Grow Plants in Pots

258 Pages·2011·30.158 MB·English

by  Martyn Cox, Zia Allaway, Peter Anderson

grow
plants
pots
in
House plants, outdoor
plants, container-grown
fruits, vegetables, and herbs

grow plants
in pots
LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH,
MELBOURNE, DELHI
Project Editor Zia Allaway
Editors Sarah Ruddick, Christine Dyer
Project Art Editor Vicky Read
US Editor Rebecca Warren, Kate Johnsen
Jacket Designer Mark Cavanagh
Production Editor Joanna Byrne
DK Picture Library Jenny Baskaya,
Lucy Claxton
Managing Editor Esther Ripley
Managing Art Editor Alison Donovan
Associate Publisher Liz Wheeler
Art Director Peter Luff
Publisher Jonathan Metcalf
Additional text Zia Allaway
Photography Peter Anderson
First American Edition, 2011
Published in the United States by
DK Publishing
375 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1
001—179522—April/2011
Copyright © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved
above, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise),
without the prior written permission of both the
copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley
Limited.
A catalog record for this book is available from the
Library of Congress
ISBN 978-0-7566-8250-7

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grow plants
in pots
Martyn Cox
Contents
DESIGNING WITH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
CONTAINERS
Planning crops in pots 154
Eco-friendly ideas 9
Salads 156
Contemporary designs 10
Mediterranean mixes 164
Modern materials 11
Tasty leaves 172
Old-world charm 12
Perfect pods 176
Traditional materials 13
Delicious roots 182
Perfect partners 14
Cool-season crops 188
Pots in gardens 16
Herbs 192
Pots on patios 20
Citrus fruit 204
Balconies and
Pie fruit 208
roof terraces 24
Mediterranean fruit 212
Decorative windowsills 28
Exotic fruit 216
House warmers 30
Summer berries 218
Tree fruit 224
FOLIAGE AND FLOWERS
Unusual fruit 230
Choosing ornamentals 34
Fragrant flowers 36 PLANTING GUIDE
Tropical effects 48
Planting techniques 234
Drama queens 64
Caring for container
Desert dwellers 78
plants 238
Easy orchids 86
Sowing vegetable seeds 240
Plants for shade 94
Pests and diseases 242
High climbers 104
Spring spectacles 114 Index 250
Summer blooms 126 Acknowledgments 255
Cold-season displays 142 Picture credits 256
indicates that plant is generally grown as a houseplant
A–Z OF PLANT ENTRIES
Foliage and
Carex pp.146-147 Gloriosa p.112 Lobelia siphilitica p.137 Rosa pp.126-127
Flowers Chamaedorea elegans p.56 Graptopetalum p.84 Lonicera fragrantissima Saintpaulia p.141
Chamaerops humilis p.73 Gunnera manicata p.70 pp.44-45 Sansevieria p.102
Abutilon x hybridum p.139 Clematis pp.104-105 Hamamelis mollis pp.44-45 Lonicera nitida p.143 Saxifraga stribrnyi p.121
Acer palmatum pp.68-69 Clivia p.149 Hardenbergia violacea p.113 Lotus berthelotii p.53 Schefflera p.58
Acorus gramineus p.147 Codiaeum p.61 Hebe p.129 Malus p.119 Sedum morganianum p.81
Aechmea p.63 Convolvulus p.107 Hedera helix p.143 Medinilla magnifica p.62 Sedum rupestre p.135
Aeonium pp.78-79, 82-83 Cordyline australis p.67 Hedychium densiflorum p.65 Melianthus major p.65 Sempervivum pp.134-135
Agave p.80 Crassula pp.82-83 Helianthemum p.135 Monstera deliciosa p.59 Smithiantha p.75
Alocasia x amazonica p.60 Cycas revoluta p.57 Heliotropium p.41 Musa basjoo pp.48-49 Solanum p.149
Aloe p.81 Cyclamen persicum p.125 Heuchera p.99 Narcissus pp.114, 150-151 Solenostemon
Alpines p121, 134-135 Cymbidium pp.90-91 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis p.138 Nicotiana p.40 scutellarioides p.52
Ananas comosus p.77 Dahlia pp.130-131 Hibiscus syriacus p.129 Nymphaea p.136 Stephanotis p.110
Anthurium pp.53, 96-97 Daphne tangutica p.37 Hippeastrum p.148 Oncidium p.88 Stipa tenuissima pp.146-147
Arisaema p.53 Dendrobium p.89 Hosta p.98 Ophiopogon planiscapus Streptocarpus p.140
Asplenium pp.96-97 Dianthus p.41 Hoya p.46 ‘Nigrescens’ p.147 Stromanthe sanguinea p.77
Aster species p.144 Echeveria pp.78-79 Hyacinthus p.36, pp.150-151 Opuntia pp.82-83 Syringa p.118
Astilboides tabularis p.71 Ensete ventricosum pp.48-49 Hydrangea p.128, p.145 Pachypodium pp.82-83 Tacca p.74
Aubrieta p.120 Epipremnum aureum p.103 Hypericum p.145 Paphiopedilum pp.92-93 Taxus baccata p.143
Alopecurus pratensis p.120 Equisetum hyemale p.137 Ilex crenata p.143 Pelargonium p.133 Tetrapanax p.65
Azalea pp.122-123 Eragrostis elliotti pp.146-147 Ipomoea p.107 Pericallis x hybrida p.125 Thunbergia alata p.107
Bamboo species pp.54-55 Eriobotrya japonica p.65 Iris laevigata p.137 Phalaenopsis pp.86-87 Topiary pp.142-143
Begonia pp.100-101 Erysimum p.120 Iris reticulata p.115 Philodendron p.59 Trachelospermum p.108
Blechnum gibbum p.103 Euphorbia trigona pp.82-83 Jasminum polyanthum p.111 Phlox subulata p.135 Trachycarpus fortunei p.72
Bougainvillea glabra p.113 Fatsia japonica pp.64-65 Juncus ensifolius p.137 Phormium p.66 Tulipa pp.116-117
Brugmansia p.47 Ferns pp.96-97 Kalanchoe p.85 Polystichum pp.96-97 Viburnum tinus p.143
Buxus sempervirens p.142 Ficus elastica p.76 Lantana camara p.139 Prunus species p.119 Viburnum x burkwoodii p.37
Cactus species pp.82-83 Fuchsia pp.94-95 Lathyrus odoratus p.107 Rhapis excelsa p.57 Viola p.120
Calathea makoyana p.61 Gaillardia p.132 Laurus nobilis p.143 Rhodochiton p.106 Yucca filamentosa p.67
Callistephus p.144 Galanthus p.115 Lavandula pp.39-39 Rhododendron pp.122-123 Zantedeschia p.137
Caltha palustris p.137 Gardenia augusta p.47 Lilium pp.42-43 Rhododendron simsii p.124
Canna pp.50-51 Gerbera p.132 Lobelia cardinalis p.137 Rodgersia pinnata p.71
Fruit and
Chard p. 172 Honeyberries pp. 222-223 Onions pp. 170-171 Sage p. 197
Vegetables Cherries p. 224 Horseradish p. 114 Orach p. 161 Snow peas p. 181
Chicory p. 160 Kale p. 174 Oranges p. 207 Sorrel p. 161
Apples pp. 226-227 Chilis pp. 168-169 Kohlrabi p. 173 Oregano p. 201 Spinach p. 175
Apricots p. 213 Chives p. 163 Kumquats p. 207 Parsley p. 200 Squash pp. 188-189
Aronia berries p. 231 Cilantro p. 203 Leeks p. 190 Peaches p. 212 Strawberries pp. 218-219
Arugula p. 159 Citrus fruits pp. 204-207 Lemon balm p. 195 Pears pp. 228-229 Sugar snaps p. 181
Basil p. 199 Clementines p. 207 Lemongrass p. 202 Peas p. 180 Tangerines p. 207
Bay p. 196 Eggplant p. 166 Lemons p. 204 Peppers pp. 168-169 Tayberries p. 221
Beets p. 185 Endive p. 191 Lettuces pp. 156-157 Pineapple p. 216 Thyme p. 198
Blackberries p. 220 Fennel p. 194 Limes p. 205 Plums p. 225 Tomatillos p. 231
Black currants p. 209 Figs p. 214 Loganberries p. 221 Potatoes pp. 182-183 Tomatoes pp. 164-165
Blueberries pp. 222-223 Garlic pp. 170-171 Makrut limes p. 205 Pumpkins pp. 188-189 White currants p. 209
Bok choy p. 173 Ginger p. 203 Mandarins p. 207 Quinces p. 217 Zucchini p. 167
Buddha’s hands p. 207 Goji berries p. 230 Micro greens p. 159 Radishes p. 162
Cabbages p. 191 Gooseberries p. 211 Mint pp. 192-193 Red currants p. 208
Calamondin p. 206 Green beans pp. 176-177 Mizuna p. 158 Rhubarb p. 210
Carrots pp. 186-187 Green onions p. 163 Mustard p. 158 Rosemary p. 201
Chamomile p. 194 Guavas p. 217 Olives p. 215 Runner beans pp. 178-179

