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An Insightful Guide to Container Gardening
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CONTAINER GARDENING Pots & Planters Selecting Plants Potting Mixes Planting Watering Sunlight Fertilizer Pest Problems Growing Vertical  This site is brought to you by www.PlanetNatural.com 
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Plant Lighting & Container Gardens Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. - Maori ProverbAll plants need sun, but how much sun varies from plant to plant. For example, vegetables grown for their fruits or seeds, like tomatoes, peppers and corn, need around six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Ideally, this might be from dawn until about three in the afternoon. The sun is often hottest (and toughest on plants) from after three until just before sundown. Leafy crops such as Swiss chard, lettuce and cabbage can tolerate much less sun and plants such as flowers and herbs may have different lighting requirements depending on the varieties grown. Learn more about container vegetable gardening here. When deciding what plants to grow, check their labels and read seed packets for specific lighting recommendations (see Seed Packet Jargon). Also, become familiar with the amount of sunlight a specific garden spot receives. If possible, try to imagine the change in sun exposure as trees grow leaves and the seasons change. For productive container gardens, do not combine plants with vastly different lighting preferences, especially if growing several containers in one area, or many plants in one container.
The advantage container gardening has over regular soil gardens is that they can be moved. If you notice that your plants are not happy with the amount of sunlight they are receiving, it's relatively easy to pick them up and carry them to a different location with better growing conditions. Tip: When growing flowering plants indoors supplement sunlight with high intensity plant lighting, especially during the winter months. Want to garden year-round? Planet Natural offers a large selection of gardening supplies, including plant grow lights, at very reasonable prices. Another way around this cultivating conundrum, known as plant lighting, is to select plant varieties that are native to your area. Native plants are well adjusted to the specific growing conditions for your area and are better able to adapt to local lighting and climate changes. They will grow much better and be easier to care for than say, trying to raise a banana tree in New Hampshire (see Growing Fruit Crops in Containers). Trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, and herbs all grow well in containers. However, it's important to remember that container gardening does not change a plant's basic needs. Sun-loving plants still need plenty of sun and shade-loving plants continue to grow best in dappled light. It's just easier to move them to a garden spot that keeps them happy! |
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