A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Container Gardening Flowers in containers

I've got a whole bunch of big pots & 2 containers I want to fill w/flowers for around the yard where there's no flower beds. Ya'know... just for some color in that part of the yard. I don't know if I want to drill drainage holes in 2 of them (they were my Grandma's). Thing is, these 2 containers have been sitting around for a while now & I'd rather have them looked at & enjoyed, than just sitting in the garage, buried. I'm a little torn.

Anyone know a trick for not putting in drainage holes & still having your plants survive? These containers would not be under any shelter, so they'd get all the rain water. Or... any wise words to convince me to drill the holes?

Oh... I don't know what kind of flowers I'd put in there... probably just annuals for now. These might end up being the "Boys" flowers since there are 2 containers, one for each of them. I'm thinking of letting them choose the flowers too.

Yup, layer the bottom of the pot with packing peanuts or broken pots or such. So that the soil has something to rest against but will still allow the water to drain below the roots of the plants.

You take a chance of cracking the pots if you drill them. Annuals would be the best idea.

I've always thought that flowers in containers were just petunias in 6 inch pots.

NewSkewl:

I use that white driveway rock in the bottom of my drainless pots.I also use craked shards od old clay pots--I put t hem cutved side up---so as to afford a 'pocket' of space below the shard.

--I agree, do NOT try to drill holes, esp. if you want to keep the pot.

also Wal-mart has raised inserts to put in the bottom of your pot---it has drain slots in it that they water goes thru, to help keep your roots healthy. you have to know the dimentions of the bottom of your pot so you can get the correct size insert.

good luck---I too am using pots this year.

only problem is rain. I have a large pot that I put stuff in for drainage but left it where it would get a little rain or so I thought. After a couple of days of solid rain the water was up to the top. We ended up turning it up and drilling holes. It wasn't a special pot though. Breakage wouldn't have made me sad but it's held up for many more years.

that reminds me, gotta plant in 3 of my posts today before it rains

Mark has drilled many holes in plant pots for me with no problems.....reminds me, I bought 2 more big pots the other day and they didn't have drainage...must have him drill them because I learned my lesson like Sheri....the first year I bought a few of them they totally filled up with water and were really gross.

Here are my empty pots ready to go! Having plants here brighten the stairs up a bit!

Last year I just had 2 of the really big ones and a mish mosh of other pots, so this year I bought 2 more of them and then I got the brown ones to go in between, I still need one more for where that white one is.



Here they were from last year!

What colour combo are you doing this year Loz?

Well last year I had nothing specific in mind, I just threw things in as I bought them.

I'm not sure yet what I'll do this year....I'll have to check out the different full sun plants when I go to the nursery soon with mom!

I didn't mention that the 2 containers are metal. I think we're going to drill holes in them. I'd rather use & see them, then keep them tucked-away in the garage 'cause I don't want to "damage" them.

They are large containers, so I'm thinking I'll do the packing popcorn on the bottom trick, just so they're not so heavy. I'll try to take pictures of them so you know what I'm talking about.

Thanks for all the tips, tricks & advise!

I myself have 2 pots that have no holes drilled out. I am always out dumping the excess water out. I agree with you junegirl...I also use cracked shards of old clay pots--and broken potery to fill in the bottom.
Im in the garden everyday so It is easier to manage.

Another idea is make them water pots. Put water plants such as lilies in them then if it rains all the better. It might even draw the birds to your yard for an afternoon bath. Just a thought.

Hmmm.... that would be nice. Maybe have a little "fountain" so we could get the water sound on the patio. Oh man! That would be SOOO NICE! Only problem would be the 5 & 2 yr olds playing in the water every chance they get. I'm sure the 2 yr old would think it's a "bath" or a "pool". I'd also be a little nervous about them being around the water & possibly falling in & drowning.

Thanks for the brainstorming idea though. When they get older & safer around water, I'm DEFINITELY going to have a little container pond on the patio! FANTASTIC IDEA!! OOooooo!! Now I'm excited to add that to my garden in a few years. What a great thing to look forward to!!

Sarah

I have a lot of pots with out drainage holes. I use them for the plants that cannot get enough water. Cannas are good for that project. You could get the ones with pretty leaves and you do not have to wait for flowers to have color.

This Canna is in a pot and in the pond. It loved it. Some plants cannot get enough water.