DESIGNING WITH
CONTAINERS
Large or small, contemporary or traditional, there’s a container
to suit every garden, interior, and design style. Select those that
match your planting theme, and combine pots in complementary
materials and colors for a coordinated look. To make your home
and garden stand out from the crowd, browse through this chapter
for inspirational container designs and striking plant combinations.
Use bold pots of summer blooms for a modern scheme, or choose a vibrant dahlia to brighten up a border. Patterned
foliage plants make exceptional specimens for the home, while herbs in crates lend a rustic note to country gardens.
8  DESIGNING WITH CONTAINERS
Creating a design
The choice of containers for your prized plants is vast
and varied. Recycled items can make quirky pots, while
traditional shapes and materials suit informal and
classical designs. Sleek cubes, cylinders, and conical
pots made from metal, synthetics, or smooth stone are
ideal for low-maintenance, contemporary gardens.
Plants have the potential to make stunning, highly valued features
when teamed with the right containers, so it’s well worth considering
your choices carefully. By uniting plants and pots in perfect harmony,
you can create a wealth of sensational displays using the myriad
different styles, colors, shapes, and sizes on offer.
Materials for containers include plastic, fiberglass, terra-cotta,
stone, glazed ceramic, metal, and wood, but with so many options,
how do you make your choice? First, consider the overall design
and style of your garden, and then think about the plants you want
to display and try to match these with complementary pots. Place
your plants in appropriate sites to ensure they thrive, but don’t be
afraid to experiment with unconventional schemes, as the beauty
of container gardening is that mistakes are easily rectified.
Above Plant Penstemon and Ligularia in weathered wooden crates to create
a rustic design for a country or informal-style garden. The crates can be stacked
and arranged to create a proportional display on varying levels.
Right The brilliant red of Acer palmatum foliage creates a striking contrast with the
cobalt blue of an old oil drum. Plant creatively to add height and structure to your design.