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A garden in any space

Plants in pots

Create a thriving container garden with confidence, from choosing the pot to caring for its roots.

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Start with these checks

  • Choose a pot with working drainage holes.
  • Use potting mix suited to the plant.
  • Group containers by light and watering needs.

Start with your Southern Plants™ care label

Southern Plants™ puts care into its labels to help you choose a suitable home for each plant.

Use the light and soil preferences on your Southern Plants label when choosing a container position and a suitable potting mix. A pot gives you control over the root environment, but it does not change the plant’s sun or shade needs. Check its mature size before choosing the container.

Find your plant’s growing information →
A varied collection of flowering plants and succulents in individual pots

Container gardening

Plants in pots

Use quality potting mix and containers with free drainage. Pots dry and lose nutrients faster than garden soil, so check them regularly. Repot when roots become crowded, drainage slows or the plant becomes unstable, usually into a clean container one or two sizes larger.

Choose the pot for the plant and the place

Consider mature plant size, the available root space and whether the container will remain stable in wind. A very small pot dries quickly; an unnecessarily large one can retain more wet mix than a small root system can use. Keep access routes clear and leave space to lift or move pots for maintenance.

Keep drainage open

Check that water can leave through the holes and is not trapped in a decorative outer pot. Empty standing water where the plant needs free drainage. A layer of stones at the bottom is not a replacement for drainage holes.

Use suitable potting mix

Choose a quality container mix matched to the plant rather than filling the pot with heavy garden soil. Follow the mix label, including its handling instructions and any information about fertiliser already included.

Match the light

A sheltered corner and a sunny paved wall can have very different conditions. Place plants according to their requirements, and check how wind and reflected heat affect the containers.

Water and feed according to need

Check the mix before watering, then apply water slowly so the root ball is moistened and surplus can drain. Watch that water is not simply escaping through a dry gap around the edge. Follow the plant and fertiliser labels when feeding; extra fertiliser will not solve poor drainage or an unsuitable position.

Know when to repot

Look for crowded roots, a pot that dries unusually quickly, poor infiltration or a top-heavy plant. Move up a modest size where appropriate, refresh with suitable mix and keep the crown at the correct level. Some plants prefer a snug root space, so use the variety’s needs rather than repotting on a fixed timetable.

A useful potting routine

  1. Check that drainage holes are open and the pot is stable before filling.
  2. Use suitable potting mix throughout the root zone. A gravel layer beneath the mix does not improve drainage and reduces space for roots.
  3. Position the root ball at the variety’s correct planting level, leaving a little room below the rim for watering.
  4. Water slowly, allow surplus to escape, and check the centre of the root ball rather than judging only the surface.
  5. Recheck the pot after moving it: sun, wind and a hot wall can change how quickly it dries.

Keep the mix packaging long enough to check whether fertiliser is already included. Combining several feeds without checking their rates can be too much for the plant.

Plants for pots available now

A selection of plants that suit pots and containers, currently available from Southern Plants™. Choose a plant to see its full growing guide.

Leucadendron Ebony Leucadendron Ebony Leucadendron laureolum x salignum 'Ebony' Tufted Alpine Saxifraga Tufted Alpine Saxifraga Saxifraga caespitosa Assorted Cosmic White™ Indian Hawthorn Cosmic White™ Indian Hawthorn Rhaphiolepis indica 'RAPH01' Cosmic White™ Nandina Blush™ Nandina Blush™ Nandina domestica 'Blush™' 'AKA' Local Hero Wax Flower Local Hero Wax Flower Chamelaucium uncinatum 'Local Hero' Red Boronia Red Boronia Boronia heterophylla Hydrangea Black Lace Hydrangea Black Lace Hydrangea macrophylla 'Black Lace' Grevillea Bronze Rambler Grevillea Bronze Rambler Grevillea rivularis x G. 'Poorinda Peter' 'Bronze Rambler'
See all plants for pots in the Plant Finder →

Your next step towards growing with confidence

You do not need to know everything at once. Start with your plant’s growing requirements, try the steps that suit your garden, and build confidence as you see what works.

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