How to Choose Plants for Outdoor Containers

Growing flowers, vegetables and other plants in outdoor containers can be a practical solution for those who don’t have the space or time to devote to a full garden. Along with providing a more manageable cultivation site, the right planters can also make an attractive addition to decks, porches, and patios lacking natural color. To know which plants will go best with a set of new containers, it will be necessary to take a few basic factors into consideration, including the climate unique to your neck of the woods and the growing conditions favored by various species.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Matching Flowering Plants to Their Appropriate Containers

1
Display attractive annuals in small pots. Colorful faithfuls like zinnias, snapdragons, and marigolds make good candidates for 4-5 inch (10-13 cm) pots due to their minimal spatial requirements. Cosmos, coreopsis, and periwinkles are also good choices. These plants do well with moderate amounts of water and sunlight, which means they won’t need to be moved often.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Consult a regional gardening guide to find out which species of annuals are best suited for your climate.
- When planting multiple seedlings, space them evenly throughout the pot to allow plenty of room for their roots to spread out as they grow. Avoid clustering more than 2-3 seedlings into the same pot.
2
Bring in some perennials for low-maintenance beauty. Since these can get by on minimal water and sunlight, they’re a practical option for those who are frequently away from home for long periods. Look into the spatial needs of the plants you're growing to make sure your containers are large enough to accommodate them.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Lavender, hydrangea, dianthus, and Peruvian lilies are all popular perennials for container gardening.
- Most perennials do best in their own individual planters that provide at least 10 square inches (roughly 65 square cm) of space.
- You might also have success grouping two or more small perennials in the same container. Phlox Blue Flame, Veronica Purpleicious, and Lilly of the Valley all make good candidates for multi-plant containers.^{[3]XResearch source}
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3
Reserve hanging baskets or window boxes for trailing plants. Elevated containers will make it possible for species like fuchsia, petunias, ivy, and sweet potato vine to stretch their tendrils without spilling out onto the ground. Their cascading foliage is also a good way to add a touch of greenery to porches and sunrooms with vaulted ceilings.
- Suspend your hanging containers high enough to keep trailing plants from overtaking nearby walking or sitting space.
- Since trailing plants can get so large, it's usually best to limit them to one per container.
4
Fill in unused space with vibrant ornamental grasses. If your planters are looking a bit bare around the edges, a few tufts of Maiden Grass or foxtrot may be just what you need to frame your more extravagant display flowers. The sleek, spiky stalks of blue fescue or liriope can also create an appealing bed for towering plants like dracaena or adenium to rise from.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Sow filler grasses at least 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) from your flowering plants to prevent their root structures from crowding one another out.
- Before you begin mixing and matching ornamental grasses with other plants, read up on both species to ensure that they’re equipped to survive in the same basic environmental conditions.
5
Pick out selections in complimentary colors. Pair deep red chrysanthemums with vibrant golden calendula or delicate white cyclamen to create eye-catching contrast. For a more nuanced expression of a single palette, try blending flowering plants with shades that are similar but not exact, like snapdragons and sedum sieboldii.^{[5]XResearch source}
- You might also use to the color of your plants to enhance or offset your surroundings. A spray of cherry-pink zinnias, for instance, will practically glow within a sea of soft green shrubs.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Don't be afraid to take chances. You have to be willing to experiment a little in order to discover combinations that are exciting, unexpected, and unique to your garden.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding Containers for Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs

1
Plant fruit trees in upright containers. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need acres of open space to grow fresh fruit. In fact, all you really need is a simple planter roughly 1 foot (0.30 m) wide by 1 foot (0.30 m) deep. As long as you're using a dwarf variety, you can grow apples, peaches, plums, or any number of other juicy, delicious offerings in a pot.^{[7]XResearch source}
- A 10–15 gallons (38–57 l) plastic planter is ideal for fruit trees of average size. One of these planters will be roomy enough for the spreading root system, but still small enough to pick up and move without difficulty.^{[8]XResearch source}
- As your fruit trees continue to grow, they can be moved to larger containers or even planted below ground. You'll know when they're ready to be transplanted when the roots begin to poke through the drainage holes or upper layer of soil.^{[9]XResearch source}
2
Use long, deep troughs to raise vegetables. Crops like tomatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini, and squash are the perfect size for cultivating in small batches. In many ways, growing veggies in containers is actually easier than growing them in the garden—all your watering, fertilizing, and harvesting can be done in one place. It’s also easier to patrol a close grouping of planters for scavenging critters.^{[10]XResearch source}
- You may have to get creative when looking for containers big enough to hold your miniature vegetable garden. In addition to premade planters, for instance, you could also use a halved wooden barrel, metal washtub, or row of milk crates.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Stake a small trellis into the soil to support the growth of tomatoes, beans, and other vertical veggies.
3
Arrange a selection of herbs in space-saving containers. There are a multitude of items lying around most homes that can function as quaint miniature planters for an above-ground herb garden. Try filling a set of mason jars or ceramic flower pots with a small amount of potting soil mix and adding rosemary, sage, thyme, or cilantro to each. Lush, leafy herbs like mint and basil may require something a little deeper, such as a festive serving bowl.^{[12]XResearch source}
- In addition to the standard pots, jars, and cups, a few more inventive containers for housing your herbs include ornate china teacups, baby food jars, metal kitchen canisters, and recycled glass bottles.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Giving your herbs their own place to grow frees up valuable planter space and makes it easier to keep tabs on their progress.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Ensuring Optimal Growing Conditions for Outdoor Plants

