There are many varieties of plants to choose from in your outside pots, but if you’re unsure of what to choose, read on to find out what’s best for your outdoor space. Dahlias, Camellias, Lavender, and Petunias all look great in pots. They are also known for their sweet fragrance and tolerance of heat and humidity. But which plants are best for outside pots?
Petunias
Petunias are great for outside pots because they can thrive in both the ground and planters. They require little care and flower profusely from spring through fall. They add greenery to your porch, and their trailing flowers add a dramatic burst of color. These low-maintenance plants will thrive even in poor soil. To give them the best growth possible, rotate them regularly so that they receive the same amount of sunlight.
Petunias are among the most popular annual flowers and are perfect for patio planters. Their varying mounding habits allow them to bloom throughout the summer. Trailing petunias provide color and fill a space. These plants can also be planted in window boxes for extra impact. In hot weather, petunias require additional care. For best results, plant them in a sunny location.
Once established, petunias can be transplanted outdoors anytime from spring to fall. However, they grow best when planted in the spring. In the fall, petunias can survive in cooler temperatures. With the proper care, they can last until autumn. Planting them later in the season will not allow them to establish their roots yet and may require extra watering to survive warm temperatures.
Petunias can be divided into four main types, each with their own benefits. Grandifloras are the largest and most colorful of the four and are most likely to be destroyed by heavy rains. Hedgifloras are trailing varieties that are good groundcover. The Multifloras are smaller and more drought-tolerant than grandifloras. Lastly, Millifloras are small and can tolerate harsh weather.
Dahlias
In warm climates, dahlias are best grown in containers that have good drainage. Ensure that the soil in the pot is at least one inch below the top of the plant, and add more if necessary. Remove any dead leaves from the plant after the foliage has faded. In the winter, dahlias can be overwintered in pots. Make sure that the potting mix contains good drainage qualities.
Dahlia tubers should be carefully planted with the eyes facing upward. The stems should be at least one inch long, but can be as long as six inches in diameter. The plant’s neck should be in good shape and the top two leaves should be removed. Place the tuber half-way into the pot. Dahlia tubers are easy to grow from cuttings, and they can be started indoors about a month before they’re ready for the outdoors.
When growing dahlias outdoors, make sure you protect the plants from freezing temperatures. In the first couple of days after transplanting, they can be left outside overnight, but they’ll need some protection from rain and wind. After this acclimation period, you can plant your plants in the ground. Dahlias prefer a sunny location and regular watering. If you’re not sure about the soil, you can always use a pop-up greenhouse to grow your plants.
If you’re planting your dahlias in an outdoor pot, it’s important to remember that they grow top-heavy and will easily fall over. Lightweight plastic containers are not sturdy enough to support dahlias, so you might want to consider using a sturdy pot to protect them from the elements. Ceramic or terracotta pots are more durable and heavier, but they can also absorb water.
Camellias
There are a few different tips you can use to ensure that your camellias survive the winter. First, make sure to water them regularly prior to cold temperatures. Camellias require a consistent moisture level and should be watered once or twice a week to keep the soil moist. Camellias may not tolerate prolonged periods of neglect, but they will display certain behavioral changes if they do. They should also be watered frequently, as they will show certain signs of root rot if the soil becomes too dry.
To replant a camellia, dig a hole slightly deeper than the root ball. Make sure to backfill the soil mixture around the root ball so as to remove any air pockets. The soil should reach halfway, but do not overfill the container. Likewise, if you are planting higher than the base of the pot, the soil mixture should taper downwards to ground level. Avoid placing the plant too close to the ground because that will cause overwatering.
If you are growing camellia seedlings in pots, you should fertilize them once they have absorbed the seed. Cotton seed meal is acceptable for this. Moreover, commercial dry fertilizers can be harsh for babies. In the growing season, you should apply liquid starter fertilizer every two weeks to your camellias. During dormancy, the level of nitrogen should be low to encourage flower and bud development.
You can also prune camellias to keep their shape. You can prune them in mid-summer to get a compact shape. When pruning, make sure to wipe down the pruning tools with rubbing alcohol to prevent disease from spreading to the rest of the pot. If you’re looking for a smaller plant, it might be best to transfer your camellias to a greenhouse. The cold weather is the worst time to prune your camellias, but it is possible to control the growth rate.
Lavender
One of the best ways to add a touch of sophistication to your outdoor space is to plant lavender in an outside pot. However, lavender is not the only choice for this type of container. There are also several plants that can be grown together, such as echinaceas, zinnias, and roses. These companion plants require similar conditions but do not need as much water. For best results, you should use a soil that drains well.
The best lavender plants for outside pots will need minimal pruning and maintenance. Pruning lavender once a year will encourage it to produce more flowers and grow larger. You should also prune back any bud shoots in early spring to promote new growth. Then, when the flowers have finished blooming, cut them back a third each year. Pruning lavender will extend the time that you can harvest flowers. Once they are fully grown, you can prune them in the fall or spring to encourage blooming.
The best way to plant lavender in an outdoor pot is to buy a large pot, which has plenty of soil. A large pot will help insulate the roots from the winter, and a small one will prevent it from drying out too quickly in the summer. Plastic or metal pots are easy to move around, but ceramic or terracotta pots offer much better protection. Ceramic pots are heavier, but are worth it for their higher-quality protection against the elements and their extreme temperatures. The soil should be kept moist but not too wet, as this may cause root rot. A layer of gravel or sand around the base of the pot is another way to prevent compacting the soil.
The Buena Vista cultivar is a fast-growing variety that is closely related to the wild lavender found in the Mediterranean. This cultivar has small, toothed leaves and large flowers with a pleasant eucalyptus fragrance. While it is not recommended for drying, this cultivar does well in pots, especially if you don’t want to have to deal with a lot of maintenance.
Ponytail palm
If you want to grow this palm in an outdoor pot, you must keep in mind that it needs full sun. It’s only hardy in USDA hardiness zones nine through twelve. A more cost-effective alternative is to use a mix of half succulent potting soil and half cactus potting soil. However, you must make sure that you avoid overwatering your plant. Here are some tips to care for it successfully.
In general, the ponytail palm requires low water, which is an advantage compared to other plants. However, you should water it occasionally, and mist it once a week. Once the leaves have turned brown and soft, it is time to stop watering. Ponytail palms can survive several weeks without water. If you do not water them frequently, they might become unhealthy and may die. To prevent this, you can spray them with a solution of dish soap and water.
If you are looking for a drought-tolerant plant for your outdoor pot, ponytail palm is the perfect choice. Its thick trunk helps it conserve water and is drought-tolerant. If you grow it outdoors, you must give it plenty of room for it to grow, and remember that it will not survive in poor soil. Unlike palms, ponytail palms don’t have deep roots, so it is important to place it in an outside pot. If it doesn’t get enough space, it could topple over during strong winds.
In southern states, the ponytail palm can be grown outdoors, but it needs a sunny location. Since it grows slowly, it is best to keep it inside during the winter months, and bring it out during the summer and fall. Although it is not difficult to care for a ponytail palm in an outdoor pot, it needs a consistent water supply and adequate sunlight. You can water it once a week or even less.