Great container-garden ideas
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PHILADELPHIA — As hot hobbies go, container gardening is sizzling.
The number of container gardeners has more than doubled over the last five years, the National Gardening Association says, with 26 million households participating.
And the more popular container gardening becomes, the more products are marketed to help you do it better. Some really do.
Rain-Mats. Rain-Mats are ideal for hanging baskets. The water-absorbing pads are placed at root level, encouraging roots to grow into the engorged mats. You'll have to water only every few days. Rain-Mats come in packs of four. Each mat is 7 inches square. For window boxes or hayracks, try the Rain-Mat Roll, which is 22 inches wide and 16¼ feet long.
Rain-Mats, $4.95 pack; Rain-Mat Roll, $49.95; available through the Kinsman Co. catalog, 800-733-4146, or www.kinsmangarden.com.
Crystal clear. Water-retaining crystals you mix in with the potting soil also can extend the time between waterings. I've had good results with Agrosoke root-watering crystals, but there are similar products on the market, from Rain-Gel Granules (from the people who make Rain-Mats), to Schultz Moisture Plus. To get my plants through a week or more between waterings (except for rain), I've successfully used Rain-Mats and Agrosoke in window boxes and hanging baskets.
Agrosoke, $10.97 for a one-pound jar; available at Lowe's stores or www.lowes.com.
Getting to the roots. DirectRoot WaterSpike was designed to deliver water to the root zone of container plants. Since the perforated spike stays in the pot, it also helps aerate the soil. If you want to fertilize as you water, use DirectRoot PLUS spikes, which contain different fertilizers for different plants.
DirectRoot also makes a product with vacations in mind: GelSpike is water in gel form that oozes into the WaterSpike and slowly reverts to water when it comes in contact with soil. It is billed as being able to water a house plant for two to three weeks (less for outdoor containers).
DirectRoot WaterSpike three-pack, about $2.99 for the 3-inch size, $3.99 for the 5-inch size; available at Kmart stores. DirectRoot PLUS, for roses, foliage plants, flowers, vegetables, etc., $4.49 for 3-inch, $5.99 for 5-inch, available at www.directroot.com. GelSpike Vacation Watering System (5-inch), $11.49 at www.directroot.com.
Be a convert. Convert your old pots into self-watering pots by installing reservoirs in them. Gardener's Supply has a 4-quart adjustable reservoir that can be placed in the bottom of any pot between 16 and 20 inches in diameter. It comes with a water-level indicator, too.
Adjustable reservoir, $14.95 ($12.50 each for two or more); Gardener's Supply, 800-427-3363 or www.gardeners.com.
The natural touch. Old-fashioned wire hanging baskets look prettiest when lined with sphagnum moss. But getting the moss to stay in place was a pain until I discovered New Zealand sphagnum moss basket liners in the Kinsman Co. catalog. These unfold to fit neatly into baskets, then expand when they're spritzed with water. (Kinsman says the moss is grown commercially and farmed under a plan approved by New Zealand conservation officials.)
Compressed moss liners, $6.50 for 12-inch basket size, $7.50 for 14-inch, $9.95 for 17-inch. Kinsman Co., 800-733-4146 or www.kinsmangarden.com.
The smooth approach. If you think moss is messy, try preformed liners made from the fibrous by-products of coconuts (marketed as coir, coco-fiber, or simply coconut liners). They're easy to use, drain readily, and are inexpensive.
Preformed fiber liners are available where gardening products are sold. At Lowe's stores, or at www.lowes.com, a liner for a 14-inch basket is $2.97; 16-inch, $3.97.
All feet on deck. Planters that sit flat on patios or decks may not drain well, and they can cause stains or rot. Try pot feet, a trio of which will hoist a container an inch or so off the surface. They're typically made of terra-cotta.
Or try the SurfaceSaver from Worldwise Inc., a circle of plastic on tiny feet, for minimum contact with a deck. They come in black or terra-cotta color, in four sizes from 5-inch to 14-inch diameter. Set of three simple pot feet, $4.75 from Lee Valley ($4 for four sets or more); 800-871-8158 or www.leevalley.com. Cat pot feet, $1.95 each from Kinsman Co.; SurfaceSaver, available at Wal-Mart, Kmart, Home Depot; manufacturer's suggested prices range from $3.98 for a 5-inch two-pack to $5.49 for a single 14-inch.