Trying a few new plants for mixed containers is something I look forward to every year. But when I’m at the nursery, I also consult my list of favourites — the ones that never let me down, look good all season and don’t use up my whole plant budget. These are my insurance plants in case the new ones don’t live up to their billing or just don’t work out. Most on my list have … [Read more...] about Perfect container plants
Container Plants
Why aren’t my pothos plants growing?
Sylvain in Montreal, QC., asks: I planted cuttings of my variegated pothos that had been rooted in water. That was over a year ago and they have not grown a centimetre. They live in the same conditions as their parent plants. I feed them with Acadie Seaweed (0.3-0.3-4) that works well for all my houseplants. I’m puzzled. Judith Adam, horticultural consultant for Garden … [Read more...] about Why aren’t my pothos plants growing?
6 container plants looking good in the heat
Every year about this time, I take a close look at the plants in the pots, containers and hanging baskets in our garden to see what’s doing well, what’s flagging and what’s ho-hum. There are favourites I include every year, but I always trial a few new varieties, some of which are new to the market or older varieties I’ve never tried before. It’s important that container … [Read more...] about 6 container plants looking good in the heat
Foliage shines in container plants for shade
Who doesn’t love a container filled with colourful flowers? But flowers need sun to bloom, and not every container gardener has sun. When this is the case, container plants for shade that feature interesting leaf shapes and textures are your best bet for a shady corner. This trio of pots highlights a shady corner at the bend of a path. A cedar hedge and blue Nootka … [Read more...] about Foliage shines in container plants for shade
A salute to annual Spanish flag vine
Annual vines are easy to grow and well-behaved, and most have intriguing blooms that last all summer. My current favourite is Spanish flag vine (Ipomoea lobata), a.k.a. firecracker vine. Small, tubular red and gold blooms are lined up in a row along short, wiry stems that arch out from the main stems. The effect is reminiscent of fringe or tiny flags, fluttering in a breeze. … [Read more...] about A salute to annual Spanish flag vine
