Standing containers and hanging baskets require frequent watering in hot weather—in full sun, they may even need water twice a day, particularly if they hold thirsty plants like vegetables and certain annuals.
To thoroughly wet the growing medium, we water until water streams out of the pot’s drainage holes. “Self-watering” containers cut this waste, because water is added to the reservoir below the pot, then wicked up by the growing mix as needed. To reduce waste in non-self-watering pots, move them into the garden or onto the lawn before watering them, if their size allows. That way the water passing out of the drainage holes can go to another plant. Alternatively, put a bucket under hanging plants to catch the water. It can then be poured onto the container plant again, or dumped on a thirsty plant in the ground.
Get more great tips on gardening in containers with Horticulture’s Container Gardening CD.
Browse all container gardening products at GardenersHub.com. You’ll find books and other references, plus seeds of flower and vegetable varieties that grow well in pots.
Learn how to deal with drought and many other weather-related gardening challenges in the Harness the Weather for a Better Garden value pack.