Growing plants in containers is the second fastest growing trend in gardening today (after veggie gardening.) Seems that everyone has a plant or two in a hanging basket, window box or clay pot. The beauty of container gardening is that it allows you to plant what you want where you want, within the limits of sun/shade exposure.
Fact is, there is a plant that will grow most anywhere on your patio, deck or balcony.
As you grow plants in containers you will learn that they tend to dry out more quickly than plants growing in your garden.
The movement of air around the container and the limitations for root development create an environment where soil dries quickly. To counter this use a soilless mix with lots of peat in it and try the new Water Wicks that can reduce watering by up to 50 per cent. They are hemp tea bags that contain sea kelp, alfalfa and corn starch. This dry mixture absorbs up to 400 times its' weight in water and provides a reservoir of h2o for the roots of your plants to draw water from as the soil around the plant dries out.
Keep in mind that all plants enjoy getting on the dry side between watering.
Have a great long weekend in the garden!
Mark
