Container Gardening Can Be Water Wise If You Are!

Last time around, we discussed water conservation in the vegetable garden, and the article was essentially directed at gardens planted in the ground. However, there are many talented  gardeners (and beginners as well) out there who grow fabulous veggies and ornamentals in containers—big pots, barrels, just about anything that will hold potting soil and has good drainage. Being able to move these pots is sometimes necessary, so look for containers with wheels if using a very large (and oh, so h-e-a-v-y) size that can be portable (roll from place to place). Also remember that you can grow just about any vegetable or ornamental plant in a container, as long as the roots have room to spread out and there is enough light and moisture to support the normal performance of the plant—getting “tomatoes on the vine” in the shade is Mission Impossible!

The most important thing to remember when you are doing container gardening of any kind is that you are, in essence, the ruler of the plants’ world, responsible for everything that happens because for one thing, the plants can’t take a walk to the water source if they start to wilt or fry —they depend on you for irrigation, as well as nutrition, etc. And frankly, without water, nothing else matters. Giving them the water they require, in a timely fashion, is top priority. And now, you ask, “How much do I give them?” I don’t want to seem evasive, but it really does depend on many factors, some of which you may not have considered.

Location of the container: If you have put the pot in full sun from morning til night, the soil will dry out faster than if the pot enjoyed shade after two in the afternoon — I call this time slot “the broil setting” and everyone can relate to that. Pots in full shade tend to hold moisture longer—but they still dry out at some point! Grouping “like-minded” plants together in similar locations can help here (hydrozones). What the pot is sitting on (like five thousand degree concrete patios) will cause problems so elevate the pots sitting on hot surfaces about an inch or so for good air flow. This also prevents staining the concrete.

Size of the container: This should be considered, strongly, before any purchase. If you want to pot up an ornamental that gets five feet high and wide, don’t put it in a one gallon container—same with veggies.

Color of the container:  Black or dark colored pots in full sun can be very hard on the plants—just too doggone HOT! Pick a lighter color for sunny areas.

Materials used to make the container: The resin pots are great as they are very light and act as cooling and moisture retaining insulation for the plants’ roots— kind of like planting them in Styrofoam only more attractive. Glazed ceramics get sizzling hot too, so put them in cooler spots. Terra cotta is gorgeous but dries out very quickly—not the best for water conservation as they will, just by their nature, lose water through the pores of the clay. Wood is a good insulator too, but it does deteriorate over time. Still, from an aesthetic point of view, they are attractive and have their place.

Soil to fill the container: Do not compromise here; cheap soils dry out too fast and have little nutritive value. Go for the gold and get a good potting soil—it should cost around ten bucks for a two cubic foot bag (a lot of soil).

As far as containers being water-wise, it depends (there I go again). If the plant is a “water lover” by nature, it will continue to be one, and if water-wise, same thing. Container plantings do usually take a wee bit more water because the air is moving all around the walls of the pot (drying them out), whereas in the ground, there is more soil to keep roots cool longer with (usually) less water. I have found however, that the difference is minimal, except for extreme conditions.

There are great kits available for irrigation of containers—why not start with a couple pots containing plants with similar requirements and get the hang of it? Then branch out your system, if you’re so inclined, and use separate valves for different “hydrozones”—this works in the ground or out and is the most logical and effective means for water conservation.

Have a happy and productive Blue Thumb week! They say there is rain on the way.