Potted Plants

Potted plants work in indoor and outdoor spaces.

Potted plants provide color indoors and versatility outdoors. A potted plant may be as small as a 2-inch African violet or as large as a small tree. Given the proper care, potted plants can live for years and provide great rewards for your efforts.

Types

Flowering or leafy, seasonal, annual or perennial, most types of plants are suitable for growing in pots. You may wish to use potted plants indoors or outdoors on a walkway or patio, or as a feature in your garden.

Benefits

Perhaps the largest benefit of potted plants is related to space. Not everyone has the space for a full garden, but a potted plant can be placed almost anywhere where sunlight, air and water are available. Potted plants kept indoors provide a splash of color, even in the dead of winter, and may help clean the air, according to NASA research. Outdoors, potted plants can serve as a continuation of your flower garden onto a sidewalk or patio. Some plants that require controlled conditions may be best grown in a container, where the soil conditions can be carefully controlled.

Care

Potted plants should be cared for similarly to plants in the ground. Specific care depends largely on the type of plant, but fertilizing and watering regularly and ensuring proper light exposure, specific to the plants' needs, are the basics of potted plant care. Potted plants need a soil that is specifically formulated for potted plants. Be mindful of the temperature and humidity in your home. Most plants prefer temperatures of 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit, with slightly cooler temperatures at night. Dry winter weather may increase a plant's demand for watering, and plants may need to be moved to more humid areas of the house, such as the bathroom or kitchen. The leaves of indoor plants should be wiped clean from time to time to remove dust.

Considerations

Keep in mind your specific potted plants' sunlight and watering needs. For instance, if you plan to hang a potted plant in your home, be sure you will be able to reach the plant to provide watering on a regular basis. Outdoor potted plants may need to be moved throughout the day or season to get proper sunlight if they are not ideally placed. Some plants may grow well in pots together; for example, plants that have similar sunlight and watering requirements and prefer the same soil conditions will do well together. If a plant needs to be repotted, spring is the best time. When potting or repotting a plant, be sure to choose a container with holes for drainage.

References

• University of Missouri Extension; Care of Flowering Potted Plants; David Trinklein and Ray R. Rothenberger; December 1998
• University of Minnesota Extension Service; Houseplants Help Clean Indoor Air; Deborah L. Brown; January 1999
• The Pennsylvania State University; Caring for Houseplants; July 9, 2004