Are you wondering what are the best plants for planters? Read on to discover the most beautiful and enduring planters for your patio or deck. From fragrant Hybiscus to easy-to-grow Pelargoniums, this article will help you find the perfect flowers and plants for your space. Read on to discover what you should be growing this year! Now that you’ve decided what you want to plant, it’s time to choose the best planters for them!
Hibiscus
Hibiscus can be repositioned several times in its pot depending on its cultural needs and where the sun shines in the garden. It can grace a patio or a pool area and can tolerate partial shade and hot afternoon sun. Hybiscus are easy to propagate from cuttings. You can start a new plant anytime during spring, when new growth is most plentiful. Use pencil-thick cuttings that are five or six inches long. Strip off the lower leaves and insert the cutting in a mix of three parts sand to one part peat. Within four to five weeks, you should see roots growing. Plants that have successfully emerged can be moved to larger containers or even permanently transplanted to different locations.
Tropical hibiscus varieties are typically three to five feet tall and twenty to thirty inches wide. Choose from single or double flowers. Some varieties have red eye and are ruffled. Choose the one with a flower color you like – red leaf hibiscus will make your plant look beautiful. You can choose an award-winning double red or a yellow and pink variety.
Tropical hibiscus thrives in USDA zones nine and ten. In colder regions, you can grow it as an annual, but you should cover it with a blanket or bring it inside for the winter. Cold temperatures damage the roots of the hibiscus, so be sure to cover it when the weather turns chilly.
Mandevilla
When it comes to flowers, mandevilla is one of the best plants for your planters. It grows best in the heat and is best grown in containers near a south-facing wall. Avoid overwatering this plant, as it will not survive a hard freeze. If your mandevilla is protected indoors, you can mist the leaves to maintain humidity levels. It is essential to fertilize your mandevilla in the spring and fall, as it needs nutrients to bloom its flowers. Fertilize your plant twice a year, at half strength, during blooming time.
If you are unsure about planting mandevilla in a pot, start by measuring the space you have available. This tropical vine will grow to a maximum of 4 to 6 feet tall, but it will not spread out from its pot. A sturdy support will be necessary. In addition, mandevilla plants should be planted in a climate with full sun, as they prefer this. Mandevilla can tolerate a variety of soil types and needs regular fertilization.
You can protect your Mandevilla from insects by spraying a light solution of neem oil on the leaves. This is a natural insecticide, and it is toxic to most insects. One of the most common pests that attack Mandevilla are mealybugs, which tend to collect under the leaves. These tiny bugs attack poorly watered plants. Lack of water and humidity also encourage mealybugs to attack your plant.
While the mandevilla plant can live in a pot, it does not like colder temperatures. It needs bright light in a cool spot and partial shade in hot climates. When temperatures are above 50 degrees F, you can move your plant to a sunny window and watch it grow! You can also move the mandevilla pot outdoors in the summer. It will grow well in a sunny window or planter if the nights are consistently above fifty degrees.
Impatiens
If you’re planning to grow impatiens in your planters this year, it’s important to know that they require regular watering. Although traditional impatiens prefer shade, they can tolerate some sun provided they have adequate water. Because their stems are filled with liquid, they are sensitive to water and will often wilt when they are dry. To make sure they stay happy, give them at least 2 inches of water per week.
Fertilizing impatiens can help them bloom better. Fertilize them with a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. You can also apply water-soluble fertilizers every two weeks or so throughout the growing season. Adding fertilizer regularly will give them the energy they need to continue blooming. Just make sure not to over-fertilize your impatiens, as too much can lead to leggy plants.
When planting impatiens in planters, you should use fresh soil to avoid root rot. Also, be sure to check the leaves frequently for yellowing, which means your impatiens are not getting the right amount of water. During the growing season, impatiens tend to grow very tall, so a good tip is to prune them or pinch them regularly to keep them from becoming leggy.
If you plan to transplant impatiens in your garden, you should harden them by placing them in a shady place for one to two hours. Then, bring them back indoors for a day or two, and then gradually increase their outdoor time every day. If you’re planning to plant impatiens in your garden, you’ll want to plant them at the end of spring, but it’s crucial that you do this correctly or else they’ll be dead before you know it.
Pelargoniums
If you’re looking for plants that are low-maintenance and perform well in planters, consider Pelargoniums. These plants make excellent additions to hanging baskets, window boxes, and window boxes. If you want something with a unique look, you can find scented-leaf Pelargoniums and ivy-leaved Pelargoniums.
The Zonenar geranium is perhaps the most familiar of all the varieties you can purchase from garden centres. The foliage is rounded and bears a cluster of flowers on long stalks. These plants range in colour from white to red and look great in planters and window boxes. There are two types of zonal geraniums: ivy-leaved geraniums and rounded leafed varieties.
A geranium’s best suited for a container is the perennial variety. Perennial geraniums need less water than their annual counterparts, but require higher soil moisture levels. Perennial geraniums also like full sun, but aren’t as fussy about it. These plants form a dense carpet when planted in pots. Make sure your planter has drainage holes. Make sure you add perlite to the soil and water your geraniums regularly.
Pelargoniums are excellent containers. They act as both fillers and thrillers, and their long-lasting blooms make them an excellent choice. They look gorgeous in groupings of several different pelargoniums. Trailing pelargoniums are especially attractive in hanging baskets and planters. These plants are not frost-hardy, so keep this in mind when choosing your geraniums.
Angel geraniums are smaller versions of regal types. They are bushy and compact and perfect for containers. They resemble pansy or viola flowers and make excellent choices for mixed planting schemes. These plants are best for containers because of their unique scent. The Pelargonium for Europe initiative was started to help grow geraniums in Europe and promote long-term sales.
Alyssum
Alyssum can be planted directly in a planter or in the garden. A light frost is OK. Seedlings should be spaced 8 to 10 inches apart and planted six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. Alyssum will grow up to four inches tall and form a mound about 12 inches in diameter. They are not drought-tolerant and should be planted in a moist area with indirect sunlight.
Alyssum plants are available in garden centers and nurseries. Their delicate white or purple flowers are attractive to both children and adults. They are also excellent for planters and container gardens, as their sweet fragrance is a magnet for beneficial insects. However, they are susceptible to botrytis, a grey mold that thrives in cool, damp areas. To avoid botrytis, keep your alyssum pots and planters well-drained, and treat them with a fungicide to prevent the growth of alyssum.
Sweet alyssum fills in spaces and spills over the sides of containers. Its delicate flowers are usually white, pink, or purple, and will complement many other plants. Despite the subtle color variation, alyssum is a great choice for planters and containers. Its blooms will add texture and contrast to any color scheme. Its flowers are also attractive when combined with other plants.
Sweet alyssum grows well in planters. Make sure to plant them in high-quality potting soil, as newer hybrids require more water than their older relatives. When planting sweet alyssum, choose a site that gets full sun, because it will bloom longer and fuller. Also, alyssum does not require deadheading, although older cultivars should be pruned to about half in mid-summer. Once established, it is a moderate feeder and can be sprayed with a time-release fertilizer or water-soluble fertilizer.
