PLANTS NEED TO TAKE UP WATER and nutrients in order to survive, and the substance from which
they normally obtain these is soil or, in the case of indoor plants, potting
mix. The soil for houseplants needs to be in a container of some sort, the size
and shape of which determines how well the plant will grow and what type of
root system it will develop to support itself.
Most plants are obtained in a
standard plant pot, generally made of plastic, although some garden centers and
florists like to repot plants in terra-cotta or decorative ceramic containers
for sale.
The size of the
pot required varies according to the size of the plant. And as plants grow,
they will need to be transferred into bigger pots, although some
A blue textured wall emphasizes the cool
greens in this group of foliage plants; the use ofseveral bowls of the same
shape and color gives it added cohesion.
plants flower best when they are
slightly pot-bound. Others with shallow rooting systems, such as many cacti, do
well in half pots or shallow bowls.
In general, however, the height of
the pot is equivalent to the width across its top, and the pot tapers to about
two- thirds that width at the base. The size of the container is important for
stability; top-heavy plants are prone to falling over, especially when the soil
dries out. This occurs more frequently with lightweight plastic pots, so it is
better to plant tall or large top-heavy plants in clay pots.
Clay pots have a central drainage
hole in the base; plastic pots usually have a number of small holes along the
circumference of the bottom of the pot. Some plastic pots are terra-cotta
colored, but many other colors are used as well. Green pots are common, as are
black and white ones. You may also see some bright red and yellow ones.
As far as the plant is concerned,
the container must
•
Hold enough
soil, from which the plant can.absorb nutrients and water.
•
Allow for
drainage so that the soil does not become waterlogged.
•
Be of adequate
size to allow the plant to develop a branching root system to balance the head.
Give stability,
allowing the plant to develop and maximize its exposure to light so that
photosynthesis can take place. Secondary to these considerations are those of the
plant’s owner that the container should be attractive and should complement
both the plant and its surroundings.
When you buy a new plant, check
that the pot it is in is large enough to fulfill the plant’s needs, and repot
it if necessary (see p. 202). In most instances, it is best to use a standard
plant pot, which can then be placed in a more decorative container. Many
ornamental containers do not have adequate provision for drainage for plants to
be potted directly into them.
Choosing a container
Houseplants can be planted in a
wide selection of attractive and unusual containers that will add greatly to
their appeal. Single plants can easily be placed inside a decorative container,
or cache- pot. These colorful or ornamental containers conceal the standard
flowerpots. They are widely available and may be made of plastic, ceramic,
glass, wood, china, tole, or even wrought iron.
Most of these decorative covers do
not have drainage holes, which means that they can double as plant saucers to
make watering easier; they also help to protect furniture. If the height of the
pot allows, place a layer of gravel in the base of the decorative cover before
putting the plant into it. This helps to increase the humidity around the
plant. But you need to make sure water does not collect around the roots and cause
root rot.
Larger containers can be used to
house plant groups. You can find plenty of troughs in a choice of styles. And
other household items, such as the attractive washbowls that years ago were
found in bedrooms everywhere, can be used too. Brass, copper, china, wood,
wicker are all suitable. Once you start looking, you will And many attractive
items to house your plants in. If you have any doubt about their being
waterproof, it is best to line containers with plastic; even metal and china
containers can be damaged by soil and moisture and may need protecting.
When setting a
group of plants within a larger container, it is always advisable to keep the
plants in their individual pots. This is so because of the drainage problems
and because it is much easier to replace one or two plants when they have
finished flowering or if they become sickly. If you want the plants to
appear to be growing together, fill around and over the individual pots with
peat moss to disguise them. Again, place a layer of gravel in the base of the
container first.
Novelty
containers are usually attractive for only a short time: copper kettles and
watering cans, teapots, cups and saucers, even old boots have been pressed into
service with mixed results. As long as the container is large enough for plants
to remain in their own pots, no harm is done—the container can be changed when
you tire of it. But beware of small, planted novelty containers; it is
usually impossible to extricate the plants, so the planting may have to be treated
as a rather expensive, short-term decoration.
Suit the pot to the plant.
The shallow-rooting primulas’ pinkflowers are set off by the low
green bowl, and the impact of the hyacinths is
enhanced by ranging them in a long ceramic trough. A small terra-cotta pot has
the right earthy feel—and good drainage—for the cactus, a sturdy aluminum can
makes a fine contrast to the yellow and orange flowers of Justicia pauciflora, and a green glass pot is a perfect
foil for the dainty Primula obconica.
A WELL-POTTED PLANT
Choose the pot with care. Clay
pots are heavy and are good for large or top-heavy plants. Plastic pots are
more practical because the soil does not dry out so rapidly. The height of the
pot should be equal to the width across the top, although this will vary
according to the type of plant.
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