Container gardening where water needs to be conserved
Container gardening is a great way to have a beautiful garden if you live in dry, desert like conditions. The container will keep the necessary moisture in and they can be moved around to various locations in your garden as you feel the need for change.
Containers come in a multitude of sizes, shapes and color. Anything can be used for your plants as long as it holds water. Workboots, old shoes, half wood barrels, plastic containers, old bathtubs, hypertufa, old sinks. So the possibilities with design and dimension are virtually endless! But Terra Cotta clay pots are the first thing that usually comes to mind.
Because clay is a porous substance, it allows air and moisture to penetrate through the pot. But be careful when choosing a plant for your clay pot, as they also have a tendency to dry out faster than a plastic one. Glazed ceramic pots are another fine example, but even though the focus is on water conservation, the pots need drainage holes in the bottom. Roots should not be water-logged.
Where you locate your pots is also extremely important. Depending on the type of plant in your pot, the location should be suited to the plants' sun, shade and watering requiremnts. A good example is Cacti. Cacti would be best suited in a clay pot in an area that recieves the most sun, whereas Hostas would be best suited in anything but Terra Cotta, with a more shaded location.
Potting mixes have a tendency to drain water more quickly, so fertilizer could be washed out of the container as you water. Using lighter mixes with more frequent watering will help distribute the fertilizer more evenly than heavier mixes. Liquid fish emulsion or liquid seaweed are great plant boosters, but remember that you need to provide your plants with a variety of nutrients.
Container gardening is a great way to save water and add a new dimension to your project. They can be placed in a bare spot in the garden. Or brought up to a 10th story balcony. Or placed at the entrance to your home. Just because you live in dry conditions doesn't mean you can't have beautiful garden scenery.
Containers come in a multitude of sizes, shapes and color. Anything can be used for your plants as long as it holds water. Workboots, old shoes, half wood barrels, plastic containers, old bathtubs, hypertufa, old sinks. So the possibilities with design and dimension are virtually endless! But Terra Cotta clay pots are the first thing that usually comes to mind.
Because clay is a porous substance, it allows air and moisture to penetrate through the pot. But be careful when choosing a plant for your clay pot, as they also have a tendency to dry out faster than a plastic one. Glazed ceramic pots are another fine example, but even though the focus is on water conservation, the pots need drainage holes in the bottom. Roots should not be water-logged.
Where you locate your pots is also extremely important. Depending on the type of plant in your pot, the location should be suited to the plants' sun, shade and watering requiremnts. A good example is Cacti. Cacti would be best suited in a clay pot in an area that recieves the most sun, whereas Hostas would be best suited in anything but Terra Cotta, with a more shaded location.
Potting mixes have a tendency to drain water more quickly, so fertilizer could be washed out of the container as you water. Using lighter mixes with more frequent watering will help distribute the fertilizer more evenly than heavier mixes. Liquid fish emulsion or liquid seaweed are great plant boosters, but remember that you need to provide your plants with a variety of nutrients.
Container gardening is a great way to save water and add a new dimension to your project. They can be placed in a bare spot in the garden. Or brought up to a 10th story balcony. Or placed at the entrance to your home. Just because you live in dry conditions doesn't mean you can't have beautiful garden scenery.
Source...