I have several new large containers that are waiting to be planted. I have usually only planted smaller containers so I guess I'm looking for something that can take living in a container that would have some height to it.Full sun plants are about the only thing for sure. Any ideas?I would like at least one container to have a fragrant rose if possible. The plants could be a mix of evergreen, perennial,annual succulents, grasses etc.Since these are on the patio a nice fragrance would be great. Any ideas welcome!One container in my front has Foxtail fern,a succulent and a penta in it.I could repeat that in the smallest container,but was really looking for something new and exciting.Also, what does everyone use to fill up the bottom of a large container instead of all potting soil?
container ideas,does and don'ts?
I use soil as it helps add weight to the pot when you put a larger plant in it and will require less water in the heat of summer. I have heard of people using aluminum soda cans, plastic bottles and styrofoam as pot fillers.
Right now I have three Brugs in pots for fragrance and blooms. I use pine straw or sphagnum moss as a mulch in these pots to retain moisture. Also Hibiscus with a succulent underplanting ~ no fragrance, just pretty blooms. I also have citrus in pots with nothing planted under so there will be no competition for moisture or nutrients. A favorite pot is a small bay tree or Laurus nobilis ( with leaves that I harvest for cooking ) and an underplanting of Verbena tenuisecta or purple trailing moss verbena.
I've never tried to grow a brug. I've heard how lovely they are. What conditions do they need?
Brugmansias are water and fertilizer hogs, but the soil has to drain fast because they are very susceptible to root rot. Don't use garden soil. In pots, it doesn't drain fast enough and if it dries out, it is difficult to re-hydrate. Use a potting mix as it is or you can add some perlite for extra drainage. Start with a small pot and pot up as the plant grows to avoid root rot. How tall and wide are the containers?
Bettydee ~ as you are knowledgable about the Brugs, I am curious if there is a dwarf Brug? That would be an ideal size in a pot. The ones I have grow too large and I still threaten to plant in ground but haven't decided on a location.
Potted jasmine makes a delightful fragrance also.
I suspect you have found this forum for soils, pots, watering and a variety of plants that will do well in pots? http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/containers/all/
I didn't know there was a forum just for containers! I'll be checking it out for sure. Though sometimes planting in Texas is different than other areas of the country.So I always ask ya'll first!
I've done tropical hibiscus and brugs for years in containers. Daturas works also.
Anne
This message was edited May 20, 2009 10:16 AM
I have a huge mixed pot planting near my front entrance. I wanted something that wouldn't require too much water since it's not near enough to convienently access with the hose. I put a red firecracker yucca in the back of the pot. I like the tall spikey form and it's gorgeous when it blooms. In front of this, I've added several shorter succulents in different colors that don't have thorns. They are filling in and it looks really nice. You might consider the yucca, even if you decide on flowers other than succulents for the front of the pot. Trailing rosemary also works well in pots and smells wonderful.
I like the idea of the yucca,Crowelli. I really like the idea of combining textures.It gives an interesting look all year and and I could vary the plants in front while at the same time providing a similar look so it doesn't look like a big mishmash.I've seen pictures you've posted on other threads of your yard etc....gorgeous!
podster,
Some of the Brugs are "more" compact, but no true dwarf, yet. Inca Sun is the first Brug that comes to mind.
http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R1124-4
Logee's has another one out this year, Angel's Summer Dream. Both are single yellow.
http://www.logees.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R1881-4
Sam, a double pink, is a slow grower and would be one to consider. It does require drier conditions than most Brugs. I know because I have killed 3 treating him like other Brugs before someone told me to keep it on the drier side.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/103541/
When I have time, I'll look for more. I'm having to manage the ranch by myself since early March (DH is working out of the state.) and things always seem to go wrong with my "pets" as my DH calls the cattle. He was due home at the end of the month, but that date has been moved to the end of June. Right now I'm having troubles with a first time mom.
Crow, do you have a picture? I'll bet it's beautiful!
Cordyline makes a great centerpiece to containers and is has lived through the last two winters for me on my front porch. It looks great with trailing plants around it. My front porch combo is cordyline and red dragon wing begonia for the second year. Purple fountain grass looks great too as a centerpiece, especially with lime green foliaged plants.
Smaller hardy roses (not Hybrid Teas) look good and need less water than many would think if you have a nice sized pot. Try 'Valentine' Floribunda, or most of the Polyanthas. Right now I have a miniature climber in one pot and 'Maggie' in another. 'Maggie's home is temporary but she's doing really well for now. I hope to replace her with 'White Pet' polyantha.
I fill the whole pots with soil, only because I am lax at watering and I want the extra moisture and humidity. Many people use styrofoam peanuts at the bottom to retain drainage.
I've seen the cordyline in the stores. Does it do well in full sun? I like the shape and color. It would look good. White Pet rose is one of the ones I've got on my list to look into further for the shorter wider pots. I think it would be really nice as we sit out there in the evening. I hadn't noticed before how white flowers seem to glow as it gets darker until we got the patio done.
