Shade-loving plants can be tough to find, but these four plants are perfect for pots and hanging baskets. A steady stream of water will kill off aphids. You can also remove them manually. Mini impatiens and Corydalis are also great options for pots and hanging baskets. Bleeding heart, Peace lilies, and Corydalis are excellent choices for shady areas.
Mini impatiens
Impatiens are easy to care for annual plants that develop beautiful shapes without pruning. They are also self-cleaning, meaning they don’t need to be removed after the flowers have faded. Impatiens are best started indoors six to 10 weeks before the first frost and hardened off before transplanting them outdoors. If you don’t have the time or the space to start plants indoors, you can purchase transplants locally and plant them outdoors about 8-10 inches apart.
Impatiens are cultivated as an annual in many areas but can also be grown as a houseplant. They are not hardy perennials and perish in cold weather. Their foliage is soft and velvety and they grow to a height of 25 to 80 cm. Despite their name, impatiens come in a wide range of colors and are also referred to as Touch-Me-Not and Busy Lizzy.
Mini impatiens are great choices for pots or hanging baskets. They have the appearance of miniature roses. Some varieties even come in double or even multiple blooms. The blooms of New Guinea impatiens are larger and more colorful than those of their domestic counterparts. In hotter climates, they thrive in afternoon shade. They can tolerate partial shade, as long as they get adequate water.
Impatiens are one of the easiest plants to grow in the home. They bloom all year long and will look great indoors and in window boxes. Impatiens are also a necessary plant for undergrowth and flowerbeds in shady areas. You should consider growing them in pots or window boxes if you have limited space. They also make a great addition to window boxes and hanging baskets.
Corydalis
Growing corydalis in a pot can be a challenge, as they don’t tolerate hot, dry weather. Corydalis prefer moist, rich soil, with good drainage. The most important aspect of corydalis care is to avoid overwatering, as wet soil can cause root rot. The plant is hardy in zones 5 to 8, but will not survive in zone 7 or colder. In addition, it is susceptible to several pests and diseases.
This plant can add a splash of colour to a potted garden. You can plant it among shade perennials for a dramatic show. They form drifts of colour and then go dormant until next spring. Corydalis looks great around hellebores, and they also look stunning under deciduous trees. Their foliage is filigree and can tolerate deep shade and woodland positions.
Although corydalis is invasive and requires special care, it is low maintenance. You will only need to water it occasionally and pick off the spent flowers from the plant. Divide the plant every two or three years in spring to encourage new flower growth. Corydalis do not like to be disturbed, so don’t disturb the roots. For additional beauty, mix corydalis with other potted plants, such as hostas and hydrangeas.
For a more spectacular show, consider the Corydalis flexuosa. This plant has long, thin tubes of blue flowers, with spurs that extend upward from the center. Corydalis flexuosa is another popular shade plant. These plants can tolerate partial shade but still need some sun. Hellebore, known as the Lenten Rose, is another attractive option. Its flowers have a dark purple edge, and bloom in early winter.
Peace lilies
This shade flower is most desirable in a partially shaded area, but can tolerate a spot with direct sun. If you are worried about direct sunlight, plant peace lilies at least six to eight feet away from windows. Their yellowish leaves are an indication that they are receiving too much sunlight, so keep a watchful eye on your peace lilies. They can also tolerate fluorescent light.
Water peace lilies as needed. The plant doesn’t need much water and doesn’t mind watering less frequently, but peace lilies do not tolerate standing water and need to be watered only when their soil dries out completely. Water peace lilies only once a week, but make sure the water is of low nutrient content. When watering, remember to keep a saucer under the container to catch excess water. Water peace lilies as soon as they start drooping to show that they need water.
If you’d like to have a beautiful pot with little maintenance, you can plant peace lilies in shade areas of your home. They don’t need frequent pruning, but you might want to remove any dead leaves or wilted leaves that show signs of a problem. You can use pruning shears or scissors to prune your peace lilies. Make sure to use sharp scissors when pruning and be careful not to cut healthy tissue.
Unlike other plants, peace lilies need a good drainage system. Their roots prefer slightly acidic soil. You can buy a pot that is slightly larger than the peace lily’s root ball. During spring and summer, peace lilies need fertilizing once a month. However, you should not fertilize peace lilies in the fall or winter because they need time to rest.
Bleeding heart
You can easily buy a container plant of the Bleeding Heart. This beautiful flower also comes in bare roots and tubers. You can plant bare roots anytime of the year, but they need extra care during hot weather. If you’d like to grow a Bleeding heart plant in a pot, you can also purchase tubers and plant them in the spring or fall. To plant tubers, insert the eyes in the soil. Place them about an inch deep. Plants of Bleeding heart can grow two to three feet tall.
You don’t have to worry about slugs or rabbits because bleeding hearts don’t attract these pests. They also are not as susceptible to diseases as most plants. However, if you do notice slugs on your plants, they can easily be killed by using a beer trap. Diatomaceous earth is also good as a bait. But don’t plant bleeding hearts near small children or pets.
While the original variety is pink with gold foliage, the white-flowering version is a less common choice. This variety has gold leaves and is more delicate. But either way, the blooms will look beautiful in any pot. You can even grow a bleeding heart in a pot if you have slightly alkaline soil. After blooming, the plant will require pruning to ensure a tidy shape. However, it’s important to know that bleeding hearts need a slightly alkaline environment, so they need a well-drained pot and have a moist atmosphere.
This plant is an easy-to-grow perennial and does well in both full and partial shade. Its flower blooms in late spring and early summer, and then dies off and returns the following spring. If you want a plant with more flowers, you can choose a fringed species that will not die back. You can divide it to cover a larger area. It grows anywhere from nine inches to 1.5 feet tall.
The beautiful blue flower of the Cappadocian navelwort is an excellent shade flower for your pot. The plant grows up to four feet tall and two feet wide. It grows well in all-purpose potting soil that drains well. The soil pH ranges from six to seven. This plant has five-petaled blue blooms. It is hardy in USDA zones 6-9.
This flowering perennial is native to southern Europe, although it has recently become naturalized in Germany. It grows well in partial shade and is quite tolerant of stony soils. It can be grown as a groundcover or as a companion plant to a host of other shade-loving plants. Its blue-and-white flowers are an impressive focal point against the green leaves of the cappadocian navelwort.
If you’re looking for a plant for a pot in full shade, try a Natal lily. This plant needs a well-drained, humus-rich soil that retains moisture. It prefers a slightly acidic soil, but will tolerate a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. Its beautiful, waxy funnel-shaped flowers are perfect for shady areas.
Omphalodes is a perennial with broad, green leaves. It blooms with blue flowers in winter. The plant thrives in a rich, moist soil that drains well. This shade plant is hardy enough to grow in containers, and it can tolerate deer and other pests. You can grow it in a pot by following the growing instructions on the package. These plants need partial shade and full shade.