If you have a spare room in your home and are looking for a project to help you learn how to create a pot, consider a 30-gallon planter. You can even call it a grow tent or pot since most of the design is similar when it comes to creating a permanent structure and a portable planter. Container gardening is an easy and fun way to provide summer crops and flowers inside your home year-round.
There are plenty of great designs on the market for anyone who wants to start planning their own personal container garden. Whether you want small plants that you can place in a single pot, a multi-level garden that has one single level with many small pots on the ground, or a free-standing container garden that spans several feet across and up several stories. When choosing which container, planter or pot to purchase, you also have a choice between ceramic, glass, terracotta, metal, natural stone and wood. Some of the most popular materials for potters include clay, stone and wood.
The first thing you will need for a pot garden are basic tools including a potting bench, garden hose, compost mixer and garden fork. For container gardening beginners, it’s best to buy a simple pot that has good drainage holes, no air locks and has smooth surfaces. Although plastic pots are advertised for use indoors, they do not hold up well in the heat and moisture so most people choose clay or terracotta pots. These pots are affordable and last for years, but buying a good quality pot will help it stand up to the elements longer and keep water from collecting inside it and leaching out into the root system.
Next you will need to choose a pot that has adequate drainage. In addition to providing ample drainage holes, these pots also need to have a lid that can withstand wind and heat. Good drainage will prevent your plant roots from becoming wet and moldy which is unhealthy for your plants. The holes in your pot will allow excess moisture to escape, preventing your plants from drying out and having their roots rot. Good drainage will keep your plants healthy and avoid the risk of root rot.
Once you have selected a good quality pot and have chosen your plants, you are ready to choose the potting soil and fertilizer. Good quality pots have a sturdy bottom that will make them ideal for potting soil mixes designed for window planters. Most flower gardeners use a blend of soil that is high in nutrients and low in clay. However, there are many varieties of flower pots available that still use clay to allow moisture to drain and allow plant roots to thrive. If you don’t mind working in the soil, you can mix your own compost to fertilize your plants.
When you are ready to plant your new garden, your container planter needs to be dug to level the soil. A simple wooden spade or garden fork will work well to accomplish this task. After the hole has been dug, add potting soil mixture of your choice to your planting area. Fill the bottom of the pot with potting soil and add potting medium, such as vermiculite, to help water drain. The final step is to insert your plant and spread a layer of mulch over the entire pot to help protect your plants from cold winter weather.
If you are using plastic pots, the process is a bit different. You still need to level the soil before planting but you also need to add mulch to the bottom of the planter and around the edges to help prevent weeds from growing in the planter. You will also need to make sure your drainage holes are well plugged to keep excess water from draining away from the roots. Placing your plant in the hole and gently pushing it into the mulch will help you ensure proper drainage. To keep your pots properly ventilated, you can run a fan or put a window to open during warm months and close during cooler months.
No matter what type of garden planters you are using, there are a variety of pots that will fit them perfectly. There are square planters that come in all shapes and sizes. Round ones are great for rectangular or oval shaped gardens. And hexagonal planters can provide more storage space while providing more than enough usable surface area. No matter what your gardening needs are, there is a perfect planter out there for you!