Why do some plants do well in containers while other don't?

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eden100 Edinburg, IL(Zone 6a) Sep 18, 2011

Some plant descriptions say "does well in pots". If the pot is deep enough and wide enough and all other requirements are met, why wouldn't any plant do well in pots? What plant requirement is most difficult to replicate in a planter? Drainage, root temperature, what?

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 18, 2011

Most plants (actually I would say all...but maybe there's an exception out there somewhere!) would be happier planted in the ground vs in a pot. In a pot the roots can't spread out the same way, the soil temperature fluctuates a lot more, drainage is different, and as a consequence it's harder to get the watering just right so moisture levels tend to swing more widely than they would in the ground. There also aren't as many nutrients in potting mix--you can fertilize of course but that's not quite the same as what plants get from the soil in the garden. Some plants adapt better to the conditions in pots than others which is why you see some listed as doing well in pots.

To help make plants as happy as they can be in a pot, look around here for some of tapla's posts about how you can make your own potting mix that drains a lot better than the mixes you can buy, plant in light colored pots since they won't absorb as much heat, and try to keep the containers out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.

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eden100 Edinburg, IL(Zone 6a) Sep 18, 2011

thank you :)

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