I'm a man and a bachelor... so not a lot of knowledgeof plants and gardeningI have a small patio id like to 'class up" a bit byusing pots and plantsQuestion...many types of post to chose from. What isbest type and material for low maint pots and plants?I'm thinking HARD plastic over the softer foam pots,right?I would also move these pots INSIDE my house in winterand grow low care plants in winter as well. PeaceLily's?Anyway....advice on pots please?

Pot rules:1) Big pots dry out faster than small pots. A 12" high pot will dry out completely in the sun in about 4 hours. Know thyself. If you're gone at work for 8 hours a day, many of your plants will suffer in small pots, so buy the biggest you can manage. Up to your knees is about right, and keep them watered.2) Most plants want their roots cooler than their tops. Even if the pots did NOT dry out, they still get quite warm. So, again, bigger is better, and light colors are better than dark colors. Try and group the pots to shade some of them, even if it means sticking a patio chair in front of the pots on the warmest days.3) Red clay pots look great, but they're porous, so they dry out more quickly than materials like plastic. It's not always easy to find plastic pots that don't look tacky. One nice alternative is the half barrels sold at garden centers. They're big & unmanageable, and you wouldn't want them in the house. Buy smaller pots to use only in the house.4) Styrofoam:...

Best type of pots for patio?

Apr 17, 2006 22 Replies

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Doug Kanter 20 years ago

Even indoor plants sometimes need their soil flushed heavily to dilute mineral buildup. That's why drainage holes are still a good idea for them.

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Jim Voege 20 years ago

Good word, "interesting". :-)

Jim

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lmuller02 20 years ago

Hi, I saw this website regarding self-watering planters:

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don't know where they sell their poducts but they look really nice!! Just ask them. Hope this will help you!

Linda

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