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Annuals

Designing Planters & Hanging Baskets

Posted on by Brandi
Designing Planters & Hanging Baskets
15
May
Who’s ready to garden?! Ahhhhh! It’s an exciting time in Calgary!

This week, we’re talking planters! They are a great starting point in the garden by providing instant colour while still allowing you to move them indoors should the weather turn bad. We’re not here to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong when it comes to designing planters. Harness your creativity and let’s get going!

Thank you to everyone who attended our Planter Webinar! We had so much fun with you and hope it inspired you to design your own! If you missed it or would like a copy of the PowerPoint, click Here

Designing Planters

A planter is a container filled with “annual plants”. There’s no limit to what you can plant them in; pots, hanging baskets, barrels, rail planters, or even toilets, as Colin mentioned in the webinar! Planters are not only nice to look at, they help out the pollinators, can be a source of food, and there’s little weeding required!

There are NO WRONG ANSWERS! Unleash your creativity! Be grandiose! Be minimalist! Whatever you want, make it happen.

Starting Point Suggestions:
  • Consider your lighting
    • Sun Annuals: Marigolds, Petunias, Zinnia, Osteospermum, Portulaca, Million Bells
    • Shade Annuals: Begonia, New Guinea Impatiens, Geranium, Bacopa, Creeping Jenny, Fuchsia
    • Food Annuals
      • Sun Annuals: Tomatoes, Strawberry, Cucumber, Peppers, Basil, Mint
      • Shade Annuals: Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula, Chives, Dill
  • Consider how you’ll view your planter – Against a wall, 360 Degrees, etc.
A side note about Food planters…
  • Require regular care
    • Lots of water
    • Fertilizer (As per package)
How to Plant a Planter
  • Container: Ensure it has drainage. Water sitting at the bottom of your container is bad news for roots…
  • Growing Medium: Grab your fav all purpose soil. We are loving Promix!
  • Amendments: Consider products like Earthworm Castings & Biochar to lengthen the lifespan of your flowers!
  • Identify your…
    • Thriller – Your showpiece plant (Geranium, Grasses, Rose, Begona Tomato, Pepper)
    • Filler – The middle plants to fill space (Petunia, Million Bells, Osteospermum, Marigold, Impatiens, Lettuce)
      • This can be 2-4 plants depending on your size.
    • Spiller – Trailing plants that’ll hang down the container (Creeping Jenny, Bacopa, Strawberry
      • This can be 3-6 plants depending on your size.
  • Step-by-Step
    • Fill your container with soil – 3/4 of the pot.
    • Apply your amendments and top with more soil.
    • Starting with the “thriller”, remove pot and place in the centre (or back if it’s going against the wall)
    • Next, the “filler”. Remove pots and place next to the thriller.
    • Lastly, the “spiller” goes beside the “filler” and on the edge of the container, trailing down.
  • Watering
    • Check regularily and water as needed.
      • Overwatering: Causes root rot and a breeding ground for pathogens.
      • Underwatering: Causes poor production of fruits and flowers.
    • Planters may require different watering schedules especially if they are sun loving vs shade loving plants.
    • Best time to water: Early morning! Do not water in the middle of the day until full sun.
  • Fertilizing
    • Follow the package!
      • Too much fertilizer = root burn
      • Too little fertilizer = waste of $$$
    • For annuals, consider a bloom focused fertilizer like this one from Promix
      • Avoid high Nitrogen (First Number)
    • Fertilizing is essential (Especially for tomatoes)
  • Deadheading
    • Removal of “old” flowers
      • This sends energy back into the plant to produce new blooms and extend the life of the plant.
    • Flowers ready for deadheading should come off easily by bending the flower at the base (Geranium) or pulling the flower from the stem (Petunia). It should just come away without much effort.
    • You may also cut dead flowers, but ensure it is a clean cut with clean pruners.
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Calcium Nitrate:

Mix Ratio: Apply ¼ teaspoon per 2 litres once a week. I full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended preventing blossom end rot and calcium deficiency in tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchinis, and cannabis. It is also highly beneficial for all leafy greens and cruciferous plants (cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli etc.).

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Iron Chelate

Mix Ratio: Soil drench – apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix ratio: Foliar spray - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 4 Litres of water once every 4 weeks. A full scoop makes 24 litres or 6 gallons.

