt be an attractive feature in your flower pot garden.
Comments