Wednesday, January 8, 2014

New Year, New Ideas: Container Flowers

        Each new season brings its joy, and now my new ideas for container gardening have appeared. I already had an experience some years ago when I decided to plant flowers in boxes, vases, bowls, large flower pots etc.
I'd like to expand the range of plants for garden containers. Begonias, gladioli, pelargoniums, anemones, calla lilies, ismene and petunia, impatiens, lobelia, cineraria, dahlias. I'd like growing fuchsia in container this summer, as my friend blogger Helene does in
Graphicality-UK.




When choosing containers I try to use the most common ceramic, metal, plastic and wooden boxes, hanging baskets, flower pots and vases.
To add a new touch to my garden, I think to combine several containers of different shapes, or may be to paint plastic and metal ones as I like. Keep in mind that containers of ceramic or wood evaporate moisture faster, but they allow oxygen to plant roots. I have old containers made of metal and plastic that retain longer moisture in the soil, so I always do the drainage, that is very important. I'm planning to use pieces of old foam plastic for drainage instead of moss that I have no more.


I try to place the plants with the same requirements to light in one container and take in account how much sun plants can get. But container, pot, box can always be moved to a sunny place!
Thinking over a combination of plants is important especially when growing seedlings. When I buy seedlings, can already imagine how they will be combined in a flowerpot. I prefer the higher flowers to be planted in the middle (as gladioli), the lower plants to put along the edges (as anemones, lobelia) in a big vase. 



By my experience container plants do not require special care. I cut the withered flowers and if necessary prune stretched shoots of petunias, geraniums,
begonias, impatiens, sweet peas and cut up the dry gladioli stalks. Tall flowers need support. I had already collected sticks of bushes, thin branches of trees, metal rods to support these plants in containers.
Imagination and planning for future is so enjoyable work!



What are your plans for a new garden season?
Do you like growing flowers in containers? Thank you!

49 comments:

  1. Lovely post about container gardening and when I see your pictures I want to start again. We used to have many fuchsias in containers which overwintered frostfree in the greenhouse. A couple of years ago we stopped with the fuchsias, too much work, too much trouble. I still grow annuals from seed for containers in summer and have tubs with agapanthus and Ismene. I love decorating the terrace with plants in just ordinary containers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember your Ismene last summer, it was gorgeous, Janneke! My agapanthus doesn't bloom, though it was growing in a container in full sun. I'd like to try fuchsias and know it's a big work, you're right.
      Thank you!

      Delete
  2. We do grow plants in containers but nothing like the range you have.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Nadezda,wishing a happy new year to you and your family!Great post!This year i do'nt grow nothing in the containers ,only some flowers in potterys!But you garden and flowers are gorgeous!You take good care of them!I l wish i could rest on that chair and drink my coffee!!How beautiful and cozzy it looks!!!Have a lovely week!!
    Dimi...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This cozy gazebo is the favorite place in my garden, Dimi.I often sit there in the morning having breakfast and coffee. And then go around to see what's new in the garden. Thank you!

      Delete
  4. Love these photos. Makes me look forward to springtime :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm looking for spring as well, Keith. Thank you!

      Delete
  5. It is fun to plan for the next season while we stay indoors right now. Your containers are going to be lovely, and you are right to be planning the materials you need. I just find a plant and stick it in a pot -- nothing very well designed. I need to give more thought to how I want my containers to look next spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure your container plants are wonderful, Laurrie. It's a pleasure to plan for the next spring when it's rain and cold outside and no sun some weeks now. Thank you!

      Delete
  6. I have a lot of containers and find the heavy ceramic ones help keep the plants roots cool during our hot summers. A lot of my pots are planted with perennials that I overwinter, but I add annuals, too, such as zinnias. I love your begonia. I wish I had a spot for one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love begonias and only one problem is storing it in winter here. But you have no this problem, the begonia tubs can winter in container in your climate, Tammy!
      Thank you!

      Delete
  7. Such gorgeous photos, so colourful. I love all of your begonias. Container planting is great, especially if you don't have much garden space. Moving them around is good to catch the sunshine or shade, but be careful with your back!
    I enjoy the display of Spring bulbs in containers as well as petunias, marigolds, small daisies, lobelia, allysum and impatiens in the summer. I love hanging baskets of petunias too. One tip I think is useful - that is to put your plants in a light weight plastic pot that fits into a prettier pot. Then you can have more seedlings growing to replace the first ones when they have finished. Especially good with bulbs when they need to stay in the pot until the stems have dried.
    Planning your garden is a wonderful pastime and keeps you always looking forward to the next season. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Betty your tip is very useful, good idea! I have many simple pots those I could put in a big box, thank you!

      Delete
  8. So lovely to see all these bright blooms on a gloomy and cold winter day! I love planting containers, and every year the local garden centers benefit from my buying sprees of annuals:) I have my tried-and-true combinations that I plant every year, but I enjoy trying some new plants and combinations each year, too. I often wind up with "leftover" plants and make at least one hodge-podge planter; sometimes those surprise me and turn out to be the prettiest! One thing I have tried to do the last couple of years is to plant a few perennials in containers, like heuchera. That way I'm not really throwing money away, because I can plant them into the garden in the fall.

    Thank you for your comment on my last post about "The Book Thief," Nadezda. I certainly understand your reluctance to read such a book. In the past couple of years I've read several books that took place during WWII, and some of those were set partially in Poland and Russia. A horrible time for so many people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love to plant perennials in containers as well, Rose. I can't store perennials in winter in containers --they will die. And I have no this problem with annuals --- I throw them away. Our climate is cold. Sure your colorful combinations are interesting. It's nice to see red-leaved heuchera and silver-leaved cinneraria. Thank you!