1
Select plants that are well-suited for containers. Not all plants do equally well in close quarters. When deciding what you want to grow, look for species that are recommended specifically for cultivating in containers. They'll be easier to care for and will have a better chance of survival than those that thrive in the ground.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Roses, pansies, begonias, and hydrangeas are among the most popular choices for container gardening.^{[15]XResearch source}
- The seedlings and seed packets you purchase at your local gardening center or plant nursery will often come with information on the plant's spatial requirements, which can give you a better idea of how to make use of the containers you have on hand.
2
Use a well-balanced potting soil. Compared to regular gardening soil, which clumps easily and makes it hard for air and water to pass through, quality potting soil mixes are light, fluffy, and rich in vital nutrients. This gives winding root systems the ability to spread out and creates a more hospitable environment for outdoor plants of all types.^{[16]XResearch source}
- Look for potting soil mixtures containing ingredients like aged bark, vermiculite, lime, and peat moss. These substances are essential for promoting healthy growth.
- Potting soil is also less likely to contain insects, weeds, fungi, and other harmful contaminants than soil that comes straight from your garden.^{[17]XResearch source}
3
Make sure your plants get enough water. Outdoor plants often lose moisture faster due to fluctuations in temperature and exposure to direct sunlight. Different species have different moisture requirements, but generally speaking, plants in large containers should be watered thoroughly once a day, while those in smaller containers need a drink once in the morning and again in the evening. Your waterings will need to become more frequent during the hot summer months.^{[18]XResearch source}
- Plants in small, porous containers tend to dry out rapidly. Using a water retaining potting mix or switching to a container with fewer drainage holes may help keep them moist longer.
- Avoid overwatering your potted plants. Enclosed containers cause soil to drain slower, and if you’re not careful, the excess moisture could rot or drown out the roots.^{[19]XResearch source}
- Plants that have been overwatered may appear lifeless or rubbery, while dry soil and discolored leaves are the most common symptoms of underwatered plants.^{[20]XResearch source}
4
Position your plants where they can get the right amount of sunlight. Leave room near windows, open expanses, and other sunny spots for plants that grow best with lots of light, like hibiscus and gardenia. Those that prefer shade, such as peace lilies, philodendron, and most ferns, can be arranged along one wall of your home so they receive less direct exposure.^{[21]XResearch source}
- You may be better off growing temperamental species like Bluebells and African Iris in lightweight containers that can be repositioned easily throughout the day as light and temperature conditions change.^{[22]XResearch source}
- Save heavy, stationary planters for perennials, small trees, and other hearty plants that will be okay in one spot.
5
Inspect your plants regularly for signs of infestation or disease. Take a close look at your potted plants about once a week to confirm that everything appears normal. Leaves with small holes or jagged edges may have recently been food for hidden insects. Likewise, significant browning and withering could be symptoms of disease in plants that are currently in season.^{[23]XResearch source}
- You can thin the ranks of most common plant pests by spraying them a mild soapy water solution, or simply removing them by hand.
- Minor plant diseases can usually be treated with careful pruning and restoring water, sunlight, and key soil nutrients to their optimal levels.^{[24]XResearch source}
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Question
What are some examples of perennials that might survive in the outdoor planter box over winter?
Fizzy Hacks
Community Answer
This really depends on how cold your winter gets. You could try boxwood, bergenia, juniper, dogwood, lily of the valley, cornflower, etc. Do some research for your zone and area though, as there are many, many possibilities.
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Tips

Placing heavy gardening containers on wheels or castors will make them easier to move around as needed.
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Many species are resilient enough to flourish in almost any type of container, provided they have enough light, water, and space, which means you’ll have quite a bit of freedom when it comes to deciding how to display your outdoor plants.
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Keep an eye out for miscellaneous objects that you might repurpose into one-of-a-kind gardening containers, such as wheelbarrows, sealed window casings, canvas sacks, and old tires.
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