One of the pots is about 30 inches tall but more of a cylinder shape(tall and skinny)and I was thinking of putting a milk jug or peanuts in the bottom for about 10 inches so I don't have to use as much potting soil.As far as the sizes of the other containers, I would guess they are between 24-30 inches across and about the same tall.They are on either side of the patio, so that's where I was thinking of using kind of the same plants so it lends some continuity to the look.
Something to think about, plantfiles says that this need acidic soil. We here in CS (don't know about other places in Tx) have very alkaline soil. You can always amend, but as I understand it's a problem with our water as well.
Anne
I have seen pictures of it growing in full blazing sun. Just stick with the varieties sometimes called dracaena or spike.
Potting soil is usually acidic, so that will help. I water mine mostly with rain barrel water but occasionally with tap and have had no problems (and have alkaline soil). It gets no supplemental water from about November to April (provided by the heavens only)
My most successful larger plants for pots have been firebush and esperanza.
Thanks Bettydee for the info and links. Not that I needed more temptations... 8 ) Sorry about your dealing with the livestock. After growing up on farms, I don't want large stock but am glad someone does raise them. DH says, the only cow he wants now is the one that fits on his plate. If I might suggest, the farm forum? Those people have experience and can offer suggestions, assistance and moral support when needed. Good luck.
Firebush and Esperanza sound like good pot plants. Can they stand full sun?
I have both of these in the ground and in full sun.My esperanza didn't die back to the ground this winter and is already blooming. Firebush dies back every year for me so far, but is coming back strong already. usually doesn't bloom for me until well into summer. But that's ok since other things are fading when it hits other usual summer temps.
I don't have pics of the pots yet. I'll try to get DH to take some this weekend. The "little baby" plants I put in the fron of the container are just starting to spread and fill in the pot, so it sitll looks a little bare. It's taking full afternoon sun and I'm watering about 2 x week right now. Once the roots get established, I should be able to make it once a week. I still need something trailing in there. Maybe a rosemary? I don't think the sweet potoato would do well in that hot afternoon sun. I'll post pics of the front pot and both back entry ones as soon as DH can do the camera. I haven't figured out this newfangled piece of machinery. I'm with the old aim and click opinion on cameras.
Crow
Maybe an Ivy Gerainium would work. I used to have some when I lived in CA, and I loved it. It doesn't get as large for me, here, but it did trail nicely.
Many of the plants advertised as "fragrant" fail the sniff test when container grown. But one that is a real reliable stinker is common garden basil. I have planted different type of basil around the garden so I can touch them as I walk by to stir up their fragrance. Some basil are very ornamental also.
Jaywhacker ~ I think the reason is moisture levels. I've noticed herbals have better fragrance when dry. It seems watering makes the scent null & void.
Episote and rosemary are fragrant. They don't require a lot of water.
I have rosemary in the ground and it's doing great, but the only time it was in a container for me it struggled until I replaced it the next year. Are there any tricks for when it is in a container?
I see that you've already been pointed to the containers forum, but in particular, don't miss this thread for a lot of really pretty container plantings. I noticed that cordyline is mentioned and pictured toward the bottom of the thread.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/976228/
LiseP
I haven't been able to get hrough all those threads yet. They are a busy bunch over there!Thanks for the reminder though...I can't believe I never found that forum before!It makes me wonder what else is out there I need to check out. maybe this long weekend I'll have some time. Or definitely once it hits summer temps.. they drive me inside for sure.
I have my esperanza and firebush in large pots in full sun with no problems. The firebush occasionally droops a bit in really hot spells if I don't water it enough, but I have never seen the esperanza have any problems whatsoever. I previously had been dragging them into the garage for the winter, but last year I left them outside against a south facing wall and they are coming back strong.
Good to know ~ thanks!
I hung out at the container forum and checked out some of their pictures and that helped me decide what I was really drawn to.They have some amazing pictures over there! I decided color,shape and form were more important to me than only fragrance so here's what i got. For one pot i put an imperial blue plumbago. Across from it a Perle D'Or rose(it's an Earthkind rose and they do well for us here in Texas I think) In the tallest pot I put a Pink Crystals ruby grass for its soft form and movement in the wind.
In the lowest,widest pot I put a variety of sedums,a foxtail fern and a new cleome variety, Senorita Rosalita.Right now everything is looking a little small but I know they will fill in later this summer...thanks for all the suggestions!
Sounds very pretty. Did you use filler in the bottom of the pots?
In the bottom of the tallest pot I put a turned over gallon container, then put a hangin pot liner over that and filled with potting soil before planting the ruby grass. On the other pots I used a bunch of rocks, stones and pebbles that were left over from a dry riverbed we had to put in three years ago for drainage issues. Since they were the rose and plumbago pots I figured they would appreciate as much root room as possible.