There's a wonderful world of benefits of growing plants in pots. You can position them in a prime position when they're looking fabulous, take them with you if you have to move and have the flexibility to create different potted displays throughout the year. Growing plants in pots is also fantastic for beginners, as they're a small and easy project to tackle and doesn't take much time at all. Let's get potting!
With so many fabulous plants on offer during autumn, it may feel a little overwhelming to know what to choose. However, for an easy 30 - 40 cm diameter pot project, head to your local garden centre and look for smaller plants, potted colour (which are advanced seedlings that are often already flowering) and seedlings, rather than large plants and shrubs. You can use a single plant or combine a few different plants in the one pot. Need more inspiration? How about:
A gorgeous autumn flowering Salvia from the 'So Cool' Salvia range from Plant Growers Australia.
A combination of Mediterranean herbs like Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano and Sage or a mix of salad greens like loose-leaf Lettuce.
Some bright orange or yellow calendulas or marigolds.
A few 'potted colour' pots of violas or pansies planted together in a window box or trough.
Choose a pot! It can be as decorative, plain or imaginative as you like, as long as it has good drainage holes and is also suited to the size of the plant or combination of plants you're using. You might have a spare pot lying around or some retail therapy could be in order.
Strong, lightweight options are Yates Tuscan Pots, which come in a range of sizes from 20 to 50 cm and are available in a traditional terracotta colour or the very popular Dark Grey Dulux Colorbond Monument.
Position the pot in its final position. For sun-loving plants look for a spot that receives at least six hours of sunshine a day. For plants that prefer shade, look for a protected area with dappled sunlight. Plant tags will tell you the amount of sunlight the plants need. Fill the pot with a premium potting mix like Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. It's enriched with Yates Dynamic Lifter to provide gentle organic nutrients to plants as they establish. It's a good idea to tamp the potting mix down so it's firm but not compacted.
Gently remove your plant or plants from their original pots. Squeezing the outside of the plant pot can help loosen the root ball and allow you to more easily extract the plant. Dig holes in the potting mix that are the same size as the plant's root ball. Place the root ball into the hole and gently backfill around the roots with potting mix. The idea is for the final level of potting mix to be at the same level as the potting mix that was originally around the plant. Planted too deeply many plants can be prone to stem diseases, planted too shallowly and the upper roots can be left exposed and dry out.
Water the new plants in gently and thoroughly. This helps settle the potting mix around the roots. Your new pot will need regular watering as the plants establish. It's also important to remember that pots dry out much faster than in-ground plants, and if the weather is warm and dry, watering each day may be required. The easiest way to check the moisture levels in the potting mix is to dig around with your finger in the top few centimeters of mix. You will be able to feel whether the mix is still moist or it's dry and needs a drink.
It's important to remember that potted plants are completely reliant on us for all their nutrients, so regular feeding is crucial to ensure plants are growing and flowering at their best. Feeding is not difficult or confusing! Dilute two capfuls of Yates Thrive All Purpose Liquid Plant Food in a nine litre watering can and apply over the potting mix every week. One of the time-saving benefits of liquid fertilising is you can water and feed at the same time. While you're feeding, take the time to trim off any spent flowers and cut back any yellow or dead leaves and stems.
Common insect pests like aphids and caterpillars can take up residence in your potted plants. You may notice that leaves are curling or yellowing, which is an indication of sap-sucking aphids. Chewed leaves, stems or flower buds, as well as brown droppings, are an indicator of caterpillars. It's easy to protect your potted plants with quick sprays of Yates Pyrethrum Gun. Made with natural pyrethrin, an extract from the pyrethrum daisy, it's a ready to use spray that will control common insect pests like aphids and caterpillars
