If you are tired of the high cost of purchasing potted plants for your patio, porch or deck – then you need to create some or all of your containers this year from perennial plants. Not only can it be a huge savings – you’ll be amazed at just how beautiful and unique perennials in pots can be!
When it comes to containers, hanging baskets, and potted plants, most people usually think of using annual plants. While flowers such as begonias, impatiens, and petunias all make perfect annual choices for container growing, they can certainly be expensive to purchase.
Unfortunately, even worse, annual flowers are only good for creating displays for one growing season. After that, they simply die off, heading to the compost pile once the cold temperatures take them out. But that is where planting a few perennials in pots can save the day!
Creating Stunning Containers From Perennial Plants
Why Use Perennials To Make Container Plants
Using perennials in containers has a lot more benefits than just saving money. Yes, they cost less in the long run, but they’re also much easier to care for compared to annual flowers. And as you will see below, they can be stunningly beautiful too!
When you plant perennials in pots or containers, you’ll find they need less attention throughout the growing season. One of the biggest differences between annuals and perennials is how much water they need. Most annual flowers need to be watered every single day.
In really hot weather, you might even need to water them twice a day. Once in the morning – and again in the evening. On top of that, annuals often require regular deadheading, which means you have to constantly pinch or cut off dead blooms to encourage new ones to grow.
Perennials, on the other hand, are a lot less maintenance. Many types of perennials can go several days without water and still stay healthy, even in containers. And, they usually don’t need nearly as much fertilizer or attention to keep growing well.
Even More Reasons Perennials Are Perfect In Pots
Another great thing about perennials? They don’t need expensive soil to grow in containers. Unlike annuals, which often need pure potting soil – most perennials are happy with a simple mix of half potting soil and regular garden soil.
Fertilizing perennials is also simpler. While annuals might need plant food every couple of weeks, perennials can usually stay healthy and strong with just a few light feedings during the season. A small dose of fertilizer every now and then is often all they need to thrive in a container.
But maybe the best reason to grow perennials in containers is what happens at the end of the growing season. With annuals, once fall arrives and the plants start to die back, there’s nothing else to do but pull them out and throw them away.
All that time and money spent growing them is gone. But with perennials, the story is different. Instead of tossing them out, you can actually save them for next year. When the growing season ends, you can move your perennial containers into your garden or flower beds – where they will survive the winter just fine. And you can use them again next year!
Selecting The Best Perennial Plants For Your Containers
There are so many types of perennial plants that grow really well in containers. Some popular choices include ornamental grasses, blanketflower, coral bells, hostas and daylilies. These plants not only survive in pots – they actually thrive.
Other good options are hardy geraniums and daisies, which add lots of color and charm. You can even make your containers more eye-catching by planting compact perennial shrubs like boxwoods or mini hydrangeas.
Listen Below To Our Podcast On Making Container Plants From Perennials!
The truth is, there’s almost no limit to the kinds of perennials you can grow in containers. The most important thing to keep in mind is picking plants with colorful or unique-looking leaves. That way, your containers will still look nice even when the plants aren’t blooming.
You can also mix things up by adding a few bright annual flowers in with your perennials. This way, you get some bold blooms to draw attention, but you don’t have to spend as much money on annuals to fill every container.
It really is a smart way to get the best of both worlds: low-maintenance plants that last for years, with a splash of seasonal color to keep things fresh and beautiful.
How To Create Stunning Containers With Perennial Plants – On A Budget!
So where can you find the perennials for your pots to save? One of the simplest and most budget-friendly ways to start a perennial container garden is to use plants you already have growing in your yard or flower beds.
In early spring, you can carefully dig up a few of your existing perennials or divide a portion of a larger plant. Then, just move that section into a pot or container. This method costs you nothing extra – and gives new life to plants you already enjoy. See: 5 Perennials You Can Divide In Spring To Create More Plants.
Even if you don’t have many perennials in your garden yet, you can still start a container garden without spending a lot. Small-sized perennial plants, often called “starter plants,” are usually very affordable at nurseries and garden centers.
These young plants may be small when you buy them, but they grow quickly and are perfect for planting in containers. Because they’re not as expensive as mature plants, you can buy a few different kinds without going over your budget.
Starting small also has another benefit. Young perennials adapt well to pots and often grow strong, healthy roots in their new space. So whether you’re using what you already have or picking up a few small plants at the store, it’s easy to build a beautiful perennial planter without spending a lot of money. And again – you can save them to grow year after year!
Potting Up For Success!
Planting perennials in containers is easy. When choosing plants, try to pick plants with roots that take up about half the size of the pot. This gives them room to grow without becoming crowded. Unlike annuals, perennials grow roots more slowly, so they won’t outgrow the container in just one season.
Make sure your pots have good drainage holes. Most perennials don’t like sitting in wet soil and can get damaged if water doesn’t drain well. Adding mulch on top of the soil is also helpful. This will keep moisture in and helps regulate the temperature around the roots.
Perennials don’t need rich, fancy soil. A mix of half garden soil and half potting soil works great. You can also mix in a little perlite to keep the soil loose and well-aerated. This helps prevent the soil from getting too packed down over time. Affiliate Link: 25QT Organic Horticultural Perlite.
You don’t need to fertilize often. In fact, powering your plants once a few weeks after planting, and again when the plants start to bloom is all you will need. A balanced, all-purpose granular fertilizer works well for this.
Saving Your Perennials
When fall comes, it’s best to move perennials out of the pots and plant them in the ground. While some can stay in containers over winter, they’re more likely to survive in the soil, where they’re better protected from freezing.
Pick a garden or flowerbed spot, mulch them well, and give them water to help them settle in. The best part? After a year or two, many perennials grow big enough to split into several plants. That means more flowers for your garden – and more free plants for future containers.
Here is to taking a little time this year to create some of your container plants from perennials. And to having beautiful potted plants at a fraction of the cost!
Simple Garden Life
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