my sad brown thumb

I do ok with house plants but I have killed everything I have planted in containers. I live where the only place to plant is in containers. I need to start all over with my window boxes. my house faces the southeast. The area around me is asfault so lots of heat. Please does anyone have any ideas beside just giving up and using cactus everywhere.

thanks in advance

What plants have you tried? My best guess in the absence of any other information is that you were either watering too much or too little. If it was too much, then that's easy to fix, you just water less. If you feel like you were watering constantly but it still wasn't enough, you might try either bigger containers or get some of those moisture absorbing crystals. I'd also make sure your containers are light colored--dark containers if they're in sun all day can absorb a lot of heat and basically cook your roots.

There are so many experts here that can help. Perhaps your solution is cactus. I am just learning that this does not mean all those ugly thorny things (sorry cactus folks). Although I am not a cactus and succulant type/expert, there are many here who are. Don't give up hope with your gardening...look at your situation as a challenge that you can take with you where ever you go.

I guarantee things besides cactus will work if appropriate plants are chosen and they're watered frequently enough. Cacti and succulents are great choices as well if you like them, but plenty of people all over the country grow other sorts of plants in containers and window boxes all the time so there are plenty of other options.

I agree too, there are so many plants suitable for containers that the choice is endless, could you give us a bit more information as to where your containers sit, like on a veranda behind glass or on a window ledge OUTDOORS etc, also what size of planters you used in the past, soil type is a factor too if you have lots of sunshine on the containers, so give us the chance to help you by telling us some further info or a picture would help out better, there is a solution to most garden problems and just finding different methods of planting for each of us can be the way to go, look forward to hearing more from you. WeeNel.

Like most have already mentioned, it's hard to give advice without knowing details, but having grown out of containers myself I may be able to suggest a few plants to try.

Moonflower, Morning Glory and Sweet Peas grow fast and well during our summers. I was able to get away with one morning glory plant per 4 inch starter pot. Moonflowers and sweet peas require something alittle larger. They of course climb, so it may not be a feasible solution for you. But they certainly are beautiful...
Pansies, Petunias, Marigolds and Moss Roses did well in containers for me. As well as Coleus, Shamrocks and Hot/Ornamental Peppers.
You can even grow a pumpkin out of a rubbermaid tub... Although it was an accident, the thing sprouted out of my compost bin... Carved it up that Halloween too.

Anyhow... There are lots and lots of things that will grow well in containers. I suggest visiting the local garden shop and asking for the hardiest, fastest growing plant they have.

I have several plants growing on the west-facing wall of my house (brick) and all are thriving very nicely. They get blasted by out very hot sun all summer. I have two beautiful clematis that have been there for 3 years now and they bloom profusely. I have day lilies, blackeyed Susan, Shasta daisy, coreopsis, Mexican petunia, purple coneflowers, Indian Summer rudbeckia, and yarrow (paprika). Can't think of what else I have but perhaps these few suggestions will help. I think most, if not all, of these could be grown in containers and should tolerate the heat generated by the asphalt surrounding your house.

I think you were kidding about cactus. I also have to garden in containers in the blazing sun on concrete. I have had good luck with pentas, "sun" coleus, blue daze, alamanda, and even white lance leaf caladiums. Sometimes you have to water some things twice a day or even 3 times a day during a prolonged hot spell.

DP

Well, maybe cactus is a good idea if you don't want to water that much. Really, look at cactus and succulants. Their stuff is gorgeous.

dp's choices are great recommendations. I grew up in S. FL and the pentas, sun coleus (make sure they are the "sun") and alamanda are especially good. Rhoeo for color and there are a few in the wandering Jew family that are very sun and heat tolerant. There are interesting succulants and bromeliads. Some spill and tumble and others have very unusual exotic flowers. If I were you I'd experiment. The more thin leaved plants will be more labor intensive in regards to water.

Laurel