Planting annuals in pots is a great way to add pops of color to your outdoor space. With the right soil, fertilizer, and a little TLC, annuals will thrive all season long in containers. Follow these simple steps for stunning potted annuals.
Choose the Right Pot
Make sure your container has drainage holes Terra cotta, plastic, ceramic, and wood planters all work well Go for a pot that’s big enough for the annual’s root ball with a little extra room.
Use Potting Mix
Avoid regular garden soil which may drain poorly Opt for a commercial potting mix formulated for containers It will have perlite or vermiculite to aerate the soil and help excess water drain,
Add Fertilizer
Mix in a granular slow-release fertilizer when planting. This will provide a steady supply of nutrients for several weeks. Organic options like fish emulsion and kelp meal work great.
Plant Annuals at Proper Depth
Remove plants from their nursery pots and loosen tangled roots. Dig a hole in the potting mix based on the annual’s root ball size. Set the plant in place, keeping it at the same level it was growing at the nursery.
Space Apart Properly
Check recommended spacing for the annuals you chose. Plant them far enough apart to allow for growth and airflow. This prevents overcrowding issues.
Water Thoroughly
Give plants a good soaking after planting to remove any air pockets. Then allow the potting mix to dry out some before watering again. Establish a routine to keep soil moist but not soggy.
Apply Mulch
Add an organic mulch layer like shredded bark on top of the potting mix. This helps retain moisture and prevents weeds. Replenish as needed.
Fertilize Regularly
Every 4-6 weeks, feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer. This gives annuals an extra nutrient boost for prolific flowering in pots.
Deadhead Frequently
Remove spent blooms by pinching or snipping them off. This encourages plants to produce more flowers rather than form seeds.
Check Soil pH
Annuals prefer a slightly acidic soil pH between 6.0-6.5. Use an at-home test kit and amend as needed with elemental sulfur if pH is too high.
Protect from Weather
During hot spells, group pots together to shade roots. Move containers to a sheltered area if harsh weather like heavy rain, hail or high winds strikes.
Enjoy the Show!
With the right care, your potted annuals will keep the color coming all season long. Be sure to sit back and enjoy these gorgeous container plantings.
Planting annuals in pots is easy and rewarding. Follow these key steps for stunning containers overflowing with flowers. With a little TLC, your annuals will thrive and bloom abundantly in pots on your patio, front steps, or anywhere you want a burst of color.
Growing Annual Flowers in Containers
The choice of container will depend largely upon three factors:
- How big and what kind of container it is (formal terracotta with rolled rims, decorated concrete, rough wood, etc.) (should be right for the plants you want to grow)
- The style and size of the container should also match the design and scale of the place where it will be placed (e.g. g. , formal entrance, wooden deck, etc. ).
- The building materials (terra cotta, wood, concrete, plastic, etc. (will change how heavy, strong, and weatherproof the container is) For instance, terracotta pots soak up water and shouldn’t be left outside in the winter when they are full or wet. Plastic or rubber containers that drain well and are made of wood can be used outside all year.
For best results, outdoor containers generally should have holes at the bottom for drainage. Most of the containers that we offer already have drain holes. But if your container doesn’t have them, it’s easy to add them with a regular drill bit (for plastic, wood, fiberglass, or molded resin) or a masonry drill (for concrete or terracotta with a “punch out” hole).
The colors of all wood planters can be modified easily with stain, bleaching oils or paint. Nearly all wood finishes (except creosote) are safe for plants once dry. Check labels for naturally and quickly. But terracotta and concrete pots can be “aged” if you want to by rubbing them with horse manure, moss, soil, buttermilk, tobacco juice, and other natural things. When the containers are left outside, these organic materials will provide a growth medium for algae and lichens.
These easy steps provide good results:
- Place window screen mesh or week barrier fabric over the drain hole(s) or fill the pot’s bottom 1-2″ with coarse gravel or broken terracotta, then add ½” of fine gravel or sand. This will keep soil from leaking out of the container.
- For most annuals and other plants, fill the pot about a third of the way to the top with medium-weight potting mix that has already been wet.
PLANT SELECTION AND PLANTING TIPS
Here are some suggestions for planting:
- For a lush, “spilling over” look, annual flowers and other source container plants look best when the plants are close together. Remember that annuals only have four to five months to grow and look their best, so they should be planted close together to get more flowers and a full look.
- When planting in the middle, the plants should be higher if the pot is taller.
- Smaller round pots (up to about 12 inches across) usually look best when they are packed tightly with flowers of the same color and type. Bigger pots look good with either bigger annuals of the same type (e.g. g. , Geraniums), or one or two taller types in the middle, and a draping annual in a color that contrasts or goes with it along the edges. A “cottage” planting of mixed annuals can also look great. These look best in simple or rustic (not formal) containers, and the flowers should be smaller and have softer, more shaded colors.
- Space plants in the container tightly. Since annuals only grow for one season, they can and should be crowded together to make the garden look full. Use your hands to create soil pockets for planting. Before you plant, separate any roots that are tangled around the plant’s soil ball.
- To make it easier to water, keep the top of the rootballs and potting soil about ½” below the edge of the pot.
- Water the container well after planting.
- To feed flowering plants, use Osmocote pellets that release food slowly, or Miracle Gro or Peters Soluble Fertilizers.
- Especially when it’s hot outside, check the container often to see if they need water. Smaller containers might need water almost every day, while bigger ones might need it about every three to four days.
How to Plant Beautiful Containers With Annual Flowers : Garden Space
FAQ
Should I put anything in the bottom of my planter?
Can you plant annual flowers in pots?
Should you water flowers in pots every day?
Should annuals be planted in flower pots?
Planting annuals in flower pots can add a lot of curb appeal to a home that lacks flower beds. Even if you have beds, flower pots will give your garden an additional appealing layer. Many people, such as mothers and wives, enjoy colorful arrangements designed and planted just for them from someone they love.
How do you plant annuals in a bed?
Before planting annuals in a bed, it’s a good idea to arrange plants—in their pots—in the pattern you’ll follow when planting. If you’re planting a container, arrange pots on the work surface beside the pot. With in-ground beds, finesse the spacing based on mature plant size. Give plants enough room to spread and soar.
How do you plant annuals in a pot?
Hold a trowel with the blade facing down and the concave side facing you. Stick the trowel into soil, and pull the handle forward, creating a hole behind the blade. Slip the annual from its container and drop it into the hole, firming soil around the plant. This method works best with loose soil. Always water annuals after planting.
How do you plant a flowering plant in a pot?
One of those might be a flowering perennial or annual in a 4-inch container. She places this, pot and all, into the soil at the front of a large container. Once the blossoms fade, she can pull out the small pot and put in a new one with a plant just coming into bloom. She also likes to echo the pot color in her plantings.
How much potting mix do you need for annuals?
Annuals perform best when their soil is kept consistently moist and not allowed to dry out fully. Only allow the top 1-2 inches of potting mix to dry between waterings. Water deeply until it runs from the bottom drainage holes, ensuring that all the soil has been saturated.
Can you plant annuals in a garage?
At the end of the season, the annuals can be discarded and replaced with a winter planting, or the pots can be moved into a garage or basement to overwinter. Annuals perform best when their soil is kept consistently moist and not allowed to dry out fully. Only allow the top 1-2 inches of potting mix to dry between waterings.