Care of ornamental container plants starts with choosing and maintaining a good organic growing media. Since these plants are living in a restrictive environment nutrients are quickly depleted from soil. Choose an organic medium to suit the needs of the plants. Many shrubs do well in a nutrient rich, soil based medium.

Growing Media- Add up to 20% extra grit for plants that need good drainage. Add sulfur to reduce the pH below 6 for acid loving plants. A soil-based or soilless multi purpose medium will suit most annuals, grasses, and bulbs. Use mulch such as coarse bark or stone chips for a decorative finish that also helps to retain moisture.

Feeding and Watering- In spring, repot shrubs or other perennials that you want to grow to a larger size. Use a container 2-3in (5-7.5cm) wider that the previous one., and fill the gap with fresh medium. Otherwise replace existing container annually in spring, adding a 1 inc(2.5cm) layer of nutrient rich organic material such as garden compost.

During the season most plants will need extra nutrients, an extra scattering of a general organic fertilizer will help, or feed regularly with a liquid fertilizer. Never let the container plants dry out..


Extra watering may be required during hot dry periods. Self watering containers and an All-Organic Self-Watering Container Mix makes managing container plants much easier.

There are also Drought-Resistant Container Mixes available for containers that do not have a self watering system.

Grasses in Pots- Some perennial grasses like hot, dry conditions and grow well in containers. Grow blue gray Festuca glauca and Koeleria glauca, or bronze Carex comans in pots of their own., or as a contrast to flowering plants. Grasses are less demanding of nutrients than many other container plants.

Bulbs in Containers- A selection of bulbs planted in a container in early autumn can provide a succession of flowers from midwinter through late spring. Choose bulbs that flower at different times and that are planted at different depts.. Plant at least 2 or 3 of each different cultivar. You can plant a small flowering shrub in the middle of the pot for contrast.

Hardy Annuals and Biennials- Many hardy annuals will give only a short display; grown in pots they can easily be replaced. They are among the best plants for attracting bees and beneficial insects to the garden. Try alyssum, dwarf redbeckias, calendulas, or even some of the modern dwarf sunflower cultivars. Biennials such as daisies, forget-me-nots, and wallflowers provide valuable early flowers to the container garden.

Climbers in Containers- Climbers in containers can be tied to a fence, trellis, or wall, or they can be given their own independent supports in the pots. You can use twiggy garden pairing which need to be replaced annually, but give a more natural look, or a more permanent wire, cane or trellis framework.

A compact cultivar of clematis that can be cut down to the ground each winter well grow well in a 14 in(35cm) diameter pot. Other good choices for container climbers are scented climbers such as jasmine and honeysuckle or annual climbers such as sweet peas and nasturtiums.