Planting Your Container Garden

There are so many horror stories from novice and experienced gardeners about using an incorrect soil mixture for their garden planters and containers. Here is the best advice that we have culled from many sources, especially from those growers that specialize in container plants.

Bagged commercial potting mixes are the very best choice for filling containers. These mixtures contain a variety of ingredients, including composted bark, sawdust, peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, or sometime real soil which is usually pasteurized. Some container mixes also contain fertilizers, and if you wish your planters and pots to be organic, you will want to avoid those. Although perfect loamy soil may be used as an ingredient for your homemade potting mix, most ordinary garden soil is not suitable. It is too heavy and compacts easily in pots and planters and doesn�t drain properly.

Wood furniture will give you the most authentic Moroccan look. Don�t have wood furnishings? Try constructing a simple low-slung chaise from a used solid core door with six fence post tops screwed into the bottom. Paint or stain it to look like rich wood and top with a thick cushion (use an 8� foam mattress cut to measure). Use a heavy-weight fabric for the cushion cover and make sure it�s a bright orange or red color!Here are some suggestions if you wish to create your own container mixture � 100% compost, 100% soil-less mix, 25% garden soil with 75% compost or soil-less mix and we have also seen 50% soil-less mix and 50% compost. There are a lot of variations; however, garden soil may contain weed seeds or pathogens that cause plant diseases.

You can improvise a table from a hollow core or solid core door set on cement blocks or stacks of bricks. Cover it with layers of rich cloths in your chosen colors. You�ll find this table sits low to the ground and you�ll be able to eat in the traditional Moroccan way: sitting on pillows and rugs. Cover the cushions with co-ordinating or contrasting fabrics in rich finishes. Use azure, persimmon and lots and lots of gold fabric.Some houseplants need less light than others, but normal artificial lighting is no substitute for the natural daylight that all plants need. Medium-sized plants can be placed on furniture, but there are alternatives, hanging baskets, wall-hung planters, stands or window shelves. Small plants, such as African violets need placing with care. They usually look and grow best grouped in a box or on a stand. Make sure you match a plant to its growing conditions.

Tiles are an absolute must in Moroccan style. If you cannot incorporate them in the floor of your space, by painting a tiled pattern on a wooden deck, laying tiles on a patio, or edging your pool-side cabana, be sure to pick them up in a tabletop, a plant pot, a wall-hanging or a large tray. Mix bright turquoise or azure blue and goldy-orange tile pieces in intricate patterns to capture the Moorish look.

To sum up, always moisten potting mixture before filling containers. Pre-moistening is essential, potting mix may be difficult to wet and you may end up with pockets of soil that stays dry. This dry soil will just pull the water right out of the plant roots and damage them. Some gardeners even consider pre-soaking their plants before filling the pots and containers.

Author: Marion Stewart