One of the great eye-catchers in all three Louisiana Nursery locations is our combo pots (Pictured Right)! Potted annuals can add a burst of color for an entire season in a way flowering perennial just can’t. Selling them isn’t the problem, though. What I hear most often is a customer grabbing what looks to be the perfect potted annual then coming back 3-4 weeks later with a dilapidated flower on its way out. That’s why I’ll be sharing a few tips on how to ensure your potted plants can be as vibrant or even more so in their pot all summer long!
First and foremost, every potted plant (especially full-sun annuals) needs a drainage hole. Roots submerged in water begin to rot quickly and will turn your once green leaves a withered yellow. Some plastic pots and even the occasional ceramic pot will not have pre-drilled drainage holes, so, this quick check will save you a lot of hassle. Keeping in mind that your pot will drip during watering, place it over a stainproof surface or saucer.
Let’s stay on the topic of watering, as it is a different schedule entirely than plants in the garden bed. Potting soil is formulated to ensure proper drainage and airflow for the plant. This means a potted plant going the same amount of time without water as a garden bed plant will have much dryer soil. Potted plants in comparison need more water and more often. This explains why so many gardeners opt for an automated drip irrigation system.
Potting soil may be great for keeping roots full of air, but the contents are missing a lot of important ingredients for a healthy plant. Organic matter is entirely absent in most brands, so I always suggest at least two applications of fertilizer throughout the season. General plant food is fine but annual or even flower specific fertilizers usually are worth the extra purchase.
Follow these tips and you’ll have beautiful color all season!
