From the category archives:

Container Gardening

5 Sneaky Tips to Create a Smokin’ Hot Container Garden

by Fern on January 19, 2010

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Sometimes I like to look at Cosmo Magazine. Not because I’m interested in any of their tips for spicing things up in the bedroom or advice on how to apply my eye shadow. What I like to look at are their headlines. They are hilarious! “How to Be a Total Man-Magnet,” “10 Sneaky Tricks to Try Instead of Dieting,” and “How to Feel Sexy All the Time.” Sensationalism at it’s finest.

You have to admit, they definitely grab your attention. I thought I would try my hand at a Cosmo-style headline and article. I admit that container gardening isn’t nearly as sexy as lipsticks to make your pucker more kissable, but work with me here.

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Fern’s Balcony – January 2010

by Fern on January 17, 2010

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I have been putting off sharing photos of my new balcony, even though I promised them, because my balcony is largely in pretty sorry shape. With so much going on, I just haven’t had time to repot everything I wanted to repot, and I think I also need some new planters for some of my smaller plants. Not to mention that it is winter, and even in California, that means that some plants are leafless.

But my friend Bob promised that no one would hate me if I shared photos of my less than perfect balcony, so you guys better not abandon the blog en masse! Otherwise I’ll send Bob out after you…
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5 “Been There, Done That” Tips for Moving With Your Potted Plants

December 29, 2009

Last year I shared tips from a master gardener on how to move your plants to a new balcony with as little damage as possible. They were pretty good tips, but required you to move your plants inside an enclosed moving van and not in a car or the bed of a pickup truck. But [...]

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Autumn Crocus

December 1, 2009

This past September 26th came and went without a birthday card or any other acknowledgement from my two brothers. I thought they both somehow forgot. It seemed pretty hard to believe. My birthday has been on the 26th of September for the past 28 years, and they were alive for 26 and 19 of those [...]

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An Evolving Gardening Philosophy

November 23, 2009

Lately, I’ve been reading The New Low-Maintenance Garden by Valerie Easton. In the book, Easton makes a poetic case for gardens that are sensuous and enjoyable, ones that–as the title alludes–don’t require a lot of work. The book has caused me to take a closer look at my own gardening style.

I’ve looked at the above [...]

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Different Perspectives on Fertilizing Container Gardens

October 30, 2009

I recently Tweeted about fertilizing container gardens and asked for feedback about what other gardeners do. I received many different responses, including:

@containergarden: I use fish emulsion and seaweed combo. Also mix in Bradfield Organics’ All Purpose fertilizer into soil.
@DebraLBaldwin: For succulents, add 1 T timed release fertilizer per gallon of cactus mix. Liquid fert @ [...]

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Grow Aloe Indoors This Winter

October 27, 2009

Maybe you have an aloe plant that was happy growing on your balcony this summer and now you need to bring it inside, or perhaps you’re looking for a useful and beautiful plant to spend your gardening energy on during the winter months. Either way, aloes can be grown inside, so long as you provide [...]

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A Moon Garden on Your Balcony

September 17, 2009

Gardens are wonderful. We all–or almost all of us–can agree on that. But what if you’re busy working hard all day long and by the time you get home, the sun is long gone? Can you still get any enjoyment out of some plants on your balcony? My answer is a resounding: YES! Yes, you [...]

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Five Different Types of Pots Every Gardener Should Try At Least Once

September 4, 2009

Part of the enjoyment of gardening–at least for me–is the challenge of learning something new. Of course there is the challenge of growing a particular plant, or growing a gigantic pumpkin. But we container gardeners have another kind of challenge: different types of pots!

Photo by Lachlan Hardy
Everyone has tried the traditional pot, but have you [...]

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Five Tips for Newbie Container Gardeners

September 3, 2009

There is no shame in being a newbie. Everyone has to start somewhere, and gardening is mostly a learn-by-doing hobby. So with that in mind, I’ve shared five tips that I wish I had known when I was potting up my first plant. Hopefully other experienced gardeners will also add a tip or two in [...]

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City Dwellers: What Would You Do If Society Collapsed?

August 18, 2009

I hope you will forgive me for the admittedly crazy topic of this post. The inspiration for it came when I noticed that survivalist websites were linking to some of my past posts on growing food in containers. Although the crazy part, I am almost embarrassed to admit, is not hypothesizing about the collapse of [...]

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Vegetables on Vacation: How to Water Your Plants While You’re Away From Home

August 12, 2009

My husband’s and my 6th wedding anniversary is coming up at the end of August and we’re planning on visiting the wine country in Paso Robles, CA to celebrate. Wine tasting vacations with your husband should fill you with a sense of anticipation, but instead I feel a tinge of dread. I’ve worked hard all [...]

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