Growing a Beautiful Carpet of Snow: Tips for Cultivating Alyssum in Containers

Alyssum is a beloved annual flower that brings drifts of delicate white blooms to gardens and landscapes With its sweet honey fragrance and ability to spread into an abundant floral carpet, it’s no wonder alyssum is a go-to choice for flower beds, borders, and containers One of the most popular alyssum varieties is Carpet of Snow, with its masses of tiny snow-white blossoms. If you’d like to cultivate this delightful plant on your patio, deck, or balcony, you’re in luck – alyssum thrives beautifully in pots and planters.

In this guide, we’ll explore growing tips and care for alyssum Carpet of Snow specifically in container gardens. From soil preferences to watering needs, read on to learn the keys to flourishing potted alyssum.

Why Grow Alyssum in Containers?

There are many great reasons to showcase alyssum Carpet of Snow in pots and planters

• Trailing habit is perfect for cascading over container edges
• Fragrant white blooms create beautiful contrast against colorful pots
• Heat tolerant and drought resistant once established
• Flowers continuously spring through fall
• Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
• Compact size allows for versatile placement

Containers enable you to move the plants to just the right spots on patios and decks to catch the sunlight. Hanging baskets overflow with cheerful white blooms. Window boxes and railing planters come alive with sweet alyssum spilling out.

Selecting the Best Container

Alyssum adapts readily to any type of container as long as it offers good drainage. Choose pots and planters made from materials like:

• Terra cotta
• Ceramic
• Concrete
• Wood
• Resin
• Metal

For proper drainage, ensure your containers have holes in the bottom. Drainage trays can catch excess water underneath. Self-watering pots are also a great, low maintenance option.

Match smaller pots like 6” or 8” sizes for individual plants Larger containers can hold 3-5 alyssum plants spaced well apart. For hanging baskets, plant at least 4-6 plants to create a full, trailing effect.

Remember to select pots that complement your décor and garden scheme. Neutral earth tones or bright, cheerful colors both work beautifully with white alyssum blossoms.

Creating the Perfect Potting Mix

The ideal potting medium for alyssum mimics light, quick-draining garden soil. Here are some tips for creating an optimal blend:

• Choose a peat-free, all-purpose mix as the base
• Add perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage
• Mix in a bit of compost or worm castings to increase nutrients
• Avoid heavy soil with lots of clay

The mix should feel loose and crumbly in your hands, not dense or overly moist. This gives oxygen to the roots while still retaining some water.

If your containers will be exposed to lots of heat and sun, try making the mix even lighter and airier. Add more perlite and a touch of clean sand.

Planting Alyssum in Containers

Spring is the best time to plant alyssum in pots and containers. Follow these simple steps:

• Fill the container 2/3 full with prepared potting mix
• Remove the alyssum from its nursery pot, gently loosening the roots
• Place the alyssum in the new pot and fill remaining space with mix
• Pat the soil gently around the base to remove air pockets
• Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom
• Let excess water drain away before placing the pot in its spot

Allow about 6” of space between plants to account for spread. Plant multiples at equal distances for a balanced look.

Caring for Potted Alyssum

Alyssum is relatively easy care in containers, but providing ideal conditions will keep it looking its best:

Sunlight

• Needs at least 6 hours of direct sun daily
• Avoid intense afternoon sun in very hot climates

Water

• Allow soil to dry out slightly between waterings
• Water when the top inch becomes dry
• Hotter weather necessitates more frequent watering
• Avoid waterlogged soil

Fertilizer

• Use diluted liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks
• Look for balanced mixes labelled for containers
• Stop fertilizing 6 weeks before first frost

Pruning

• Prune off spent blooms to encourage new flowers
• Cut back any leggy growth by 1/3 to promote fullness

Overwintering

• Most are grown as annuals in containers and discarded after frost
• Bring pots indoors before first frost for a short-lived houseplant

Pest/Diseases

• Low maintenance, no serious issues
• Avoid overhead watering that can promote mildew
• Treat aphids with horticultural soaps if they appear

With the right care, your potted alyssum Carpet of Snow will thrive through summer and fall, rewarding you with delightful white carpets of fragrant flowers. Containers enable you to best showcase this beloved annual in your garden.

Creative Ways to Showcase Potted Alyssum

Beyond basic pots and planters, there are so many creative ways to highlight alyssum in containers:

• Cascading from hanging baskets
• Spilling over window boxes and rail planters
• Edging taller plants in patio pots
• Mixing with trailing annuals like lobelia and petunias
• Softening container vegetables and herbs
• Filling spaces between flagstones on paths
• Accenting front steps and entryways

Think outside the box when playing up potted alyssum in your container garden. The possibilities are endless!

Combining Alyssum with Other Plants

The neutral white color of alyssum blossoms complements just about every other flower hue. Feel free to get creative with these combo ideas:

• Vibrant orange or red pot marigolds
• Cool purple and pink petunias or verbena
• Yellow or gold trailing lantana
• Blue lobelia or salvias
• Multicolored million bells calibrachoa

For foliage contrasts, combine alyssum with:

• Dark red or purple sweet potato vine
• Silvery dusty miller
• Red or green leaf lettuces
• Ornamental kale and cabbage

Don’t forget foliage plants also provide striking green backdrops to make the white blooms pop.

Tips for Maximizing Success

Follow these handy tips to ensure your container grown alyssum thrives:

• Avoid overcrowding plants in pots and baskets
• Water early in the day to avoid foliage staying damp overnight
• Shelter pots from hot afternoon sun where possible
• Stake tall plants surrounded by alyssum to avoid smothering
• Deadhead spent blooms often to prolong flowering
• Monitor closely and adjust care if plants struggle

A little TLC will keep your potted alyssum looking marvelous all season!

Enjoying Alyssum Beyond the Growing Season

As rewarding as alyssum is to grow during the warm months, you can also enjoy it earlier and later in the year:

Starting seeds indoors: Get a jump on spring by sowing seeds 6-8 weeks before your last average frost date.

Overwintering containers indoors: Bring patio pots inside before frost to enjoy as short-lived houseplants.

Taking cuttings: Clip stem tip cuttings in late summer to propagate new plants for next year’s containers.

Pressing flowers: Dry and press alyssum blooms from your garden to make personalized stationery, bookmarks, and crafts.

With some planning, you can appreciate lovely alyssum nearly year-round!

Growing the soothing white carpets of alyssum Carpet of Snow in containers is simple, rewarding, and so charming. We hope these tips inspire you to highlight this delightful flower in your patio pots, window boxes, and hanging baskets this year. Let us know how your potted alyssum thrives in the comments!