Types of Garden Planters for your Home Decor

Self Watering Planters

The concept behind self-watering planters couldn’t be simpler; the idea being that a wick draws moisture up into the earth from a reservoir inside the planter. Armed with that knowledge, any DIY home enthusiast can set about making their own self-watering planters. To make your own self-watering planter you must have two waterproof pots, one of which will sit inside the other; any old plastics pots will do as they can be put inside a more decorative/aesthetically pleasing planter pot visible to everyone. Alternatively, the outer pot could be one that you’ve painted or decorated yourself, or it might even be a decorative pot you’ve previously bought for the garden. Anyway, returning to the two pots that will act as the self-watering planter – between the inner and outer ones needs to be a gap of 1 to 2 inches, we can then use that gap to get extra air flowing around the inner pot. So, the outer pot will be the water reservoir, whilst the inner one will contain the earth and plants. Building a Double Pot Self Watering Planter The inner pot needs to sit on something inside the outer pot, to raise it off the floor of the water reservoir. An upturned pond basket is ideal for this; alternatively, you could possibly use something similar to an upturned ice-cream tub. However, whatever you use it must look like a mesh – have lots of holes in it – as it will be sitting in water and you don’t want it trying to float. Whatever you use as the shelf, on the outer pot, having noted the height of the shelf, drill a couple of holes slightly above that height. These will act as drainage holes if the water level inside the outer, water reservoir, pot rises too much. You now need a couple of lengths of the plastic pipe; ideally one about 1 inch in diameter and the other at least 4 inches in diameter. The thinner of these two pipes will be used to fill the water reservoir. It needs to be long enough to be above the level of the earth in the inner pot but to also reach the floor of the outer pot. Drill a hole through the inner pot, probably near its side, so that the pipe will just pass through it and another hole through the shelf, aligned with the first one. Drill a few holes at the bottom of the pipe to help water escape from it. The wider diameter pipe will be the wick, which needs to be long enough to not quite sit on the floor of the outer pot – but it should reach about one-third of the way up the inner pot. Drill holes through the center of the inner pot and the shelf to accommodate this wider pipe and again drill holes in it below the level of the shelf. Finally drill some holes in the wall of the inner pot, airflow around these holes will help aerate the earth and promote strong root growth. Assembly Push the two pipes through their respective holes in the inner pot and the shelf. Using the narrower pipe; pour water down it, until it starts to come out of the overflow holes. Add the earth to the inner planter; don’t worry that the wider pipe immediately fills with earth, this is the wick. However, don’t let any earth go down the pipe for topping up the water reservoir. Moisture will be drawn up into the earth through the wick and you can now add the plants. After a day or two replenish the water reservoir, after that it should only need checking every few days depending on the weather conditions.



Garden Planters

Garden Planters for your Home Decor

The versatility of garden planters has changed the way we garden, helping bring the beauty of the outdoors to the indoors for your home decor. Well-chosen planters help double the space available for gardening and make it possible to have a beautiful garden even in the limited space of an apartment.

While planning an apartment garden or a garden indoors, choose garden planters in different shapes and sizes to help you make efficient use of the limited space available. By adding a few garden containers, you will be able to enjoy growing your own fruits and vegetables as well as beautiful flowers indoors, throughout the year. There are a lot of planters in different shapes, colors and made of different materials that you can choose from; you are sure to find the right set that complements your home decor well with most beautiful garden decorations ideas.

Hanging planters are a great space-saving idea for indoor gardens and they double as a gorgeous decor accessory for your home. Depending on where you choose to start your garden and your home decor style, you can opt for an array of hanging planters. Hanging pots are great for both indoor uses and for your balcony garden. Hanging garden bags also make versatile planters that are ideal for your balcony.

The use of modern materials in Home Decor

The use of modern materials has made garden planters versatile and stylish and more appropriate for indoor use. Available in metals like brass, copper, zinc, and wood, there are planters available to accent all decor styles. Painted ceramic, terracotta, and wicker are also available for an indoor garden with classic country charm. They also come with a drip tray ready for indoor use. Choose stackable planters for limited spaces.

If you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to plastic planters opt for eco-friendly planters made of natural and recycled materials. Natural planters made from burlap allow better air circulation and drainage for your plants. They are also portable as they usually come with convenient side handles. A number of everyday items, like coffee cans, cat litter tubs, and take-out containers can be transformed into planters by poking drainage holes in the bottom. Use a durable paint, such as a lacquer or spray paint, to make your repurposed planter look just as attractive as a store-bought one.

Both pots and hanging planters are ideal for indoor use as they are very easy to move around according to the season and the availability of sunlight.





Design a Garden Container

How to Use Texture and Shape for an Interesting Garden Display

When you design a garden container, you should choose your plants carefully. It is important that you have your finished design in mind before you plant your garden container.

Your first consideration should be the light needs of the plants. Is this garden container located in full sun or dense shade? Perhaps there is a mixture of light throughout the day. When you buy plants or seeds, the light requirements are usually listed on the label or seed packets. In order to produce a thriving garden that will bloom throughout the growing season, get off to a good start by choosing the proper plants for the light available to the garden container. If you are unsure of the light needs of certain plants, consult a reference book, the internet, or question the sales clerk when you purchase the plant about the plant’s needs.

