Container Gardening in Qld

With shrinking gardens and more paving, decks, patios and balconies surrounding our homes, container gardening is going to become increasingly important in Queensland outdoors. But even if you have plenty of garden space, containers are useful for providing eye-catching accents, decorating difficult corners, and filling out garden beds.

In this climate, however, growing healthy plants in containers presents some challenges, particularly as pots are often placed in the most plant-unfriendly locations like sun-scorched patios.

• instant effects: a decorative pot adds character instanly. Many plants available in advanced sizes to complete the picture.
• easy effects: no digging required, use a decorative pot or cheat by hiding plants in the garden (see below)
• flexibility: move them around, easily replace sick plants with fresher one or your favourite in flower
• portability: take them with you when you move (subject to whatever movement controls that may apply where you live to control the spread of pests and diseases. Check with appropriate authorities)
• containment: keep species that might be too rampant if planted out in the garden uder control
• save water: only apply to the plant, not the neighbourhood's tree roots as well
• expand the possibilities: grow plants that you wouldn't be able to grow otherwise by creating special conditions through potting mix or microclimate
• creativity: make gardens in the air, on walls and other "impossible" places

Indoor versus Outdoor potted plants

While almost any plant can be grown in a container with suitable care (and hardware), some species lend themselves more naturally to pot culture than others.

Naturally compact/dwarf growth habit (both top growth and root system) and ability to bounce back after periods of neglect and over/under watering anre generally desirable.

Many species commonly grown as indoors in colder climates will grow in frost-free partsof Queensland, but note that they may nevertheless require a shaded and sheltered position. Go to Indoor Plants for more about houseplants.

For more sunny and exposed positions in Queensland, a quite different range of species is required. These plants have to tolerate not only the sun (and remember that many outdoor areas around the house have lot of extra heat reflected off walls and paving), but drought.

Unless you have an automated watering system, or are very dedicated, your pots are sure to experience drying out from time to time, exacerbated by wind exposure. Good container plants can surive perioids of dryness and recover quickly without excessive wilting, dieback or leaf drop.

Popular plants for outdoor containers

Unlike indoors, there are many options for growing flowering plants in containers outdoors. The dwarf Bougainvillea and Poysean Euphorbias are exceptional for this purpose. However, you might also consider growing annuals and bulbs in containers for temporary displays of colour.

Pots, Potting mixes

Green roofs and living walls

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