Container Gardening

Container Gardening
Presentation outline
1. Container Types and Tips
2. Soils for Containers
3. Fertilizing
4. Watering
5. Planting Arrangements
Presented by
Dianne Norman
Container Tips:
Problem Pots
1. Containers should have good drainage.
2. Never let your pots stand in water.
3. Keep pots up so they don’t sit flat on a hard
surface.
Containers with narrow openings make it
difficult to remove plants.
4. Add chunks of charcoal to keep the standing water
fresh.
5. Coffee filters can be placed at the bottom of the
pot to keep soil from eroding away.
Container Tips:
5. When the roots start growing
out the bottom, its time to go
one size up in pots.
Plants left too Long in Pots
1. Plants should be root pruned if left
in the same pot.
2. Depending on the growth rate of plant
the plant should be removed to inspect
the roots and replace soil.
6. Keep them out of the hot
afternoon sun, the pots can
over heat and cook the roots.
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Types of Containers
1. Plastic
2. Clay
3. Ceramic
4. Other
Clay – Terra Cotta-Containers
PROS:
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Excellent for some plants
like Rosemary, Citrus,
Succulents and cacti.
Terra Cotta breaths.
CONS:
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Clay pots will dry out faster than
others.
Heavy to move.
Ceramic
1. Glazed clay pots aren’t as porous as terra
cotta, also you can choose glazed colors that
match your decor.
2. Ceramic pots are excellent choices but
require several drainage holes
Plastic Containers
PROS:
 Plastic Pots are considerably cheaper than ceramic
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or clay.
 Plastic works well for low growing plants.
CONS:
 Over time plastic deteriorates from UV sunlight.
 With tall plants, Blow over in the wind
Clay Containers
To keep pots from drying out too
fast add Expanded shale to
the potting mix.
• Expanded shale is a special treated
stone which absorbs extra
moisture and releases it when the
plant need s it.
Other Containers
1.
2.
3.
Wooden containers are susceptible to rot.
Redwood and cedar are relatively rot
resistant and can be used without
staining or painting.
Avoid wood treated with creosote, penta
or other toxic compounds since the
vapors can damage the plants.
One advantage of wooden containers is
that they can be built to sizes and shapes
that suit the location.
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Wooden Containers
Metal Containers
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Wading Pool Gardening
Don’t forget those eclectic containers like
wire baskets, old-fashioned metal
bathtubs and rickety wheelbarrows. They
make great holders, too.
Wading Pool Gardening
This is equivalent to about 26,800 pounds. per
acre, which far exceeds that of commercial
yields in the state of Wisconsin and even the
national 1996 average yields.
984 pounds
From 38 pools.
Dr. Ebenezer set about to prove the feasibility of
growing vegetables in plastic wading pools.
Soils for Containers (Organic)
Organic Commercial
Soil for Containerized Citrus
1. Big Pot by Rabbit Hill
2, Vortex by Lady Bug
3. Nature’s Way Resources:
Garden & Flower Bed Mix
5. Citrus Mix
6. Blueberry mix
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Nature’s Way
Resources:
Citrus Mix: This mix
is available in bags
only. It is designed
for the special
needs of citrus
trees growing in
containers.
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Expanded Shale
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This rock is made from shale that’s been fired or
Potting Soil Mix
Face mask should be worn.
cooked at very high temperatures. The heat causes

the shale to expand creating a relatively strong but
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light weight aggregate. The expanded shale is then
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1- Part Peat moss
1- Part Vermiculite
1- Part Perlite
screened to different sizes for use. Expanded shale
or
1- Part Fine Sand
1- Bark Mulch
helps physically loosen heavy soils and has the ability
to help the soil hold moisture and nutrients. It is

often combined with compost for use in rose beds and
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lightweight soils for green roofs.
Fertilizing Container Plants
It's necessary to supplement the growth of
container plants with fertilizer due to nutrients
leaching out from frequent watering. After the
first 3-4 weeks of growth, add a diluted organic
fertilizer like seaweed extract, fish emulsion,
manure tea or compost tea when watering. Do this
every two weeks and adjust fertilizer levels as
necessary according to how the plants respond.
Watering Containers:
Plants growing in
containers dry out quickly
and need frequent
watering. Because their
roots are unable to dig
deeper to find moisture,
they need constant
attention. Check them daily
in warm temperatures and
give them water until you
see it draining from the
bottom of the container.
