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Container Gardening Mistakes You Didn't Realize You Were Making
By GWEN SWANSON
Beauty Over Function
Although pots come in various ornamental designs, it’s important to choose one with a proper drainage hole to ensure your plants don’t become oversaturated.
Drill a hole in the bottom of an ornamental planter yourself, or place your plant in a smaller, well-draining pot that can then be nestled inside the decorative container.
Wrong Setup
Follow the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” method, wherein tall “thrillers” add height to the arrangement, “fillers” fill up the sides, and “spillers” hang over the edge.
Do research and ask your local nursery for recommendations to ensure your chosen plants are compatible. If you have a smaller container, feel free to deviate from your design.
No Room For Growth
Plants are often sold on the cusp of adulthood, meaning you’ll need containers that will accommodate their growth. Otherwise, they’ll develop root deficiencies.
These issues can be avoided by researching your plants’ average growth and always using a container at least 2 inches larger than the previous one when repotting your plants.
Overwatering
Ensure your container has proper drainage, poke holes in the soil for air circulation, and frequently test its moisture levels to prevent root rot from overwatering.
Underwatering
When you go too long without watering, the soil can reject new moisture. If that happens, rehydrate the dirt by fully soaking the pot in a bathtub or under a hose.