Good question. Some plants will grow bigger in the ground than in pots if the soil is really good, unless the potting soil is really great. If the potting soil is less than perfect, the plants in pots will be slower growing. (My Potting Soil Recipe).
I’ve said for years that plants in beds will grow faster than plants in pots. I usually say this because most people don’t have their potting soil exactly where it should be when they first start, so planting in beds makes more sense until you get your potting soil in good shape.
We put a lot of Potentilla in pots this year, but I put about 10 of them in a landscape planting to use as stock plants. The plants in the pots are far out growing the ones that I planted in the bed. Why is that? The pot soil must be pretty close to right, and the plants in the bed are small and covered with 3 inches of bark mulch. Not enough roots in the ground? Have we been watering the plants in pots more often than the ones in the bed? Most likely.
I possibly could be wrong, but every time I think I know something, I see something that makes me change my mind.
The soil in your yard should be good enough for plants in beds to grow faster than plants in pots. Unless your potting soil is near perfect.
It is easier to take care of plants and keep weeds away from them when they are in pots because you can pack them close together and then spread them out as needed. Once the plants fill out the pot the weeds don’t have much room to grow.
Putting plants in the ground? It takes a lot of energy and time to get plants out of the ground. Digging season starts after Thanksgiving and ends about mid April in zones 5 and 6. Other zones are similar but the window is longer in the far north and shorter in the south.
If you plant in the ground, mulch the beds. We worked hard and spent a lot of money this spring to mulch all of our Japanese maple beds. What a difference. We used a pre-emergent herbicide on the whole area because weeds started to show up in the isles weeks before the mulched beds did. The mulch was good for the plants, kept the weeds down, and I think it held the pre-emergent better than the soil.
It’s hard to get rid of weeds when plants are too far apart, even when they are close together. You’ll spend a lot of time “managing those weeds.”
Planting pots in the ground is an innovative gardening technique that offers unique benefits compared to traditional in-ground planting. This method, often called “pot-in-pot” gardening involves setting nursery pots or other containers into the soil so that the rim rests at ground level. Inside each buried pot you can plant flowers, vegetables, herbs or other plants.
Pot-in-pot gardening is gaining popularity due to the flexibility and convenience it provides Read on to learn everything you need to know about successfully using this unique planting method
What is Pot-in-Pot Gardening?
Pot-in-pot gardening, also known as “buried pot gardening,” involves digging holes in the ground and inserting pots or other containers into them. The pots are buried up to the rim so that the top is flush with the soil surface. This creates in-ground planters ready for planting.
Once the containers are in place, you simply fill them with potting mix and your choice of plants The plants’ roots remain inside the containers but have access to moisture and nutrients from the surrounding soil as well.
Benefits of Pot-in-Pot Gardening
There are many advantages to planting in buried pots compared to standard in-ground gardening:
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Easy plant swapping – You can change plants in and out of the containers as desired each season. This allows flexibility to alter arrangements, bloom times, colors, etc.
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Mobile gardening – Since plants are self-contained in pots, you can easily reposition or even remove them.
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Soil control – Container soil stays loose and customized for each plant vs. compacted, native ground soil.
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Drainage – Roots won’t get waterlogged since excess moisture drains from pots.
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Weed barrier – Pots prevent weeds from surrounding in-ground soil from invading.
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Insulation – The air gap between the pot and ground provides insulation from temperature extremes.
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Wind protection – Pots shelter fragile plants and keep soil from blowing or washing away.
How to Create a Pot-in-Pot Garden
Follow these simple steps to create your own pot-in-pot garden bed:
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Select a site with full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and well-draining soil. Dig over the area to loosen soil to 12 inches deep.
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Decide on your container sizes. Measurements like 10″ deep x 12″ diameter are common. Match similar sizes for a cohesive look.
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Dig holes 2-3 inches wider and deeper than your pot dimensions. Space 18-24 inches apart depending on plant sizes.
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Place pots in holes, pressing firmly. Top edges should sit level with the soil. Backfill gaps if needed.
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Fill pots nearly to the top with a quality potting mix amended with compost or slow-release fertilizer.
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Plant your selections in each pot according to their spacing needs. Water well initially.
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Mulch garden beds to help retain moisture. Replenish mulch as it deteriorates over time.
Tips for Successful Pot-in-Pot Planting
Follow these tips to get the most out of your pot-in-pot garden:
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Select hardy plants that won’t outgrow pots quickly like perennials, small shrubs and compact veggies.