Organic Fertilizers & Amendments
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Cottonseed meal
Fish Meal
Kelp Meal
Crab Meal
Shrimp Meal
Blood Meal
MaxiCrop
BioForm liquid
Ocean Harvest
Humate
 Compost
 Lava Sand
Texas Green Sand
 Bio Form Dry
 MicroLife
 MicroGro
 Super Seaweed
 Molasses, dry and
liquid
Patio Plant Watering Kits
Timer
Home Depot
& Lowes
Carries parts
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Drip Watering for Containers:
Self Watering Containers
Aqua Globes
Drip Irrigation
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Watering a Strawberry Pot
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Rectangle of ½”
hardware cloth.
Sphagnum Moss
Small gravel
Broken pottery chards
Potting soil and soiless
growing medium
Plants
Container Herb Growing
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You may start your garden any time of
the year.
Plant Perennials first.
Plant Dill & Cilantro in Oct. thru Feb.
Plant Basil any time April thru July
After the first or second year, divide
some of the larger clumps of
perennials.
Modular, self-watering planters, such as
the Terrazza line of planters, have special
reservoirs that help reduce watering
chores. Plants can draw moisture from the
reservoir whenever they need it.
Container Herb Growing
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Chose a large container
At least 6 holes for drainage
At least 6 hrs. sunshine
Monthly application of liquid fertilizer
Harvest regularly
Your garden should remain productive for
2 or 3 years.
Container Herb Growing
The Following Herbs are Suggested
1. Thyme
2. Prostrate Rosemary
3. Chives
4. Dill (Bouquet)
5. Dwarf Basil
6. Italian Parsley
7. Mexican Mint Marigold
8. Salad Burnet
9. Marjoram
10. Lemon Balm
11. Oregano
12. Cilantro
13. Lemon thyme
Give Bay Tree its own pot
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Container Size for Vegetables
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Not just tomatoes,
but also squash,
cucumbers,
peppers, etc...
recommend
container size as
big as 15 gal.,
especially for
tomatoes.
Light for Container Plants
The amount of light your container needs will
Container Bush Tomatoes
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Bush types:
Patio, Pixie, Tiny
Tim, Saladette, Toy
Boy, Spring Giant,
Tumbling Tom,
Small Fry, Bush
Celebrity, Better
Bush, New Big
Dwarf …………
Planting Arrangements
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Juncus (Quarts
Creek)
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Verbena
(Superbena Pink)
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Lobelia (Laguna
Sky Blue)
vary by crop. Most plants require at least 5-6
hours of full sun per day. This can be maximized
with the addition of reflective materials
(aluminum foil, glass marbles) placed around
containers. Pots also can be moved as the
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Petunia
(Superfine
Courtyard
Yellow)
seasons change.
Supertunia
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Courtyard before
Double Pink
Giant Pink
Bordeaux
Royal Velvet
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Courtyard After
Courtyard before
Courtyard After
Courtyard Landscape
Companion Planting
Companion Plant
Companion Garden Use
Basil…………………………………………………Tomatoes, eggplant, & Asparagus
Borage…………………………………………….Attracts beneficial bees
Calendula………………………………………..Attracts beneficials
Catnip………………………………………………Peppers, potatoes, tomatoes
Garlic……………………………………………….
Roses, deters Japanese beetles
Hyssops…………………………………………..Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
Marigolds……………………………………....Repels nematodes
Nasturtiums…………………………………..Helps protects ground beetles
Radishes………………………………………….
Confuses cucumber beetles
Rosemary………………………………………..Beans, cole crops, lettuce & carrots
Tansy……………………………………………. Attracts beneficials
Biodiversity
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Introduce beneficial insects and protect the
ones you do have.
1. Ladybugs
2. Green lacewings
3. Trichogramma wasp
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Plant a habitat for beneficial insects.
Mexican milk weed, Mexican Mint Marigolds,
Fennel, Parsley, Buckwheat, Penta, Calendula,
Common Zinnia, just to mention a few.
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Beneficial Insects
Soil Food Web
An incredible diversity of organisms make up
The soil food web. They range from the
tiniest one-celled:
 bacteria, algae, and protozoa
To more complex:
 Nematodes and Micro-arthropods
To the visible:
 Earthworms, insects, small vertebrates, and plants
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Garden Pests
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 Nematodes
 Whitefly
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Lightning Bug
Praying Mantid
Robber Fly
Hover Fly
Tachinid Fly
Trichogramma
Wasp
Organic Treatment: Spray under leaves with blast of
water or use Safer soap or Dawn dish soap, 1 tsp. mixed
with 1 gallon of water.
