Watering Tips for Outdoor Potted Plants
There is plenty of helpful information on the internet for how to care for your gardens – both in the ground and raised. However, a growing number of people are swapping those sprawling garden beds for outdoor potted plants, which means having information on keeping them thriving is also crucial.
Through a lack of space or time, you might have large pots neatly arranged in your outdoor space. We’ve included some helpful information on how to help them live their best lives.
Position them in the sun
Even though not all plants like direct sunshine all day, it can be pretty vital to position your potted plants where they will see sunlight for at least a few hours each day. This can be quite a feat for plant owners in some parts of the country with less sun than others, but it can be necessary for plant survival.
If you’re concerned about the high intensity of the sunshine your chosen pot plant area receives, consider purchasing plants that thrive in the heat.
Portulaca Pizazz is a vibrant, gorgeous, and drought-resistant plant that thrives in full sun. Not only is it a brilliant groundcover plant, but it also does incredibly well in pots. You might also plant rosemary, flaxes, grasses, and succulents in your pots if you’re worried about the impact of drought conditions.
Keep soil damp, but not wet
Soil can be complicated. Not only do you have to buy the right type for your plants, but you also have to make sure you keep it at the right moisture level. Outdoor potted plants require moist soil but don’t tend to love it when it’s too moist. Strike a balance for the best chance of success.
Generally, outdoor potted plants need more water than those planted in the ground. Water them generously until water runs out the bottom, and make sure any containers you buy have holes for this to happen.
You can gain a sense of when you need to water by touching the soil. Water it when it’s dry to touch and pay attention to your plant type’s specific watering instructions.
With the fear of underwatering, there is also the fear of overwatering, which some plants can be sensitive to. Always give your outdoor potted plants plenty of time to try out between watering.
Be careful with how you’re watering the plants
Now that you know when you should water, it’s a good idea to focus on how you should water. Surprisingly, there is a right and wrong method. Water from the top down so that you can avoid getting water on the leaves of your plants. This can increase the risk of fungal infections.
However, this is unlikely to be a problem if you have tropical plants like ferns, air plants, and orchids that thrive on humidity. Their leaves are waxy, which means water mostly slides off them.
Add mulch
Mulch is any gardener’s best friend, and it can also be a helpful product to have if you’re the proud owner of outdoor potted plants.
Plants that are sensitive to over-watering can greatly benefit from it, and it may also stop soil from drying out fast. Some plant owners even rely on mulch to regulate soil temperature and improve the aesthetics of their potted plants.
Use potting mix
Digging in your garden for soil to fill your outdoor pots can be tempting. After all, it’s free and easily accessible. However, if you want to put your plants in the best possible position to thrive, leave that garden soil where it is.
Instead, invest in potting mix. Potting mix is far better for air circulation and drainage than soil. It’s also readily available from garden stores, easy to tip into pots, and affordable.
Don’t set a schedule
Pets and children signal when they’re hungry or thirsty, but plants can’t. Typically, they just start to show signs of neglect, and by that point, it might be too late to bring them back from the brink of death.
If you’re a self-described neglectful plant parent, you may have considered setting a watering schedule so that you never forget. However, this may actually do your plants more harm than simply failing to water them often.
Plants only require water when the soil is dry, and that may not always be at the same time on the same day that your schedule calls for. Simply get into the habit of poking and prodding your soil to take note of soil moisture levels.
Leave all yard maintenance to the experts
Taking care of your lawns and outdoor plants can take up a considerable amount of your time and energy. If you’d prefer to do something much more fun than watering plants, leave these tasks in the capable hands of lawn care experts.