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Choosing the right pot
Your pot should not only match your decor, but should be deep enough to allow the roots of your plants to grow well. Be aware that the smaller the pot, the faster it will dry out. Therefore, a depth of 30 cm is ideal for annuals. The length and/or width will determine the number of plants you can plant in it.
Make sure that your pot is pierced to allow water to drain away. Drainage is essential to avoid root rot. The ideal is to use a container with a water reservoir which is very practical to forgive forgotten watering.
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Choosing the right soil
Annuals in containers do well in a light peat-based container mix enriched with coconut husk fibre such as VERANDA Container mix. Compared to conventional soil, this container mix retains water 40% longer and promotes 4X more blooms. For exceptional results, add compost to the bottom of your containers to stimulate the growth of your annuals at mid-season.
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Fertilizing properly
To fertilize your containers, there are controlled release fertilizers such as Flower Max Fertilizer. A single application is enough to ensure abundant flowering for the entire season. Surfinias, petunias and calibrachoas are very greedy plants. Do not hesitate to add fertilizer if necessary.
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Watering regularly
In the summer, especially during hot weather, watering your planters is essential! To get the best watering tips and make sure your flowers stay beautiful all summer long, find out how to water your plants efficiently in hot weather.
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Pruning faded flowers
Some annuals, such as calibrachoa, are almost maintenance-free and bloom profusely all summer without removing spent flowers. However, most other annuals will bloom more abundantly if they are removed. This is because preventing the plants from producing seeds forces them to bloom again.
Toward the end of July, it’s time to give your tired planters a facelift by pruning back about half of the plants. Don’t worry, they’ll start growing and blooming again quickly for the rest of the season.
At the end of the season, before the cold sets in, replace your annuals with evergreen perennials to create beautiful fall containers. Who said flowering containers were for summer only? Find out how to create delightful fall arrangements.
