Container Gardening - Ideas and Solutions to Possible Problems
This article will tackle the ways on how to container-garden-troubleshoot should you encounter common problems. The idea of container gardening may be appealing, especially to those with limited space at home. You may picture out a set of containers neatly lined up against a wall, with matching hanging pots overhead.
While the picture may look nice, we have to prepare ourselves that with a limited space, certain problems may arise. The best way to manage it, especially if you’re just starting out, is to start with a few herbs first. A couple of oregano, mint tomatoes, or parsley would be a nice start.
Limit your starting lineup to about a couple of herbs or plants. This is so that you can gauge how you can take care of your plants. Also, you will be able to adjust effortlessly should you need a little more space for your plants when they are continuously growing.
Say you already have your garden, try to check for these plant-symptoms:
Plant has holes in the leaves and/or the leaves are distorted in shape.
It most probably has insects attacking it. If upon checking, you find some of said pests, use an EPA-recommended insecticide to eliminate them.
Plant continuously wilts although there is sufficient water present.
Chances are, there is poor drainage and air is not able to flow a bit freely in the soil. Or maybe your soil is too packed for the roots to be able to breathe on its own. Check your container to see if there are sufficient holes at the bottom for water drainage. Also, try to use a soil mix that indicates a higher percentage of organic matter. Put some small rocks at the bottom of the container before putting in any soil.
Plant leaves have powdery or rusty colored areas.
This maybe an indication that your plant has a disease or a fungal infection.
Spray using and EPA-recommended fungicide. (Fungicide is different from pesticide, so check your local garden store if they have any of these.)
Plants that are yellowing from the bottom, having poor color.
It could be due to excess water. Again, check the drainage (we cannot stress how important this is for a plant) and follow instruction given above concerning wilting plants. Reduce your watering intervals; if you are watering the plant 3 times a day, just make it two and make an adjustment on your watering time.
Plants are tall, spindly and unproductive (bearing no fruit, vegetable, nothing).
There maybe insufficient light. Move the container to an area where there is more light. If the plant thrives under partial shade, you can move it to a place where there is morning light streaming down on it, but is greatly reduced as the morning progresses.
Caring for your plants would be pretty much like caring for a pet – you would have to check if it is thriving and make adjustments in its care for a more productive plant. Do this and you will be rewarded in the end with a bountiful harvest and days of plenty.
