Preparing for conainer display- help needed.

I'm such a fan of the beautifully designed container combos I see posted, and need some guidance and suggestions from the talented folks on this forum :-). I have a 2 level deck that sits under a maple tree, and its a perfect place to spend time and grow a lot of my houseplants during summer. I use all clay pots, and am kind OCD about all the containers looking cohesive together. I'd been wanting to see more bright color out there, and had good results with Coleus, Caladiums, and Begonias, but was still craving more bold spots of color among all the subdued greens and terra cotta. Then I saw this picture, and was totally inspired:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6237290

To get a feel for this effect with as little $ as I could get away with, I started the project last year by painting several of my pots. I'm liking that look and plan to continue adding colorful features. This year, I believe I'm going to paint some of the built in features of the deck, like benches and tables, in some of those eye popping colors, and possibly try my hand at making some cushions and pillows for the benches (hopefully in a print or prints that combine the colors I'm using). I still want to see 1) more color from blooms, and 2) nicely designed combinations of plants in single containers. I like starting with small plants and watching them fill in, and enjoy starting as many from seed or cuttings as I can, but I do plan on investing in some bedding plants this spring.

Any suggestions as to plant combinations for shade/semi-shade, or what to combine with things I have you see in the pics would be greatly appreciated. I just can't seem to achieve those well designed combos, and now its a mission, LOL.

This will be my 4th summer here, and things that were happy on the deck the first couple of years are now getting too much shade. Some of the empty looking pots here have Callas in them. I believe those will require a sunnier home this year. I plan on using quite a few Impatiens, some Torenia, and Nasturtiums (which I "tested" last year and was surprised how well they performed in shade).

Most of the Geraniums I tried last summer were in too much shade to bloom heavily, so those will go elsewhere this summer too. The Pineapple Lilies perform well and I love them out there, just not that colorful.

None of these combos ended up being half what I was hoping for, even though a lot of the plants did perform well.

I'm with you Neal I planted a lot more containers last year but I'm just never happy with them I don't get enough for full sun where I have them and too much sun for like begonias it's so frustrating! I know it can be done I've seen other containers what is our problem lol Last year thought I would add more fert. but that didn't help, I did have one container that was fool proof sort of with Blue Lyme grass and about four of the new Caramel coral bells I started from seed that looked pretty good this year and it didn't matter if it was sun or shade so I may go that route this year just trying plants that will get along no matter what sun they are in lol

One good plant that will take sun or part sun is that Diamond Frost have you grown that one before it is georgoeus! I had three in the ground and one in a pot this year I plan on putting something with that in a pot you have to get at least one of those for this year if you are going to buy any! I haven't a clue what I will use with it though it's a pretty full plant on it's own something tall like maybe a black elephant ear I have a few of those.

I did order a beautiful white with red veins caladium from Bill and plan on putting some red impatiens in with them I just hope it looks as good as it sounds and my impatiens make it.

http://www.caladiumbulbs4less.com/servlet/the-332/1-fdsh-2-Dz.-Grade-%231/Detail

I'm going to be watching to see what everyone says nice thread Neal!

I tried painting some plastic pots, with some success. I don't want to use colorful pots for the house plants because I like for the containers to look nice with the interior decor, but I'm not sure I like the clay alongside the colors. I may consolidate the clay to one part of the lower deck this year- the house plants are so happy there in summer, and do provide instant lushness in spring that I appreciate.

Neal
Have you tried any pereniels? Some of the Coral Bells and Hostas could look very cool in your pots. you can always tuck in some small trailing Lobielia to add some interest against the pot color. I have also used the Lamium series of ground cover to add interest. Lime green against your blue pots would pop in the shade.
In my zone I go to the big box home depots and by out the big inside plants when they clear them out and just use them outside for the season. They usually do well in the shade.
Pots are always changing and evolving have fun with your experiments!
Ann

Great suggestion Ann,

I have used ferns, hostas & even cypress trees in my shaded area in pots. Neal, If you plant some of the perennials that are Zone 2 or 3, then they would probably winter over in the container, if it is large enough. Not recommended for clay pot though, they would break.

I have some ferns that have wintered over in half wooden barrels for a couple of years now.

Lea, I've never grown it, but I do love that Diamond Frost- I don't think it would get enough sun on my deck, but it may tolerate the front porch sun well. The front porch gets hot afternoon/evening sun; I've been considering Geraniums out there, and I bet the Diamond Frost would look great with them. In that pic in the link above, those full pots of Geraniums are gorgeous.

Ann, thanks so much! You've just reminded me, I had considered doing just that last year after seeing some combo pots folks here had posted with Hostas, Heuchera, and some other shade perennials. It is a great way to baby and beef up smaller plants before they go into the garden, and its not like throwing $ away on annuals (although I do intend to purchase Impatiens- too big a pain to raise them in the house).

This is a big plastic pot I painted and filled with yellow callas, red begonias, and wondering Jew. The Callas never bloomed, I didn't put enough begonias in, and the Jew finally filled in nicely by summer's end. I was so disgusted with it I didn't even dig out the callas in fall...it wasn't intentional, but I think I just didn't like looking at it and put it so far out of my mind, I forgot about them, LOL.

How well does Margarita Sweet potato grow in shade? Some bright punches of chartreuse would be great.

