Endless summer colour

LIFESTYLE NEWS - The joy of gardening with containers is that there is always space for a captivating new plant. All that’s required for them to grow and thrive is some basic but important care.

That little bit of effort is worth the reward of flowers that will greet you every morning or when you return home from a long days work.

Watering

Container plants need more regular watering than garden plants. Water daily on hot summer days, until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot.

To reduce the water required, moisture-retaining soil additives can be mixed into the potting soil. For time pressed gardeners, automatic irrigation systems for containers can be installed.

Feeding
It is not just enough to water the plants. Because flowering container plants are heavy feeders, they need to be fed with a liquid fertiliser at least once a month, or twice a month with a liquid fertiliser at half strength if they are to flower continuously.

Grooming
Cut off dead flowers and any damaged or diseased leaves. This keeps plants looking good and encourages them to sprout new growth and flowers. When trimming or shaping the plant, cut back to a leaf node or growing point.

6 container plants for summer long flowers

Impatiens Solarscape
This low growing, spreading interspecific impatiens grows in full sun but can take partial shade. It quickly fills a container or hanging basket and the large flowers in shades of lilac, magenta, orange, white, and neon purple cover the dark green leaves. Plants are highly resistant to downy mildew. Plants like a sheltered spot and moist, well-drained soil.

Impatiens ‘Solarscape XL Salmon Glow’.

Dahlia Summer Bees
This is quite the prettiest dahlia around and its new on the plant scene. The single blooms are magnets for bees. The plants are naturally vigorous and well branched, which results in an abundance of flowers. They will enjoy a position with plenty of morning sun.

Dahlia ‘Summer Bees,’

Petunia Shake
Here is another series of novelty petunias to make your mouth water. Inspired by the look of delicious milkshakes, there’s Blueberry Shake, Strawberry Shake and Raspberry Shake. All calorie free. Just like the ‘Sky series of petunias, this series is a breakthrough in colour genetics for compact petunias. Plants grow 20cm high and wide and stay round and neat. They like plenty of sun and pots that drain well.

Petunia ‘Blueberry Shake’

Sunshapers outdoor gerberas
These long flowering daisies are hybrids of our indigenous Barberton daisies. Unlike other gerbera hybrids that are mainly indoor plants, the Sunshapers Endless series features strong, vigorous plants for outdoor growth. They flower from summer through to the first frost and are pest and disease resistant.

"Sunshaper’ outdoor gerberas.

Hydrangea Magical Revolution
These sturdy, compact hydrangeas bloom for up to six months and need very little care. The large flower heads that change colour three to four times during the flowering season, culminating in rich red or green tones in autumn. Plants in pots like morning sun and afternoon shade. keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.

Hydrangea ‘Magical Revolution’.

Begonia Dragon Wing
Begonia ‘Dragon Wing’ is dramatic shrubby plant for large containers. Besides its unusual leaves it has large, slightly pendulous pink, red or white blooms.

It is virtually maintenance free, thriving in both humid and cool conditions. Place container plants in areas of filtered sun or shade. Direct sun may cause scorching. Being such an easy to grow plant, it is a good starter plant for beginner gardeners. For more information, visit Ball Straathof.

Begonia ‘Dragon Wing Red.’