Whether you’re planting in a container or hanging basket, you can choose from a variety of outdoor plants for small pots. Consider Camellias, Dogwoods, Dracaenas, and Nigella as the perfect choice for your outdoor space. These plants can survive the heat and humidity of most patios, but they also make excellent pot plants. Listed below are some of the best outdoor plants for small pots that you can choose for your space.
Nigella
When considering which Nigella outdoor plants are best for small pots, it’s best to consider the time of year. Nigella is a short-lived plant that blooms during the summer months. To ensure continuous summer flowering, consider succession plantings. Afterward, these plants will scatter seeds. Nigella thrives in full sunlight or partial shade. Nigella outdoor plants for small pots are perfect for sunny spots because of their short flowering time.
Nigella is a great annual for sowing over spring bulbs, as it fills in the bare spots left behind when the bulbs have finished blooming. It is also a good cut flower, due to its horned pod-like seedhead. Since Nigella seeds reseed readily, you can reuse the plant year after year. Love-in-a-mist, on the other hand, is an excellent choice for shady areas, as its seed pods look like straw.
Another great feature of Nigella outdoor plants for small pots is that the plant self-sows once established. Thin seedlings should be separated regularly to prevent them from becoming overcrowded. Alternatively, you can harvest the flowers once they have faded. The flowers are beautiful and look great in arrangements. The flowers can also be harvested early, when they are fully colored. You can then let the seeds mature and produce seed pods.
Camellias
The first step in planting a camellia is to ensure the plant’s proper drainage. Once the plant has rooted in its pot, backfill the soil mixture around the root ball, making sure to tamp down the soil and remove any air pockets. If planting it higher, fill the pot halfway up with soil and then backfill with soil mixture. Don’t overfill the pot – this will suffocate the plant.
One of the greatest benefits of camellias is their easy maintenance. While they don’t need heavy feedings, they can be easily overfed. Feeding them after July could lead to bud drop. Usually two or three feedings between April 1 and September 1 will suffice. A camellia’s foliage can reach 20 feet, so if you don’t mind a bit of pruning, you should choose one of the smaller varieties.
The next step is to repot your camellia. Once it’s old enough, transfer it back to its original pot. Don’t bury the roots, as they don’t like to be buried. The roots of camellias do not like to be buried so you should avoid planting them too deep. For best results, repotting your camellia is an annual process.
Dracaenas
There are some important considerations when selecting a dracaena for outdoor use. Aside from the size of the plant, you need to find a location that receives filtered to medium sunlight. Aside from the light conditions, make sure the dracaena has plenty of space to grow. Dracaenas can grow to quite substantial sizes so you should be prepared to repotte them every one or two years.
The planters for dracaenas can range in size from 5.5 inches to seven inches. Choose the ones that are the right size for the container. These pots have brilliant water gauges and will require constant watering. Dracaenas are also great plants for small pots. They need low-maintenance care and are easy to care for. The planters come in many different colors and are ideal for small pot gardens.
Plants can grow quite tall in containers. However, they are not hardy and require wintertime protection. For outdoor use, it is best to choose a shady location. If you do not want to move the pots outdoors, a covered porch can work. Gradually move your plants into areas with more light. Watch the foliage for discoloration. Once you move the pots outside, expect a quick growth.
Dogwoods
If you are looking for a fast-growing and hardy plant that will grow well in a small pot, consider a dogwood. These trees have yellow twigs and can grow up to nine feet in height. They do need a sunny location and will require ample space. You can purchase varieties at your local nursery. The dogwood tree is also known as Cornus florida.
Dogwood trees require a well-drained, neutral soil with organic matter. Planting dogwoods in the fall or early spring is recommended as they will require less watering. In addition, this time of year is the best time to plant them since they are preparing for dormancy. Dogwoods require at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If you live in an area with below freezing temperatures, you may want to consider a fiberglass or plastic pot. These pots come in a variety of sizes, so you will have no trouble finding one that fits your needs.
A shrubby variety is called twig dogwood. Its foliage is usually green with a white margin. The flowers mature to blue-white berries. The plant produces tiny white blooms on new growth branches during the winter. These blooms are not showy but do develop into attractive fall fruits. A dogwood is an excellent choice for a small pot, and it will make a great addition to your landscape.
Impatiens
The first step when planting Impatiens outdoors is to harden them off. Ideally, they should be placed in a shady area for 1 to 2 hours daily, and brought back inside after this time. During the first two weeks of growing impatiens outdoors, increase this time by an hour or two each day until the plant is fully established. If the climate in your area is not shady, use a commercial potting mix that is lightweight and contains peat and compost. You can also use vermiculite, perlite, or compost as long as the soil is moist.
Traditional impatiens can be tricky to grow outdoors. They do best in a warm climate, such as 65 F or warmer. They are perennials in USDA Zones 10 and 11 and other similar climates. They die if temperatures drop below 34 F. While impatiens do not require a lot of pruning, it is still necessary to regularly check for dead or damaged leaves. A good fertilizer for impatiens should be applied every two weeks to promote new growth.
The main problem with impatiens is their vulnerability to pests. They are prone to aphids and whiteflies. If you are growing impatiens in a sunlit area, make sure you water them regularly. Insects and other pests will destroy the plants in this environment, so it’s a good idea to take steps to protect your impatiens from them.
Heucheras
Heucheras grow in most types of soil and require little maintenance. They prefer partial shade and moist conditions, but will not tolerate too much water. Heucheras do best in well-drained soil and can be planted any time of year, provided the ground is not frozen. In mid-March to April, they are best planted. Mulching will help keep moisture in the soil and prevent rot. Mulching will also provide the plants with nutrients and water.
Heuchera ‘Rose-Purple’ is similar to ‘Rose’ in color. Its foliage has rose-purple undertones and flowers are rose-pink. This variety is great for partial shade and needs moist soil. It can tolerate as much as four hours of direct sunlight, but should avoid direct sun entirely. Bronze Wave is another excellent choice. Its foliage is a pale pink with coppery veins, and it’s great for small pots.
Heucheras do well in small pots. While they grow up to about a foot, they look stunning in containers. The copper-colored variety can be mixed with trailing Jade succulents, lobelia, and ornamental grass. Their rich foliage brings out the colors of many other plants in your garden. They can also be grown in houseplants. So don’t hesitate to try them out!
Lobelia
If you want a dramatic color display on your patio, balcony, or porch, consider growing the following plants in your small pot. The flowering verbena, a perennial, is drought tolerant and features clusters of pretty blooms. It doesn’t trail down like many other flowering shrubs do, but it creates an elegant mound. It also requires very little care. It is best to plant hydrangeas in partial shade as they are susceptible to heat.
Nigella sativa and lilac are excellent choices if you want a low-maintenance plant. Both ivy and lilac grow well in containers. You can choose an all-green plant or a variety with variegated foliage. You can plant either variety in a pot for a low-maintenance look, or you can plant them in several large ones for a spectacular focal point.
The golden creeping Jenny grows to four inches in height and cascades beautifully over the rim of the pot. This deer-resistant plant produces pink, purple, or white flowers. It requires soil that is slightly acidic and well-drained. However, it will grow well in any part of the country, although it thrives in zones 2-9. For additional shade-tolerant plants, consider Japanese pieris. It is a deer-resistant shrub with colorful foliage.