Predators of aphids
Green Lacewing larva
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Aphids
 Aphids
Caterpillars,
 Spider mites
 Stink bugs
 Squash bugs
Green Lacewing Adult
Antlion
Assassin Bug
Braconid Wasp
Chalicid Wasp
Green Lacewing
Dragonfly
Ground Beetles
Ladybug
Assassin Bug one of the good guys
Ladybug larva
Ladybug adult
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Caterpillars
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Caterpillars
Best known for their ability defoliate trees and
vegetables.
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Cabbage looper
 Cutworm
Biological controls: Wasps do a great job in
controlling caterpillars.
BT – Bacillus thuringiensis is an excellent control
Remember some grow up to be
beautiful butterflies
Caterpillar predators
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Tachinid Fly
 Trichogramma Wasp
Squash Vine Borer
 Predators: Trichogramma wasp, Tachinid fly
and Assassin bugs
 Floating Row Cover: prior to bloom
Squash Vine Borer are attracted to squash blooms
Assassin Bug
Whitefly
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Beneficial Nematodes
1 tsp. Soap added to 1 gal. water sprayed
underside of leaves.
Lady bugs, green lacewing and many others.
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Beneficial Nematodes can be applied to
gardens, lawns, and Plant containers.
To treat for: fleas, grubs, ticks, thrips
cutworms, armyworms, webworms, fungus
Gnats, maggots, borers, termites, larval stages
of various beetles, just to mention a few.
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Organic Recipes and Products
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Leaf Footed Stink Bugs: Cedar Gard
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Fire Ants : Spinosad Products OMRI approved
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Root Rot: 2 cups Cornmeal applied to soil under plant
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Prevent thrip on roses : Cornmeal & Molasses,
Where to buy Organic Fertilizers
& Amendments?
Beneficial Nematodes, Good soil fertility
Aphids: 1 tsp. Dawn soap & 1 gal. water – 2 Garlic
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bulbs blended added to 1 gal. water
Spider mites: Foliar spray with Super Seaweed
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Sources
5701 Washington Ave. Houston, Texas 77007 Phone 713-863-8322 Fax 713-863-1723
Wabash Antiques & Feed
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Wabash Antiques & Feed…Retail….Plants & Fertilizer
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Southwest Fertilizer …………………….Retail……Fertilizer
Carries the largest variety of organic products
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San Jacinto Environmental …..Wholesale..Fertilizers
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Treesearch Farms ……………Wholesale….Native Plants
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Natures Way…………………..Bulk Sales ….Soil & compost
Conroe
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References
• Mary Versfelt
Master Gardener and past
President of Harris Herb
Society
 “Great Garden Companion”
by Sally Jean Cunningham
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“Color Handbook of Garden
Insects”
by Anna Carr
Publisher: Rodale
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A Houston retail store
Established in 1836
Uses and sells organic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides
Garden supplies
Sells fruit, Nuts, & Berry plants
Habitat plants for Humming birds & Butterflies
Ornamental and hard to find plants
Feed for Dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs & goats
Exotic birds, chickens, ducks, geese & guineas
Country antiques, Pottery, bird & bat houses
Dwarf goats, cattle & horses
Health care products for birds & animals
Website Resources
 “Year Round Vegetables,
Fruits and Flowers
For Metro Houston”
by Bob Randall Ph.D.
Executive Director of
“Urban Harvest”
• “Naturalistic Landscaping
For the Gulf Coast”
By Mark Bowen
River Bend Publishing
www.urbanharvest.org
Community Gardening organization
 http://soils.usda.gov
“Soil Biology Primer”
by Elaine R. Ingham PhD. Associate Professor
at Oregon State University
 www.dirtdoctor.com Howard Garrett-Organic Gardening
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 www.wabashfeed.com
Organic products
 www.containergardeningtips.com/
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http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/container/container.html
 www.gardeners.com
“Organic Gardening”
by Howard Garrett’s
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References
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“The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of
Natural Insects and Disease Control”
by Rodale Press; Edited by: Barbara W. Ellis
and Fern Marshall Bradley
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“Naturalistic Landscaping for the Gulf Coast”

“Organic Gardening”
by Mark and Mary Bowen
by Howard Garrett
Any Questions?
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