A few tips for growing plants in containers

Some plants grow much better than others when put in pots of containers. Here are a few tips for planting in containers, whether it's a single plant or a group:

When choosing plants for containers, look for those that possess these special attributes:

• Long period of bloom or bloom period that fills a seasonal niche
• Attractive, persistent foliage
• Tendency to branch well without frequent pinching
• Pleasing silhouette
• Good tolerance for dry soil
• Sturdy stems that don't need staking
• Ability to recover quickly from transplanting
• Ornamental features, such as seedheads or berries that prolong visual interest
• "Self-cleaning" flowers that don't need to be manually removed once they fade

While it's always important to buy healthy plants, this is especially true of specimens intended for containers.

• Pots are subject to more stress than open gardens, and because the season for containers is often limited, there is no time to waste nursing substandard, struggling plants.
• You want vigorous youngsters that will quickly mature into strong adults without needing extraordinary care while they grow.
• Look for starter plants with fresh green leaves unmarred by spotting or yellowing and sturdy, stocky stems lined with foliage.
• Make sure the plants are well-developed overall, not full on one side but bare on another.
• Select small plants with robust growth and a good number of buds, rather than larger plants in full flower; younger plants often adapt more quickly and grow more readily in a new location.
• Also check the base of the pot. If roots are growing rampantly out of the drain holes, the plant has become "potbound" and may not establish easily when transplanted. Fresh, whitish roots should just be emerging from or visible around the drain holes.

To keep your container collection care-free, place plants together that have similar preferences for light, fertilizer, and water.

• For example, plants that tolerate hot, dry conditions, such as portulaca, hens and chicks, stonecrop, and sun rose, make a fine container community for sun-drenched decks.
• It's easy to satisfy the needs of thirsty shade lovers, such as caladiums, ferns, and impatiens, if they are growing near one another.
• Cluster together plants that need training or regular deadheading.
• You will be much more likely to steer sweet peas toward their trellis or pinch off old blossoms from nasturtiums or pansies if the plants are grown in close quarters.
• When planning containers for distant places in your landscape, such as near your mailbox or as accents for a rear entry gate, use low-maintenance plants, such as ornamental grasses, sweet potato vine, or juniper.

Whether you grow them in individual pots or in combination, these care-free plants adapt easily to life in containers:

Annuals:  Ageratum, begonia, browallia, chrysanthemum, coleus, cosmos, dusty miller, fan flower, flowering tobacco, fuchsia, geranium, globe amaranth, impatiens, lantana, licorice plant, lobelia, nasturtium, ornamental grasses, pansy, periwinkle, petunia, portulaca, salvia, snapdragon, stock, Swan River daisy, sweet alyssum, sweet potato vine, and verbena all shine when grown in containers.

Perennials:  Artemisia, astilbe, balloon flower, bergenia, bugleweed, candytuft, coreopsis, daylily, deadnettle, dianthus, euphorbia, ferns, hens and chicks, heuchera, hosta, lady's mantle, lamb's ears, lavender, lily, lungwort, ornamental grasses, phormium, primrose, rose campion, stonecrop, sun rose, and thyme all make good container specimens.

Vines:  Clematis, scarlet runner bean, sweet pea, and wisteria can all be grown in roomy containers.

Bulbs:  Caladium, calla lily, canna, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, and tulip are good seasonal pot plants.

Shrubs:  Azalea, bluebeard, boxwood, camellia, hydrangea, juniper, mugo pine, rose, and viburnum are compact enough to grow in pots.

Trees:  Flowering cherry, Japanese maple, and snowbell can be grown in half barrels or big pots.

Groundcovers:  Ivy, liriope, and vinca are handsome cascading plants for pots.

Now you know how to make sure your plants flourish when grown in pots or containers. Be sure to check this guide when planting in containers to make sure you are using the right plants and proper soil.