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For good drainage, fill pots with a commercial potting mix instead of garden soil. Incorporate perlite or vermiculite too.
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Fertilize plants regularly to replenish nutrients since their roots are confined. Use slow-release or organic liquid feeds.
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Check soil moisture frequently, especially during hot, dry weather. Water when the top few inches become dry.
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Mulch around pots to limit evaporation and suppress weeds. Replenish mulch routinely as it breaks down.
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Lift out and divide overcrowded perennials or shrubs every 2-3 years. Rejuvenate potting soil annually.
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In colder zones, insulate aboveground portions of plants if left in pots over winter.
Plants Well-Suited for Pot-in-Pot Gardening
Many types of plants thrive when grown pot-in-pot style. Some top options include:
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Annual flowers – Marigolds, zinnias, petunias, impatiens
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Perennial flowers – Daylilies, lavender, salvia, coreopsis, blanket flower
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Herbs – Oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, parsley, mint
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Vegetables – Lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, kale, peppers, eggplant
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Small shrubs – Dwarf spirea, heathers, compact hydrangeas, azaleas
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Succulents & cacti – Hens and chicks, sedum, aloe vera, prickly pear
Creative Ways to Use Pot-in-Pot Gardening
Beyond traditional beds and borders, consider these fun twists on pot-in-pot gardening:
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Create a living centerpiece pot with tall sculptural plants surrounded by trailing foliage.
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Plant a mixed pot with herbs, lettuces, greens and edible flowers.
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Grow a container water garden with marginal bog plants.
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Form a succulent wheel with individually planted sections holding drought-tolerant varieties.
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Build a fairy garden kids can design with mini plants, structures and decor.
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Plant up matching urns to flank an entryway with symmetrical, spiraling topiaries.
Let your imagination run wild when planning pot-in-pot gardens! This versatile technique opens up many creative possibilities.
Troubleshooting Common Pot-in-Pot Gardening Problems
While pot-in-pot gardening offers advantages, you may encounter occasional issues:
Plants seem underfed – Roots have limited soil space so fertilize more frequently. Avoid overfilling pots initially.
Poor drainage – Improve drainage by mixing in perlite, sand or gravel. Ensure holes at pot bottoms aren’t blocked.
Soil drying out – Mulch to conserve moisture and water pots more often. Group pots together for shared shade.
Roots escaping – Prune wayward roots or trim pots if needed to contain plants. Lift out overgrown plants promptly.
Pots shifting – Bury pots deeper or use landscape pins to secure in place if they become loose.
With proper care and attentiveness, you can avoid most problems and enjoy a thriving pot-in-pot garden!
FAQs About In-Ground Pot Gardening
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about pot-in-pot gardening:
Can I bury plastic nursery pots?
Yes, standard black plastic nursery pots work well for pot-in-pot gardens. Ensure they have drainage holes.
How deep should I bury pots?
For stability, bury pots 2-3 inches deeper than their height. This prevents frost heaving in cold climates.
Should I remove nursery pots when planting?
Removing plants from nursery pots allows their roots more room but is not mandatory. Just water and fertilize diligently.
Can I plant pot-in-pot gardens in poor soil?
Yes. The benefit of pot-in-pot gardening is you add enriched potting mix so plants don’t rely on native soil.
Can I move pots once planted?
You can remove pots to rearrange plants or store dormant ones. Severing some escaped roots is usually okay.
Unleash Your Pot-in-Pot Gardening Creativity!
Pot-in-pot gardening opens up diverse gardening possibilities from ornamental beds to edible plots. By providing insulation and the ability to customize soil conditions inside each container, it enables flexibility and controlled growing environments. Try blending this innovative technique along with traditional in-ground planting to maximize the beauty and productivity of your landscape. Let your imagination run wild as you design eye-catching pot-in-pot gardens!
Are you one of the many people that are trying to grow and sell plants without having to buy my system?
If that’s the case, I wish you the best and would like to give you some more free advice that will help you.
Mistakes are costly and information is cheap.
I could write a book on the mistakes that I made that have cost me thousands of dollars. Last spring I made a mistake that cost me $1,000. That’s right, a quick, cool one thousand dollars out the window because I did something dumb. In that particular case the difference between success and failure was somewhere between one and two inches. Can you believe that? It’s true. I could have easily made $5,000 and instead I lost $1,000 because I was off by one inch.
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