Pots, Tubs and Other Containers
Pot and tubs are the mainstay of every patio display in many sizes and shapes of containers. Containers with drainage holes are essential for all year round use.
Planting
Make sure the container has good drainage holes and add a layer of gravel or broken crocks to provide a good drainage layer. For large urns use polystyrene packing chips- they are lighter than crocks but just as effective. Line terracotta pots with plastic to reduce water loss through the walls of the pots. Use a quality potting compost freshly purchased from your gardening retailer.
Acid loving plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias must be planted in a specialist ericaceous compost such as Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Ericaceous Compost.
Feeding
Some modern composts such as Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost contain slow release plant foods that will feed your plants for up to six months. But most other composts will run out of steam and feeding will be necessary if your plants are to flourish throughout the Summer and Autumn. To feed just once a season push Miracle-Gro Controlled Release Plant Food Tablets into the compost to feed your plants for the next six months.
If you prefer to feed your plants regularly and get fantastic results use Miracle-Gro All Purpose Soluble Plant Food or a liquid concentrate called Miracle-Gro All Purpose Concentrated Liquid Plant Food. Regular feeding will reward you with big, beautiful containers full of colour. Note that acid loving plants should be fed with a special ericaceous plant food.
Plants for pots and tubs
| Flowers | Foliage | Vegetables | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuchsia, Petunia, Verbena, Geranium, Impatiens, Lobelia, Tuberous Begonia, Bidens, Patio Roses, Lilies, Lavender, Salvia, Datura, Sweet Peas, Pansies | Coleus, Cineraria, Sage, Japanese Maples (acer)*, Pieris*, Euonymus, Skimmia, Ornamental Grasses, Ferns, Hosta | Tomatoes, Runner Beans (Hestia), Dwarf French Beans, Sweet Peppers, Chilli Peppers, Lettuce, Peas, Herbs, Onions, Shallots, Garlic | Strawberries, Midget Apple and Pear Trees, Fig, Citrus |
* Plant in Ericaceous compost.
How much compost will you need
Internal diameter measurement of patio pots and average contents in litres.
| 22cm | 25cm | 28cm | 32cm | 37cm | 42cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 litres | 7 litres | 10 litres | 15 litres | 23 litres | 33 litres |
See also:
Related products:
- Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Gel
- Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost
- Levington Container & Hanging Basket Compost
- Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Ericaceous Compost
- Miracle-Gro Controlled Release Plant Food
- Miracle-Gro Controlled Release Plant Food Tablets
- Miracle-Gro All Purpose Soluble Plant Food
- Miracle-Gro All Purpose Concentrated Liquid Plant Food
- Miracle-Gro Slow Release All Purpose Plant Food