      Delete
  9. Great blooms!! I love containers but try to avoid them as I have so many other projects that I don't easily find time for maintenance… we also like to travel a few times during the summer which means hiring someone to maintain them… any snow yet? Larry

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The soil in containers is getting dry and they need to be watered every day, you're right Larry!
      We have no snow yet...:((
      Thank you!

      Delete
  10. Preciosaaaassss todas Nadezda, Tienes una mano especial para las plantas!!!!
    Yo no tengo jardín, vivo en un piso y sólo tengo en casa un Anthurium. Hasta mayo no sembranos el huerto, no es nuestro es de un amigo, allí siempre hay rosas.
    El rincón del sillón es muy acogedor para el café:))
    Buen jueves.
    Un beso.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me gusta este rincon tambien, Laura. Cuando tengo tiempo para una taza de cafe me paso alli.
      Gracias!

      Delete
  11. Hi Nadezda, thank you for linking to my blog!
    I find growing in pots and containers give me much more freedom to move things around, so when the spring bulbs in the borders have finished I have containers ready to fill in the empty space. I use a mix of plastic and terracotta pots, and some of the terracotta pots I have painted with the same stain as I have used on my fence, it gives a bit more protection against drying out but not as much as a plastic pot. The uncoated terracotta containers are great for plants that are placed behind other containers so they are in a shady position and I tend to put plants in plastic pots in full sun or when requiring very large size so I can be able to move them. I use pieces of polystyrene for drainage in my containers, great and lightweight and doesn’t rot or compact.

    This summer I will experiment with a new type of hanging baskets for my fence, I will write a post about it later on, I am quite excited about it and hope they will look as good as I hope. Always new things to do in the garden – good luck with your projects, hope to see many lovely fuchsias in late summer on your blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do hope my fuchsias will grow well in containers, Helene. Can't wait to read about you new idea of hanging baskets!
      Thank you!

      Delete
  12. I do keep some of my plants in container too, particularly those that I wish to restrict their growth. I do agreed that polystyrene foam is a good drainage material. I plant some plants in plastic pots which I then placed in larger ceramic continers for better presentation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interestingly how many ways to use the containers. Thank you, Elsie!

      Delete
  13. I enjoyed this post Nadezda and reading about all your plants and containers. Your photos are stunning and now looking forward to the arrival of Spring.
    Patricia x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Nadezda, I love that you're already thinking of spring and what plants to grow in containers. I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I have some window boxes that I like to plant up but I don't know what I'll put in them yet. Probably something pink! LOL. Love your inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pink petunias, daisies, pink phlox, pink tulips...how many nice pink flowers are, Grace.
      Thank you!

      Delete
  15. You have some very nice plants in containers. It inspires me to try new plants for my own containers. I have a lot of hostas I grow in pots. I put them in the ground for the winter and repot them in the spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Alain for stopping by.
      I love hostas as well. Have a nice weekend!

      Delete
  16. You've got a beautiful selection of plants for your containers. I've also been thinking about painting some of my containers.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your containers look wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm not a very good container gardener. In the past, I've always forgotten to water them, and the plants suffer. But last year I tried very hard to remember, so I'm getting better at it! I love to look of plants in containers. I hadn't thought of grow fuchsias in a container. It will be beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I want to grow fuchsias in container this summer, I'm not sure of result!
      Thank you, Holley!

      Delete
  19. I usually have lots of different containers. I love zinnias and going to grow them next summer. Petunias as well. Lovely pictures, Nadezda. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  20. So lovely to see beautiful flowers and colors.
    Wonderful pictures.
    Greetings

    ReplyDelete
  21. Welcome Nadezda!
    Your post is wonderful. Waiting when such beautiful flowers bloom.
    Great idea planting in containers. Beautifully be present.
    I send greetings.
    Lucia

    ReplyDelete
  22. I was reading your past post and saw the salad you mentioned. My mother used to make it and in France it is called “salade Russe” and it is very good. It is too early for me to be thinking about our yard, as we cannot call it a garden as it is mostly pine trees with very little sun anywhere. I did get a hyacinth bulb in a pot of water and it is showing the flower already – I think the hyacinth fragrance is so fine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the hyacinth fragrance as well, Vagabonde. Your is bigger than mine, it's rooting now. Hope the frosty weather is over in your place! Thank you!

      Delete
  23. I like growing flowers and plants in pots too. When there is a bare spot in my garden, I can just plop a pot in to cover it up. Your lovely summer pictures are so cheerful and warm. Hooray, summer is only a few months away!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hooray, Peter! Spring is soon, snow ill melt, soil will warm and sun will shine!

      Delete
  24. Your begonias and pelargoniums look great in pots. I grow roses in pots :), but they need water all the time in the summer heat, so I would not call them low-maintenance. In your climate, it is a different matter probably....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure, growing roses is hard work, Masha. I don't dare to grow them so because roses need much water in summer and good cover in winter.
      Thank you!

      Delete
  25. Happy New Year Nadezda! You have a wonderful array of plants in pots. I do grow plants in containers, though mainly herbs. I always have a big pot of nasturtiums, because I lack a sunny spot in the main garden. I also grow invasive plants like mint in pots as well as a variety of culinary herbs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You gave me a new idea ---to plant culinary herbs in pots, Jennifer! I grow mint in a big old barrel as well because it's very invasive and wanted to grow between phlox.
      Thank you!

      Delete

Thank you for stopping by Nadezda's Northern Garden blog!
I'm glad to read your friendly comments very much.
Feel free to comment on the posts or photos
I warmly welcome the new followers on my blog.