Container Gardening with Flowers: Pots, Planting & Plant Picks

Give plants more room with a large pot.

Flowerpot photo by Pixabay

Container gardening with flowers instantly adds color, fragrance, beauty to any landscape—deck, patio, porch, balcony. Tips:

Container Gardening Tips

• Containers must have drainage holes.
• Avoid small containers—can't store enough water for hot days. Large pots insulate roots better.
• Clay pots more attractive; plastic retains moisture better. Consider plastic inside larger clay, cover rim with soil.
• Lightweight containers (fiberglass, plastic, foam composites) ease moving.
• Use soil-free potting mix—lighter, fluffy blend gives roots more oxygen/nutrients.
• Geraniums, nasturtiums, petunias = classic colorful container plants.
• Plant pansies in pots outdoors early spring.

How to Plant

• Place container where flower grows. Ensure adequate sun.
• Add 1-inch fine gravel, horticultural charcoal, or clay pot shards at bottom for drainage.
• Fill ⅔ with soil-free potting mix.
• Make hole ~pot diameter in mix.
• Knock flower from pot, spread roots slightly, place in hole.
• Add mix to 2 inches below container top.
• Water gently, press mix to reduce air pockets, add more if needed, water again.
• Feed at least twice monthly with liquid fertilizer per label.
• Keep medium moist—container plants totally depend on you for water.
• Cold climates: store container flowers inside as winter approaches.

Perennials for Pots

Astilbe, bee balm, bergenia, bleeding heart, coneflower, evening primrose, hosta, hybrid daylily, Maltese cross, speedwell, tansy

Annuals for Pots

Begonia, browallia, dusty miller, fuchsia, lobelia, marigold, morning glory, portulaca, snapdragon, statice, sweet alyssum, sweet pea

See individual flower pages for growing/care advice on common garden flowers.

Source: Originally May 2009, regularly updated.