Potting Plants

        Sometimes you just have to have that special plant, even though it's not rated for your zone and you know it will never make it through the first freeze. Go ahead and get your plant, pot it up and enjoy it all summer outside and all winter inside. 

        Potted plants allow those in the colder climes to enjoy a little greenery all year round. Most small and medium sized perennials and shrubs will do well in a pot, as long and they are potted correctly and well maintained. Potted plants should be watered and fed regularly since they are in a limited amount of soil. But beware of over watering your potted plants. The soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings to allow the roots to take in oxygen. Potted plants still require some sunlight. Shade plants, such as the Cast Iron Plant, will do well in shaded indoor locations, while sun-loving plants, such as Stachys byzantina, love sunny windowsills. 


Soil
        Good soil is necessary for the growth and survival of potted plants. There are soil mixes specifically for potted plants, but you can prepare your own soil mix with one part regular potting soil, one part sphagnum moss, one part perlite or sand and a touch of manure. Acid loving plants, like Azaleas, require peat moss or ground bark added to the soil mix. Desert plants and succulents require a faster draining soil, so add more sand to the potting mix with a layer of gravel on the bottom of the pot. 


Planting
        Chose a pot that is slightly larger than the pot size of your plant. Most one gallon plants fit perfectly in an eight inch pot. Arbor and Bloom offers a variety of pots for indoor and outdoor use. Cover the drainage hole with a large rock or pottery shard. Cover this with a layer of potting soil mix. The plant should be planted at the same level it was in the nursery pot. Unpot your plant by gently squeezing the sides and then sliding it out of the plastic pot. Place it in the new pot to the correct height and fill in with potting soil. Wet thoroughly (remember to place a shallow dish beneath the pot to catch runoff) and enjoy. 

Maintenance
        Potted plants placed indoors for the winter require a little maintenance. They should be fed regularly with a light application of an organic, liquid fertilizer, such as MarineGro. Plants should be watered less in the winter and usually require some misting in dry, indoor environments. Remove dead or dying leaves to prevent disease and improve the look of your plants. Clean the leaves occasionally with a wet cloth to remove grime and insects. Indoor plants also need periodic repotting to accommodate their growth and replenish the soil. Loose bark, or mulch, can be placed on the soil surface to improve water retention and appearance. 
        Arbor and Bloom sells a huge variety of plants that thrive in pots. Gardenia jasminiodes 'Veitchii' is a small, white-blooming shrub perfect for one of our ruffled edge pots. Try Agave, Cyperus papyrus or Euphorbia lambii for a different look in potted plants. Vines, such as Akebia quinata grow beautifully in a pot, trained on a small trellis. Whatever you decide to plant, be sure and place it where you can enjoy your little garden everyday.