Gardening Pro plant tips

Perfect for the time and space-restricted gardener, here’s how to plant like a pro

With outdoor space at such a premium these days, many of us are gardening in containers. And why not? Gardening in pots is perfect for those with limited space or time, renters, beginners and children. Plus, you can move containers around to catch the sun, use specific soil mixes in them for your special plants and there’s an incredible range to choose from.

Health benefits

Container planting is an excellent way to grow plants that might need a little more TLC than your average specimen. The soil is warmer in pots, making them ideal for heat-loving plants, particularly if you live in a colder area. If your garden soil is poor or unsuited to the types of plants you want to grow, you can choose from a range of different growing mediums for pot cultivation. Containers are moveable so they can be positioned where the best sun or shade is at different types of year, as well as moved to shelter when it’s frosty.

Site wise

Sun, shade and wind are the biggest factors to consider, but when choosing container plants remember that because planting mix volume is smaller in pots, it dries out more quickly than soil does in the garden, and nutrients leach out faster. This means regular irrigation and feeding will be essential. If you’re not so good at plant maintenance, avoid hungry or moisture-loving plants like ferns, annual flowers and many vegetables in pots.

In the shade

Shade-tolerant plants come in two main categories: those that prefer dry soil and those that like moist (not boggy) ground. Try to emulate those conditions with your container plants. For moist conditions, ferns, hostas, rhododrendron, impatiens, fuchsia, helleborus, many begonias and lush-leaved subtropicals such as calathea or stromanthe are ideal. In drier shade – for example, under trees – go for aspidistra, clivia, dwarf palms, hippeastrum, mondo grass or ctenanthe.

Hit the spot

Cacti and succulents are ide ideal for hot courtyards and balconies as are many drought hardy natives such as Poor Knights lily (Xeronema callistemon), corokia and Marlborough rock daisy. Other sun lovers include plants from Africa and the Mediterranean such as pelargonium, strelitzia, leucospermum, lavender, rosemary and santolina.

Potting up

Number one rule when potting or repotting container plants? Use the best mix you can find. It’s false economy to opt for cheaper mixes as plants won’t thrive and you’ll end up spending money on fertilisers and plant boosters instead. And then there are the sprays to combat the pests and diseases that inevitably attack unhealthy plants.

A good potting mix will contain materials such as pumice to aid drainage and soil that isn’t too heavy and easily waterlogged. Avoid using garden soil in pots as this is usually too heavy (it doesn’t drain well) and can harbour pests, diseases and weed seeds.

Don’t fill container mix right up to the pot’s rim – leave 50-100mm to make watering easier. And to reduce the amount of repotting required, don’t choose fast-growing species.

Water wise

While lack of water is a common problem with container plants, too much is almost as frequent an issue. Unless they’re checked regularly, drainage holes can easily block, resulting in waterlogged rots and dead plants. In hot weather you’ll need to water them every day (less if they’re planted with succulents). Adding water-retaining crystals to potting mix will help, as will grouping containers together for easier watering. Mulch the top of potting mix with pebbles, bark or compost to keep moisture where it’s needed.