How to Choose The Best Plants For Your Container Garden

You can start your container garden real easy by using seedling plants instead of seeds. Plants that aren’t healthy don’t always make it home from the store in good condition, so knowing how to select healthy plants is important. So please keep reading for some valuable container gardening ideas.

Container gardening resources are important, but if you don’t understand how to select the right plants, it will be hard for you to produce a good crop of food.

When you walk into a nursery you can tell right away if most of their plants are healthy. If you see too many plants that look like they are dying, you should walk out and try a different nursery.

Greenery

Are the leaves green enough? And are they shiny and lush? If not, that plant may be stressed and not recover. Good foliage is the first thing you should check before purchasing

Insects or Leaf Damage

Just because you don’t see the insects doesn’t mean they have not already damaged the plant. On the underside of the plant you may feel some stickiness, or see black spots.

Budding Plants Versus Flowering Plants

Many times you will find plants, especially tomato plants, that already have blooms on them. These are fine to buy, however sometimes the plants that have the buds on them make it through the transplanting better.

Damage To The Stems

Look for cracks, scars, and places that appear to be soft or weak on the stem.

Inspection of Roots

Many plants can be removed from the container, and if so, look closely at the roots. Make sure the roots are not all balled up so tight they won’t be able to spread once transplanted.

A good nursery will keep the pots weeded and if you see weeds mixed in with the plants this means the weeds are taking part of the nutrients that were meant for the plant.

If you are new to gardening be sure and notice where the plants are located at the store. If one of the plants you want is located in a place where the sun will shine on it all day, that is why it’s there. Paying attention at the nursery will help you have a more successful garden.

Ask a nursery worker any questions about plants you are unsure of because most of them are very knowledgeable. Explain how and what you want to do with your container garden and use all the resources they can give you.

Before purchasing your plants find out if the store has any kind of warranty on them. Many of these guarantees are for a good long while. Plants are an investment of money and time, so knowing what is covered could save you some money on replacement plants. Knowing your plants will insure you have a fantastic organic or container garden.

Are you looking to create or enhance your own container garden? Small Organic Gardens has an extensive range of tutorials and videos for the beginner through to the professional, including info on how to pick healthy plants for your container garden. All things container gardening can be found at http://www.smallorgainicgardens.com