This one should be interesting....

[LeeInEdmonton]

After 50 years of gardening first in Calgary, then on the west coast, then in Oakville, then back to the west coast, then to an acreage east of Edmonton, & lastly to the City of Edmonton itself, Myrt & myself are kinda burnt out. The last several years we have been making the transition to containers. It's just too demanding on us to maintain the flower beds that we used to have. Hopefully this new forum category will be popular & we can learn how to get the most out of "pots"

Lee

[butterfly]

Do you not find they dry out easily??

I used to have a lot of pots and containers but had to water morning and nite


They dried out so fast although I love containers

Is there an easier way?

cheers Butterfly

[Venice]

I'm going to try and put my pots all on automatic watering this summer.

My tomatoes I'm going to either run soaker hose around the basis, or take a reg hose, cut to size, and then put some nice holes in it where the base of each plant is and run it through the pots.

The rest of the backyard is on timers and it makes it sooo much easier. I'm looking at getting some tubing perhaps. and do it myself.

This is a cool room I'll have to remember to scroll down.

Ven

[Eeyore]

I add coir to the soil in my pots. It really does cut down on the watering demands. It is sold by the name "Soil Sponge"

[skwij]

I use coir, too, and it's lovely stuff. You can get it at pet stores as well, for reptiles, in a compressed brick.

Another thing to do is stuff the innards of a diaper in the bottom of the pot. It will hold moisture for a few days, cutting down on the watering needed (I got this beaut of an idea from BBQ).

[kelly_m]

Geez...I use the whole diaper!!! Still works though....

K

[Northpine]

I mulch the surface of my containers with moss. It really helps to keep the soil moisture levels more constant. It looks attractive also.

[Eeyore]

I did the diaper thing one year. What a stink when I emptied the planters in the fall!

[(old_user)earwig]

Lee, through the years I have learned you do have to fit the container to the plants. Too small of a container and you will spend too much time watering. The material of the container is important too as some aid the drying process.

I find starting with the proper soil, using plants that fit the size of container, and using slow release fertilizer gives a good result.

Of course, living on the East Coast with cooler temperatures and increased air moisture, I have less drying than other parts of the country.

[Venice]

Lyn I think you were supposed to use NEW diapers

hahahahahhaha

Ven