I feel that spring is seeping into my bones. I sometimes wonder why I feel it so strongly. Is it due to the days getting longer, the temperature warming up, is there a smell in the air like when fall is coming. All I know that it is around the corner which means planning time!!
I have to be honest; I have hit some walls getting to this post. I have even made drawings of what the balcony will look like, but realized I am missing something. I finally was able to put my finger on it: what containers, what size, self watering (or not). This started the spinning in my head, which for me equals stalling. Blech…
These are huge subjects so I am going to put it in three separate posts (maybe more if I get a smidge wordy). This one is focusing on the materials that you can use for your garden container and the possibilities are endless! I feel like over the last 5-10 years options are increasing, but maybe that is just me thinking that because I just started paying attention.
I have been pouring over books and the Internet working to come up with a list of container materials and some thoughts around them. Here is what I found:
Clay Pot: Unglazed, we mostly know these as Terra Cotta pots. If you have ever picked up one you know that it is heavy which is fine if you don’t have to lug it up many flights of stairs to your roof or balcony like I do. If you live in a cold environment and leave them outside for the winter they will break or crack very easily. This happens because they are porous so water and air gets in the pores, expand, retract and that is a lot of stress. However, the pores are great for oxygen getting to your soil which makes a plant very happy. If you bring the plant indoors over the winter, then go for it! I had a friend who used to do this with great success.
Glazed pots winter better because the pores aren’t open to the environment anymore. They are more expensive because they are painted in pretty way so they might not be in your budget.
Plastic: They are gaining pretty ground! Remember when they only used to be black, green or terra cotta color… ickkkk. But I still have mine, because I am too cheap to change them out and haven’t taken the time to paint them. They are super durable pots, light and of course less strain on the budget, which means more money for plants! My neighbor last year used plastic party buckets for her balcony plants and they worked out really well. Just make sure to create a hole in the bottom for drainage.
Wood: Wood is heavy and it is susceptible to rot so you have to make sure it is built with redwood, teak, tropical hardwoods or cedar. If you purchase or have a container with a different wood it will need to be sealed. When choosing a sealer think about what will be planted in the container. Personally, I wouldn’t put edibles into a container that was sealed with tar. I read someone used pruning sealer, which I thought was interesting. Or the another idea is using a plastic bag inside the container with a hole at the bottom for drainage. I am not sure how I feel about the possibility of plastic leaching into my soil, but then again I do us plastic pots.
I do want to build my own if I can bribe my brother in law to use his tools. They appear super easy to make, so why not! Plus, I like the look of wood, but I know it will require yearly maintenance for sealing.
Or the other option, fake wood! Composite wood would give a very similar look to wood with out all of the maintenance issues. You don’t get the long term character of wood, but is that a good trade off for the super busy, lazy or environmentally aware? Might be for me!
Paper Pulp: This option seems like a great idea if you don’t need to use the container over and over again as they disintegrate after some time. I can’t imagine that would be good for over wintering outside either.
Metal or concrete: Be careful with these, even though they are super pretty they can cook your plants. I now know a possibility as to why a neighbors plant died in August last year. The pots are soooo pretty, but I never thought about the heat cooking the roots. Concrete can do the same thing. If you just can’t resist and are putting these pots in full sun or afternoon sun purchase them in a light color. I would say do these at your own risk in that type of environment. I might buy a few metal containers, but they will be going in the shaded area at my front door.
Alternative options:
-Grow Bags: New to the American market, they are not pretty, but they are very functional. I have seen them put to use on walls,or they can look more like a planter. I have also seen them planted with trailing plants so the un-attractive aspects disappear thanks to the beautiful plant. They are pretty inexpensive too!
-Water bottles: I love the creative people in this world! You can make a window treatment from water bottles like this. You can go vertical with them too, like this! You couldn’t plant a tomato in these, but they are good for shallow rooting plants (herbs, greens, ground cover, succulents). Milk jugs would be good too, just make sure your plant can handle the smaller space.
-Rain Gutters: Super cool idea and with many options for going vertical like this, and this. Once again, good for shallow rooted plants.
-Glass: I have seen this floating around the Pinterest world lately, like this. They look very pretty for planting your herbs, but my only concern is drainage. Brilliant idea if it works right and you keep a good eye on the plant.
Basically, get creative! I have my list of what I want to plant, this is going to determine what type of containers I am going to purchase, find or make. I am off to bribe that brother in law of mine! I will keep you informed of my final over the next few months!
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