My flowering container plants have not been as effective as I would like, especially later in the season. Could you give me a formula for success with flowers in containers?
Whether choosing already planted containers or planting your own, the two most important factors are variety choice for sun or shade and fertilization.
I prefer larger containers such as minimum 10 inch hanging baskets and 12 inch pots and tubs. They do not dry out as quickly as smaller containers. Make sure planting containers have holes for drainage.
The best potting soils allow water to move into the soil quickly and have peat moss or other materials which hold moisture. Some potting soils already have fertilizer and/or moisture crystals added. If not, I like to add water holding crystals such as “Soil Moist” to help retain extra moisture. Mix these thoroughly into the bottom two thirds of the container. If placed too close to the surface, they tend to push themselves to the top.