Words by - Anne Worsley

Con·tain·er·o·lo·gy:  It’s the art and science of container gardening – or how to grow a good-looking plot in a pot.

But a “containerology” degree doesn’t have to be hard to earn,” joked Anthony Tesselaar of Anthony Tesselaar Plants, “All you have to do is take fellow gardeners’ advice about what works and what doesn’t.  That’s why we’re offering this cheat sheet of sorts – for container gardens that inspire, not expire.”

      What to look for in pots & plants

  • In his video “How to Build the Perfect Container Garden,” Dave Epstein (of the gardening how-to video site Growing Wisdom) suggests buying lightweight, synthetic pots mimicking the look of heavier materials that dry out quicker (like wood, metal or clay). That way, you can conserve water and lift the pots easier.
  • One-plant pots make a powerful statement. Use the Storm™ series of agapanthus in pots for their architectural wow factor.  Storm can survive the intense Australian heat, drought and humidity which make them an excellent choice for a large pot.
  • Fairy Magnolia® Blush – a new michelia hybrid that’s perfect for large pots and can be trained up a trellis, provide a lovely display in an alfresco area.
  • Choose plants that are naturally disease, pest and weather resistant along with similar water and sun needs to cut down on maintenance says Tesselaar. He recommends Flower Carpet® groundcover roses (winner of seven All Deutschland Rose designations – the world’s highest honor for natural disease resistance), and cordylines like Red Fountain™ and Burgundy Spire™ (virtually ignored by insects and wildlife).

Bringing it together

  • When combining plants, Epstein recommends echoing or contrasting colours and textures. In his video, “Easy Tips for Growing Plants in Containers,” he notes how the broad, flat, ovate leaves of Tropicanna® cannas differ from the fleshy rosettes of echeveria, yet the two go together, since they’re both burgundy. In that same pot, however, he notes how you can contrast the dark burgundy with either a white petunia or purplish-pink celosia.
  • One way to organise colour combinations in pots, says Tesselaar is to use hues that are similar (i.e. three different shades of pink or yellow with yellow-green and green). This combination creates a harmonious, calming effect. A more dramatic effect can be achieved by using complementary colours (those across from each other on the colour wheel – like blue with orange, yellow with purple and red with green).
  • Think of container gardens as moveable props, says Tesselaar: “Use them to ill bare spots in the landscape, change out plants to reflect new seasons and reposition them to accommodate changing sun or shade.” Bring them with you as you move throughout the property. Keep your pot design in proportion to its pot by devoting one third of the height to the pot and the remaining two-thirds to the plants, or vice versa.

The Thriller-filler-spiller

  • Think thriller-spiller-filler, says Epstein in “Easy Tips for Container Gardens”: “You want something that spills over the sides, something that fills the centre and something that’s the ‘wow factor,’ or thriller.” For the thriller, he chooses Tropicanna cannas; for the filler, he chooses purple celosia and for the spiller, he chooses white petunias.
  • After filling the pot halfway with soilless mix and working in a slow-release, granular fertiliser, Epstein likes to pot the tallest plant first, first loosening its roots. (If you put the tall plant in the centre, the filler can go all the way around that and the spiller all the way around that, he notes. If you put the tall plant in back, the filler can go in front of that and the spiller in front of that).
  • If the pot doesn’t already have holes for drainage on the bottom, Epstein adds them with a drill. For even better drainage, he then fills the bottom of the pot with rocks (or even sticks, shells and other organic matter) and then a soilless, lightweight potting mix. This can also raise the height of the bottom of the pot, so you don’t use as much potting mix. He also uses smaller, upside-down plastic pots inside the pot as pedestals for the plants.
  • Stick your finger 5 to 10 cm’s into the soil to see if your container needs watering, says Epstein.  If it’s dry, give it a drink.
  • Your pot’s volume should be roughly a third to a half the size of the eventual volume of the mature plants. If your mature plants are expected to grow to 1metre tall by 1 metre wide, for instance, your planter should be no smaller than 50cm tall by 50 cm wide.

And don’t forget to water

  • Tesselaar recommends watering in the morning, when it’s cooler (for less evaporation). “Make it part of your morning routine, like brushing your teeth.”
  • If you want roses that stand up to hot, dry conditions in pots the original Flower Carpet ® is an excellent choice.
  • Use a good quality potting mix, and fertilise when planting, using a slow-release fertiliser.

About Tesselaar

Tesselaar Plants searches the world and introduces new plants for the home garden, landscape, home décor and gift markets. Tesselaar undertakes extensive research and development of its varieties and, once they’re selected for introduction, provides marketing and promotional support through its grower and retail network. The Tesselaar philosophy is to introduce exceptional plants while “making gardening easy” for everyone, so it makes its products as widely available as possible. Tesselaar believes the more gardeners there are, the better it is for everyone.

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