3 Container Gardening Ideas For the Beginner Gardener

Plants & herbs aren't the only ones that sound appealing to the novice gardener ... and those are definitely not the only ones who contribute to a good container garden. There are other factors to consider too.

My mom has a green thumb. Unfortunately, we were not endowed with the ability to wield money, so we only have a limited space for her "garden". It is just a small area of land (cemented part of the house could properly describe it) where container plants and herbs abound - some on the floor, some on top of a counter top, and most of them hanging on the rafters.

So from personal experiences, here's what we've come up so far:

1. We don't have enough space (as mentioned previously), so it also follows that we don't have easily accessible soil lying around the house. So instead of buying soil, my mom opted to buy some items for a planters mix. Planters mix (or also known as potting soil) should have organic material that can hold water (usually peat moss), inorganic materials for space for the plant's roots and drainage (like sand or vermiculite), and nutrients (some fertilizer, limestone or plain compost). Blend 1 part organic, 1 part inorganic and add some nutrients for the perfect mix.

2. Some plants will need watering everyday. The rule of thumb is to wait until at least an inch of top layer of soil is slightly dry (you'll know of this when the soil is lighter in color and texture; also, it is usually dry to the touch). You can water it until water runs out of the drainage holes - this is to encourage healthy root formation. (Of course, if it's an herb, check first if it's okay to do so just to make sure that you are not drowning it.) Hanging planters and clay pots tend to dry more quickly, especially in the summer. Make sure to check twice a day and water them if necessary. Wash with tepid (never cold) water to avoid shocking the plant roots.

3. Sunlight should always be considered when selecting plants for your container garden. Though we had a small space for Mom's garden-haven, we were fortunate that sunlight was ever present in that area. All plants need to photosynthesize (light, chlorophyll, carbon dioxide and air interact with water within the plant to produce the necessary sugar and starches it needs), and a plant can only do so if there is sunlight. Sunlight exposure depends on the plant's tolerance to light. Some may need full sunlight, others may make do with just partial sun, and some can go by living under a shade with very minimal light. Check (and if necessary, research) the plant's needs to be sure.

I thought I didn't have what it takes to do gardening. But with container gardening, as my mother pointed out, you can't go wrong as long as you care for your plants - check regularly if they need "food", see if they have aphids or other insects on their leaves, and love them as you would care for a pet.