Here's a few years ago

Very lovely, Joanna! Are those New Guinea Impatiens in that hanging basket? I've been admiring your pics, do you plant combos in most of your containers or a single variety? I seem to do better with single variety per container, and do enjoy moving them around into groupings as they grow.

I'll tell who's ruined me (ok, inspired me, or at least that's what I'll say once I've achieved success, LOL)- Tomtom, are you around? Those images gloriously designed combinations of such perfectly grown plants are seared into my brain, LOL.

The orange & white impatiens are Envoy Orange Star from seed and I do not remember the variety of the solid orange. No New Guineas in the pic

Joanna, I love the little trees in your picture from 1:45 pm. Are those the cypress you mention? Which variety? Are they hardy over the winter?

They are Cupressus macrocarpa (Wilma)
Zone 7 so they are in the house until March & then I will put them in the GH until May

So they don't need a cold period over the winter in order to be healthy?

No, but must never dry out. I think I lost one. It doesn't look that great. The other one is fine

Neal - why not try some coleus? They're hard to beat for color in the shade but don't let them flower.

Try this link for even more inspiration and ideas:
http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/staging-container-plant-display.aspx

Neal - why not try some coleus? They're hard to beat for color in the shade but don't let them flower.

Try this link for even more inspiration and ideas:
http://www.finegardening.com/design/articles/staging-container-plant-display.aspx

There's a link on my website to a power point presentation of different container combinations. Click here:

http://fertisorb.com/homegardeners/containercombinations.html

follow the link you see at the bottom of the page. I hope you enjoy them.

FertiSorb,

The link for the presentation on your web page didn't work

For some reason the link got broken. I just fixed it (I think). Please try again.

It worked fine for me, Steve. Lots of nice container ideas there.

Pirl, Coleus have been the most reliable source of color for the deck, I'll certainly be using lots of them again this year :-). I had a great collection of Coleus going, but lost all that I was overwintering last year when the ice storm knocked out our power for 8 days and the plant room got too cold. I may pic up a bag of Caladiums from Bill too, they do well out there. I still want to get some bright blossoms to toss into the mix. I like the staging idea too! Don't know why it never occurred to me to use black nursery pots!

Fertisorb, lovely baskets! How much sun do you grow them in?

Thanks for the compliment, but I can't say that I've grown all them. You'll have to check the tags on the individual plants to see how sun-tolerant they are. As I mentioned on the slide show, I was given permission from Proven Winners to publish the container combinations. I know the guys who started the company; they're good people, and they've done a wonderful job building the company. First class.

gemini_sage...In addition to the plants previously mentioned, I use the following consistantly in my shade beds and shade containers:

Bacopa~The pelleted seeds available now are pricey, but once they were a couple inches high last year, I separated each pelleted "bunch" into several individual plants. If started early enough, you can then take cuttings from those plants. From two packages of just a few seeds, I had more bacopa than I knew what to do with. SInce it's about $4.95 for a 4" pot up here, it was nice to have an abundance to work with.

Balsam~(Impatiens balsamina)...A great plant that is under-used and also easy to grow from seed

Mountain Garland...Gets kinda tall-sprawley, but nice in the right application

Browallia~Great for adding eye-popping blue to shady areas. The white seeds are harder to find, but are available. I think I saw one recently that is blue with a white eye. Two heights available and it works in baskets, too.

Fuschia...Self explanatory...upright or trailing...

Heliotrope...Start it early indoors from seed

Impatiens~Tempo series or Xtreme come in some super vibrant colors that would complement or contrast with your painted pots. Big blooms.

Nicotiana...Lots of options there, too...Tall or short bushy

Clematis...Mine do best in semi-shade

Caladiums...I grew them last year in containers though I was told they wouldn't work up here. Started them in the garage. Transplanted them into containers and while they weren't Florida size, but they were fine.

Pansies~Easy to move pots of them around to fill in spaces, add color where needed.

Hope this gives you at least an option or two more for color...

Thanks so much Chocolatemoose! I love Bacopa, but didn't know it would grow well in shade! I need to check out Mt.Garland, not familiar with that one. And Fuschias, would be awesome- the hummers do frequent the area, so gotta have plenty of temptation for them. I'd wondered about Nicotiana, if they would tolerate the shade- glad to hear they do. I've got seed for 'Perfume Lime', which I love with bright colors. Last year I grew some Browallia there and will do them again this year, as well as Mimulus cardinalis, which performed well out there.

Neal - take a look at plants recommended for shade at Mischel's Greenhouses:
http://www.mischelsgreenhouses.com/

You might get some ideas from their site. They provide wonderful plants and many arrive already in flower. I've dealt with them since 1992 and have never been disappointed. Their packaging is superb.

Oooh, nice combo ideas there Pirl- Thank you! Love that pink combo! My favorite local greenhouse is in the neighboring town, Paris, KY, and they grow an amazing assortment of plants to perfection- a lot of the same varieties Mischel's offers. I'm already looking forward to my day trip to Paris! Not only is the greenhouse wonderful to peruse (they keep every imperfect leaf trimmed, not a weed to be found), but Paris is also a historic town with lots of horse farms and bourbon distilleries, so it makes for a lovely outing. Now, if the snow would just quit falling and we could get this winter over with, LOL!

Then you'll have April in Paris, Neal!