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Container Gardening
 Containers are a great way to have a garden
without a yard.
Plants can be grown in anything from an empty soup can to a
whisky soaked wooden barrel.
Succulent plants are great choices for containers. They are more
willing to tolerate a pot you've forgotten to water the last few
months. Hey, you're busy, I know.
Succulents and cacti do best in
bright sunlight. If your window gets full sun all day these would be a
good choice. Bright, indirect sunlight will also work too.
Many vegetables also do well in pots. They usually require
regular watering and you will have much better luck outdoors where they
can get unfiltered sunlight.
Seed companies now have bush type tomatoes,
beans and even watermelons. These are meant especially for small
gardens or containers, I've had good luck with a few of them.
If you are growing vegetables you will have better luck
sticking with larger size containers. One gallon or bigger is a
good rule
of thumb.
Unique Ideas for Plant Containers
Sometimes you just have to get creative when searching for free or
low-cost plant containers. For smaller plants there are some
unique ideas you can try if you don't
have a lot of money for containers.
Dairy Containers for Plants
Over
about
16 ounces will work fine. Poke three or four holes in the bottom
for drainage. If there is a lid, turn that into your
saucer.
Any plastic container will work, try cutting
the top off a liter bottle, or a plastic gallon container.
Cut the top off a 5 gallon milk jug and use that for a plant container
you can hang along a wall or balcony railing. Don't forget to
poke a few holes in the bottom of your container for drainage.
Try winding ribbon around your impromptu plant pot for a decorative
touch, or use paint to cover the printing you don't like.
Get creative and wrap it with colored gaffers tape.
Martha
Stewart would
probably tell you to try adhesive shelf liners. They come in
different patterns, will stick to the plastic and should be able to
withstand a little bit of watering.
Recycle Cracked Pottery
 Here's another idea
for
a plant container; your favorite coffee mug - after it
cracks!
I just loved this little daisy mug (I keep meaning to do
something like it for the store....). But it cracked in a way
that couldn't be fixed.
It's about 16 oz, so, I popped in a plant growing in a 3 inch plastic
pot.
This is a variegated
Crassula Ovata (succulent plant) so it doesn't need a lot
of water anyway.
When it is time to
water my plant, I can just grab the handle and
whisk it off to the sink. The mug still leaks, so I have to make
sure the mug is finished dripping before I put it back. I'm
pretty clumsy so I am gathering quite a collection of planters!
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