By Harvey D. Goodman
A friend of mine identified himself as “the typical Flushing gardener” in terms of his particular gardening style.
What he meant, through descriptive imagination, was that after upgrading and enlarging his patio and deck there was very little “real” land that could be used for flowers, vegetables and, of course, traditional flora such as bushes and trees.
Container gardening, a technique I have used for many years, is a great way to maximize a small place or spruce up a patio, deck or entryway. It is a technique that is ideal for the plant lover with the limited space we have available in most sections of Queens.
A visit to a garden center will reveal an incredibly large number and variety of plant containers. Overwhelmed by the selection, typical customers might just give up in their quest to beautify their homes. Thus, a quick primer for the selection of the best container for your favorite plants is the topic of this column.
The first attribute to consider is size. Select a pot that will accommodate the roots of your plant without crowding them. If the pot is too small, you will end up watering the plant often, and the plant will be top-heavy and unstable. If the pot is too large, the appearance of the plant will be unbalanced.
The next quality to contemplate is shape. Deep, narrow containers drain better than shallow, wide containers. Gravity is the agent for this observation. The deeper the pot, the greater the force of gravity in assisting the drainage process. Deep pots are also desirable for certain species of deep-rooted plants that spread out deep into the container.
The next step in the selection process is ensuring the container has drainage holes so water can empty out of the pot. If water accumulates, it may drown the roots, or at the very least encourage the growth of fungus and mold that will eventually kill the roots. Protecting your deck or patio from water damage can be achieved by placing an old pot or container beneath the pot to collect the water.
And just as too much water hinders healthy plant life, so does an overabundance of heat. Soil must be kept in a pot that absorbs enough heat to ensure a temperature conducive to growth. Aesthetics aside, the darker the color of the container, the more heat it will attract. In sunny locations, it is not unusual for the soil to approach or exceed 100 degrees, which is far too hot for the plant to survive.
Next on your selection list is picking the material of your container. Gardeners can choose among plastic, terra-cotta and wood pots.
Plastic pots offer an incredible variety of shapes and colors. They are lightweight, easy to move and relatively inexpensive; however, they are prone to become brittle in cold weather, and drainage is limited to the drainage holes.
Classic clay containers, terra-cotta, have a standard, traditional coloring that blends in with practically any environment. They are porous and make it practical for plants that favor soil on the dry side — or for gardeners who have a tendency to water too much.
On the down side, terra-cotta pots are extremely fragile and depending on the size, pretty heavy. They also tend to develop white, crusty stains that are the build-up of salts and minerals that crystallize as the water drains from the pot.
Wood pots have a truly rustic appearance; however, over a relatively short period time, the wood, exposed to an environment that is mostly moist, will simply rot away. Treated wood will last longer, but the chemicals that preserve the wood will probably drain into the soil and harm the plants.
Questions or concerns regarding gardening or houseplants can be addressed by e-mail to the plant doctor at harvey.Goodman@att.net.