Recommended for correcting iron deficiency in a variety of plants grown in high pH soil. Iron deficiency is diagnosed by the yellowing or pale colour of the plant leaves, especially in young growth.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

High Drainage

Moisten Thoroughly before use: (optional) Peat moss can be water-repellent. Before use, thoroughly wet the soil.

Potting:

Use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Fill the pot with the moistened soil, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more soil.

Firm the soil gently.

Watering:

This is crucial! Water frequently, especially during hot weather.

Check the soil moisture regularly by sticking your finger into the soil.

Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is low in nutrients, fertilize regularly with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

Consider Amendments:

For plants that prefer more moisture retention, you can add a small amount of coco coir or vermiculite to the mix.

Important Notes:

Overwatering: While frequent watering is necessary, avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

Plant Selection: This type of soil is well-suited for seed starting as well as plants that prefer well-drained conditions, such as cacti, cannabis, succulents, and some tropical plants.

Adjustments: You may need to adjust your watering frequency based on the specific plant and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, sunlight).

Alberta Blend

Moisten the Peat Moss before use: (optional) Peat moss can be hydrophobic (water-repellent) when dry. Before using it, thoroughly moisten it. You can do this by placing it in a container and adding water, then squeezing out any excess.

Mixing: (optional) Our Private Label Alberta Blend comes ready to use, expertly formulated for your plants, either indoors or outdoors.

If you're using this mix as your own base, combine it with worm castings, volcanic dust, vermiculite, etc. to improve nutrition, drainage and/or aeration.

Potting:

When potting your plants, ensure that the pot has drainage holes.

Fill the pot with the moistened potting mix, leaving enough space for the plant's root ball.

Gently place the plant in the pot and fill in around it with more potting mix.

Lightly firm the soil around the plant leaving ½ inch to an inch of space at the top for watering.

Watering:

Because peat moss retains water, be careful not to overwater.

Allow the top layer of soil to dry out slightly before watering again.

Fertilizing:

Since peat moss is nutrient-poor, you'll need to provide your plants with regular fertilization.

Use the correct fertilizer according to the plant's needs.

20-20-20 Houseplant Complete

Mix Ratio: For all houseplants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week once every week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

It is highly recommended to start your houseplants on a fertilizer regime, but only while they are actively growing. Houseplants tend to have a period of dormancy (normally winter, however poinsettias, Xmas cacti etc. are exceptions to this rule) and whilst dormant they should not be fertilized.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

22-6-15 Plus Herb and Leafy Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all herbaceous and leafy vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This fertilizer is ideal for all leafy vegetables and for herbs. This product can be used year-round if you grow herbs indoors.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

20-12-28 Tomato and Fruiting Vegetable

Mix Ratio: For all fruiting vegetable plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water once a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Use this fertilizer on planting day and push right through until the plant either stops producing or reaches the end of season. In the case of transplanted seedlings this fertilizer should be used after the 2 feedings of Js - Jump-Start & Transplant.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

10-52-10 Jump-Start & Transplant

Mix Ratio: For outdoor summer plants apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Normally two applications, one at the time of transplanting, the second application can be done one week later from the initial fertilizing. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

Mix Ratio: For seed starting - apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water. Do not over water seedlings, feed every 2 weeks until transplanted outside. Feed them at the time of transplanting outdoors, then one more feeding a week later. After that start using the correct fertilizer for type of plant. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

 e.g. Vt Vegetable: Tomato and Fruiting for tomatoes, F3 Flower flower flower for bedding out/annual plants.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

4-5-28 Perennial Complete

Mix Ratio: All perennials (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks from spring to late summer. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your perennials. For existing perennials, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. new shoots etc.). For new perennials we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

28-14-14 Plus Trees and Shrubs - Fruit and Flower

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water per week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

14-7-21 Tree and Shrub Leaf & Needle

Mix Ratio: Trees and/or shrubs (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water every 2 weeks. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your evergreen/coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs.

For existing trees, we recommend starting to fertilize when you see active growth (i.e. bud break, new shoots etc.).

For new trees we recommend that you start fertilizing at time of planting and go through to mid August.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

15-10-30 Flower, Flower, Flower

Mix Ratio: Outdoor plants (in warm seasons) apply ¼ teaspoon (1gram) /per 1 Litre of water twice a week. A full scoop makes 12 litres or 3 gallons.

This formula is professionally blended for all your annual plants. We recommend starting to fertilize at time of planting outdoors and go through to first frost.

Caution: Do not exceed the recommended amount. Keep out of reach of children and pets.