Choosing Plant Colors

Your next choice will be colored. Do you want to create a country garden look? If so, a wide variety of colors will help you achieve that look. If you have a more formal garden, plan on a container showcasing one or two plants with coordinating colors. Perhaps you want to match your home colors. If you are having trouble deciding on your color scheme, here is a Gardener’s Color Wheel that you can use for reference.

Another aid to helping you decide on colors for your garden container is to cut pictures from seed catalogs and arrange them on paper in the way you would like to plant your container. This will give you some idea of how your colors will look in the final planting.

When thinking of your color scheme, be sure to repeat the color throughout the length or the circumference of your container. It is not necessary to use the same plant, but by repeating the color you bring balance to the planting and it is pleasing to the eye. Whatever your goal, decide on the colors you want before you go to the garden shop. Once you get there, it’s difficult to make good choices because you’ll probably want one of everything whether it fits into your color scheme or not.

Plant Growth Pattern is Important

Next, consider the plant’s natural growth pattern. Is it vertical or does it creep out horizontally? Does it like to hang down and trail or is it a plant that stays in a neat little clump? It’s important that you know the growth pattern so that you can design an interesting garden container.

Consider Plant Textures and Form for an Interesting Container

When you design a garden container, another plant attribute to consider is texture. The size of a plant’s foliage often gives the impression of texture. Large leaf plants such as caladiums and coleus are considered coarse-textured. Small foliage such as the asparagus fern and cosmos are considered fine-textured.

The form is also a consideration when you design a garden container. There are spiky plants such as dracaena, grasses, and salvia. Then there are airy, feathery plants like asparagus ferns and coreopsis. There are plants that can be planted densely for a color focal point like marigolds and daffodils.

A variety of plant textures and forms makes for an interesting container garden. Use tall plants for height, mounded dense plants for mass and focal color, and low creeping or trailing plants to add interest and soften the edges.

How Many Plants to a Garden Container? The number of plants you can get into a garden container obviously depends on the size of the container and the plant size. Since you will be watering and feeding regularly, you can put in as many plants as you can fit in for a bushy, luxurious look. Avoid overcrowding. Some plants can’t compete when they are fighting for space and will never thrive in a crowded space. As a guideline for avoiding overcrowding, rootballs can touch when you are designing a garden container, but don’t cram them in just because you want to use all the plants you bought. Just as important is the effect you are looking for. Are you trying for a formal look? If so, plant a single elegant plant that makes a statement. Don’t cover the ground with vining plants or ground cover as this will spoil the effect you are trying to achieve. An important, imposing plant needs space and isolation for real impact.

On the other hand, if you are planting spring bulbs, they should be planted as close together as possible to give the impression of an established clump. Even with close planting, the effect can look sparse until the bulbs come into full bloom. For this reason, violas and forget-me-nots can be planted at the base for a more filled in look.

One of the main points to keep in mind when you design a garden container is to be mindful of the types of plants you are using. Some gardeners like to use as many different plants as they can get into the pot. This is fine if you are looking for a very casual, country, wild look. On the other hand, planting in this way can make your container look “fussy” and overblown. Often a container with just one – three different plants can make your container look more artistic and planned, while containers with only a single type of plant can often be very striking.

Every Planting Needs a Focal Point

It is important to have a focal point that draws the eye in every container planting. The focus is usually the center of the planting. This is where you will place your most important plant or color focus. All other plants should be supporting this focus and radiate out from there. Odd numbers of plants are more interesting than ever. Try it yourself. Plant or visualize 2 plants. Then do the same with 3 plants. Which do you find has more appeal?

Have a Final Shape in Mind When You Design a Garden Container

Designing a garden container is much like flower arranging. The best looking containers have a definition and shape that makes them stand out from the average and ordinary. Here are some things to keep in mind as you design garden container. The shape of the pot and plant should look comfortable together. Plants in containers should not be twice the height of the pot, or more than half again as wide. To achieve pleasing proportions, it is helpful to keep in mind the six basic shapes of container plantings:

Design a Garden Container Using These Reference

Fan Shaped Arrangement

Plants that spread out into an attractive fan shape work well for this type of planting. Select plants that grow to about 1 1/2 times the container height for a balanced display. This shape works well in pots that are conical in shape.

Vertical Arrangement

Grow several tall plants together in a single container. The height souls are 1 1/2 times the container height and the width of the plant should equal the width of the pot. Plant low growing annuals or foliage around the base of the pot.

Horizontal Arrangement

Avoid planting horizontal arrangements in straight rows when you design a garden container. Vary the height of the main plants to break up the horizontal line. Soften the overall effect with filler plants and cascading or airy plantings. Horizontal arrangements can also be of one type of plant material. This arrangement gives the impression of a horizontal line.

Oval Arrangement

Oval shaped containers are often low level and most often viewed from above. Smaller shaped plants that have a spreading or trailing growth pattern will be the best candidates for planting in an oval container.

Domed Arrangement

Many plants grow in a domed pattern. These plants are great for cauldrons and barrels. Soften the domed effect by planting cascading or trailing plants around the edges of the container.

Asymmetrical Arrangement

An asymmetrical planting is one of the hardest patterns to achieve as you design a garden container. It is an excellent way of projecting movement and is exciting to view. The plant material is not equally balanced but has the same visual weight so it has a vitality that is often lacking in traditional balanced plantings.

Both oval and domed shaped arrangements work well in low-level containers where they can be viewed from above. Containers in the open should be planted so they look good from all angles. It may often be necessary, if possible, to rotate the containers so the plants grow evenly and not be leaning towards the sunlight.

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